JJ Redick Benched His Best Player in the Final Possession and NBA Twitter Is Still Furious

So JJ Redick pulled Rui Hachimura with the game on the line. Yeah, you read that right. The Lakers coach yanked one of his hottest players in the playoffs to put Maxi Kleber on the floor for the final possession of Game 4, and the internet absolutely lost it.

Hachimura was absolutely cooking. The guy shot 9-of-15 from the field, 4-of-8 from three, and dropped 25 points in Game 4. He was mid-flow. He was locked in. And Redick decided that this was the perfect moment to swap him out. The backlash came instantly, and for good reason. Fans were baffled. What was the thinking here?

The Screener Strategy Nobody Saw Coming

Then ESPN insider Ramona Shelbourne broke down what actually happened. According to her explanation, Redick wasn't trying to be cute or make a bad play. Kleber was in there specifically to screen. Think about it this way: Kennard was the decoy, a third option. Austin Reaves or LeBron was getting the shot. Marcus Smart was running the offense as the passer. And Kleber, well, he's a solid screener who executes at a high level. That's the only reason he was in there over Hachimura.

The idea was to create space for the primary shot creators. Kleber wasn't there to get the ball. Neither was Hachimura. But Redick believed that Kleber's screening and execution gave the Lakers the best shot to get a bucket when it mattered most. Smart strategy? Maybe. But it's a decision that's going to get debated hard in Lakers circles.

It Didn't Matter Anyway

Here's the thing: even with the controversial lineup call, the Lakers still couldn't get it done. They lost Game 4, 110 to 115, and got swept 0-4. LeBron played 40 minutes and dropped 24 points. Hachimura finished with his 25. Austin Reaves was the high man for LA with 27 points. The effort was there. The talent was absolutely there. But the Thunder were just too much.

Redick had already dealt with his share of playoff drama, including a heated argument with referee Ben Taylor in Game 2 against Oklahoma City. Now he's dealing with the fallout from a final possession decision that will live rent-free in Lakers fans' heads all offseason.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.