Lakers already feeling structure that JJ Redick is implementing

EL SEGUNDO Going into the Lakers first official training camp practice on Tuesday, being organized and having structure were keywords used by new coach JJ Redick and several players on the roster.

But what does that look like once the summer turns to fall and camp is underway? Part of it means using time efficiently.

So instead of having a long meeting on Tuesday before or after the first practice, the Lakers met on Monday night in Beverly Hills to discuss the teams values and identity.

Just setting the standard, setting the course of action and how we expect to play every single night no matter who is playing, star forward LeBron James said about the value of the meeting.

Its not about who is playing, its about what we want to do every night.

We want to play the same way every single night.

Mondays meeting was the first time the entire team got together in one setting, Max Christie said after Tuesdays practice.

The reason I did that ...

one of the things that Im big on is using time efficiently, Redick said after leading his first official practice on Tuesday.

I havent been around LeBron [James] a ton, but I know thats big for him as well.

As any NBA player will tell you, they really value their time.

And I didnt want to take time [Tuesday] to have some long meetings.

So, I used [Monday] night as a meeting to just set the tone for who we are going to be on both ends of the floor and the things that were going to value as a group.

A lack of structure and organization on both ends of the court were common grievances shared by players throughout last season.

Before being hired, those were attributes that Redick received praise for and that were expected to translate well as a head coach.

And according to multiple players, they were already being felt during voluntary workouts in the summer and in the communication Redick had with players during the offseason.

And they were present on Tuesday, too.

The biggest thing is weve been super organized and weve been super good at kind of like upholding discipline at times, Christie said.

Having a set amount of time for a drill were not going long, were not going short.

Were being really efficient with our time.

Thats kind of a keyword hes been using for everyone throughout the whole offseason, just being efficient with our time that were in here, whether its a high day like [Tuesday] or a low day, making sure were still coming in and were focused and being efficient with the drills were doing.

Christie, the third-year wing who signed a four-year, $32 million contract to return to the Lakers during the offseason , drew praise from Redick and James after the teams first practice.

Fantastic, James said about Christie.

I think Max will be a big part of our rotation.

Hes gotten better and better and Im happy we were able to bring him back in the summertime.

I look forward to a bright season from him.

Redick said he always ...

envisioned a nine-man rotation for the regular season.

The starting lineup is already set: James, DAngelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Anthony Davis.

When asked about the competition for playing time off the bench, Redick responded: There are a lot of guys that are going to have a chance to play.

Beyond the obvious guys, Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt when he gets healthy, Jaxson Hayes, Max [Christie], Cam [Reddish], Jalen [Hood-Schifino], I know Im forgetting someone.

Redick added: There is definitely some competition for the ninth spot, Forward Reddish was a partial participant on Tuesday because of unspecified soreness.

Forwards Vanderbilt (feet surgery) and Christian Wood (left knee surgery) did not participate, as expected..

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