The Los Angeles Lakers needed to wade through a daunting Grizzlies effort to remain spotless at home. Improving to 6-0 at the Crypto.com arena, JJ Redick’s cavalry fought through an Anthony Davis slump to prevail. Expectedly, the plaudits went to LeBron James for notching a third straight triple-double on the evening. However, the “catalyst” behind their turnaround was their rookie sensation.

By no estimation did James not do enough. He compiled 34 points and 14 assists, making the most abundant offensive contribution for the Purple and Gold. However, when the lead slipped through their hands in the third, catching up was needed. With that in mind, Dalton Knecht, the rookie out of Tennessee set the arena alight.

Supplying 19 points off the bench, Knecht didn’t miss any of his three-pointers, hitting all five. The energy he provided to the crowd allowed the Lakers to recover. Before it, Redick admitted, “we lost our life,” alluding to the Lakers’ third-quarter struggles. LA hadn’t won a single game thus far when trailing in the fourth. However, fate is meant to change and the “new life” came from Knecht’s possessions.

“He was fantastic tonight not just shooting the ball. We have been challenging him lately to just be tougher, be more in tune with our game plan. Not going to say it was perfect but baby steps. He was great tonight,” the head coach raved about Knecht.

Even LeBron James cited the first-round pick as the reason behind their victory. With Anthony Davis in foul trouble, the Lakers’ defense was compromised. That time they needed an offensive juggernaut they could lean on to remain in close distance. “We leaned on Dalton Knecht that’s what we did,” James said. “AD got in foul trouble and our first-round pick hit a hot streak. Looked like he was back in Tennessee.”

Before today, Knecht went five games without scoring in double digits. He was finally able to snap his horror-shooting slump, catching fire to bury the Grizzlies.

A collective effort for JJ Redick and the Lakers

In his early days as a coach, JJ Redick emphasized defining an identity for the Lakers. It’s based on his various intellectual plays and motions that have elevated the Purple and Gold’s offense. However, tonight, the foundation of that change, Anthony Davis picked up early fouls and couldn’t play much of the third quarter.

In his absence, only Dalton Knecht’s splashy shooting couldn’t solve their problems. Collaboration became necessary and the Lakers managed to successfully do so.

LeBron James took the rock and began dictating the plays Redick drew up. Apart from Knecht, Rui Hachimura once again played a pivotal role on both ends of the floor. He scored 19 points on 7 shots to go with a steal and a block. Furthermore, Reaves played the role of a secondary playmaker, adding 6 assists and making the right reads.

Then, once a frustrated Anthony Davis could return in the fourth quarter, the Lakers became a harmonious machine on both ends. They held the Grizzlies to just 27 points after two strong scoring quarters. They limited their threes to 14% during the final stretch while retaliating with six mad triples.

This win, even though it came against a shorthanded Grizzlies team proved to the Lakers how they can fight through adversity. The answer is by relying on each other. With well-defined roles and knowledge of their duties, Redick has weaved a tactical system that can propel the Lakers this season. But can they sustain this style during the playoffs? Only time will tell.