LOS ANGELES — NBA teams rarely post footage of practices – especially drills –.

So it was notable when the Lakers posted video clips on their X social media account of guards versus bigs during post-up drills from Thursday’s practice ahead of Friday night’s home game against the Phoenix Suns .

Especially because each player approached the drill with the enthusiasm of football players approaching the infamous Oklahoma drill.

“The way it’s structured, it’s really two things: We obviously work, and the first time we did it, it was the guards trying to score against the bigs (in) coverage, attacking the rim, had to score in the paint, “how=” (in drop coverage, attacking the rim, to score in the paint) Lakers coach JJ Redick said “And the second time, the guards were defending. the big ones at the post.

“There are real live game situations, but it’s also just getting a little juice at the gym.”

Redick even chipped in, guarding backup center Jaxson Hayes at one point during the drill.

“It was funny,” said forward Rui Hachimura, who mentioned he didn’t lose when the Lakers did the drill. “Jaxson said he made a mistake. He was grabbed by the legs or something. But actually, he missed it. … JJ, he was just (recently) a player too. So he can still move and all that. So it was good to see the head coach join our practice and bring some energy.

In the modern NBA, which features more frequent defensive turnovers, it is important for guards to know how to defend against bigger players on post-ups.

The Lakers have turned more to defense under Redick, which makes it even more imperative.

“It was well thought out,” guard D’Angelo Russell said. “The guards always turned towards the big guys. The Bigs activated the guards throughout the flow of the game, throughout the entire game. Somehow, bring this atmosphere through practice. You have to break free and get that stop that matters. I thought it was pretty cool.

But as Redick said, it’s also important to energize the players during the marathon that is the 82-game regular season.

“It just allows our group to come together,” Hachimura said. “It was more for us than we were doing it for the chemistry. It brings our chemistry together. I think it was good, especially (LeBron James) against Bronny (James). It was so funny. And everyone said: we can choose who we want to play against.

BRONNY IN THE G LEAGUE

ESPN reported Friday afternoon that Bronny James, the Lakers’ second-round pick in June’s NBA draft and the son of future Hall of Famer LeBron James, is headed to the organization’s affiliate in G League South Bay Lakers after the team’s next five games. road trip that begins Monday against the Suns and ends November 6 against the Memphis Grizzlies.