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The insane Lakers’ Rui Hachimura stat that makes JJ Redick’s Game 4 decision even more baffling
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- The insane Lakers’ Rui Hachimura stat that makes JJ Redick’s Game 4 decision even more baffling
The insane Lakers' Rui Hachimura stat that makes JJ Redick's Game 4 decision even more baffling appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Los Angeles Lakers ' 2025-26 campaign came to a heartbreaking end as they were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder following a 115-110 defeat in Game 4. The post-game discussions have largely focused on Coach JJ Redick 's decision to bench Rui Hachimura during the final 12.2 seconds of the game.
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With the Lakers trailing by three points, Redick chose to put Maxi Kleber and Luke Kennard on the court instead of Hachimura, who had just executed a significant four-point play.
ESPN's Ramona Shelburne explained that this decision was purely tactical; Kleber was meant to act as a reliable screener while Kennard served as a decoy to create space for LeBron James or Austin Reaves .
Unfortunately, Reaves missed the potential game-tying shot, leaving fans questioning why the team's hottest player was on the sidelines.
The decision becomes even more puzzling when considering Hachimura's unprecedented efficiency throughout the postseason.
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According to ESPN's advanced tracking data, Hachimura was a standout player, shooting 50% or better from the field in every playoff game he participated in.
Over ten starts in 2026, he averaged 17.5 points per game while playing 38.6 minutes per game.
His shooting was extraordinary, converting 33 of his 58 three-point attempts for an impressive 56.9% accuracy from beyond the arc.
In Game 4 alone, he was the Lakers' primary offensive contributor, scoring 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting.
His 0.68 effective shooting percentage throughout the playoffs further illustrates that he was the most reliable scoring option on the team, making his absence in those final moments a significant risk that ultimately backfired.
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Predictably, Lakers fans were harsh in their criticism of the first-year head coach.
Social media exploded with comments suggesting that Redick "overcooked" the final play, with some users claiming that his reputation as a tactical genius from his podcasting days did not carry over to the pressure of the playoffs.
Some fans even called for an "FBI investigation" and drew comparisons to failed experiments such as those of Phil Jackson.
The consensus was clear, according to them: you don't bench a player who is shooting nearly 57% from three-point range when the season is on the line.
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