JJ Redick Preparing to Backtrack on Baffling Lineup Decision

Los Angeles Lakers fans are understandably fuming as the team comes off back-to-back blowout losses to Western Conference contenders. All of the optimism built up by a six-game win streak has come crashing down after losing 127-102 to the Denver Nuggets and 127-100 to the Phoenix Suns.

JJ Redick is catching a lot of the blame, especially because of a baffling decision he made with the starting lineup. Redick decided to move rookie Dalton Knecht to the bench in the middle of his best scoring streak of the season.

Knecht made four straight starts before these blowout losses, scoring 14, 27,37 and 17 points on a fiery 60.3% shooting (including 57.6% from the field). But Redick decided to move him back to the bench with the return of Rui Hachimura, and the Lakers immediately fell flat on offense and got blown out twice.

But now Redick does appear to be realizing the error of his ways. We'll wait to see him actually fix his mistake before we celebrate, but it sounds like he's considering making the swap that Lakers fans are calling for.

Lakers News: JJ Redick Considering Starting Dalton Knecht

Redick said after Tuesday's loss that "all things are up for discussion" when asked about the potential to move Knecht back into the starting lineup.

Now admittedly, the Lakers have generally been very good with Hachimura on the court this season. The team's Offensive Rating is 3.5 points better and their Defensive Rating is 5.9 points better with Hachimura on than with him off (that's a +9.2 difference in net rating). For Knecht those numbers are 8.5 (offense), 0.4 (defense) and 8.8 (net).

But that doesn't take into account the form Knecht has been in recently, and moving back to the bench seems to have tanked the hot streak he was on. Knecht is now just 2-of-8 from 3-point range in two games since returning to the bench.

You can see why Reddick wants to go for defense over offense — the Lakers average the NBA's fifth most points per 100 possessions while giving up the fourth most, but this is a situation where fans want the team to lean into their strength. Hachimura over Knecht isn't going to suddenly fix the defensive issues (which are rooted largely in a gaping void at the center position), so instead the team needs enough firepower to win a shootout.

Knecht is the option that gives fans what they want to see.

More Los Angeles Lakers news and analysis: