The breakdown studies how JJ Redick closed the 2025 season by moving Luka Doncic to the elbow as a primary initiator. It shows a Nuggets style pet action that starts with an Austin Reaves entry, a LeBron back screen, and a quick skip to the corner. The clip focuses on how three man actions keep the defense in rotation. It also explains why an elite decision maker at the elbow forces help, then opens cutters and catch and shoot threes. This is a system that lets smart players play fast and simple.
Elbow hub. One read. The shot appears
Redick’s wrinkle is clear. Start Luka near the elbow, give him one clean angle, then let his reads do the work. When the ball touches the elbow, weak side help takes one step in. That single step is the trigger for everything. Reaves can back cut. LeBron can screen for Reaves, then pop to the slot. If the tag comes early, Luka fires to the corner. If the tag comes late, Luka hits the cutter for a layup. The idea is simple. Create two threats at once. Force a choice. Punish either one.
“Using him as a screener and getting him the ball in specific spots where he can be a facilitator and a scorer. That is what I mean by off ball.”
JJ Redick
This is not new to the league. Denver has lived off elbow actions for years. The concept travels because the reads are universal. Help, and the pass beats you. Stay home, and the star walks into a clean shot. Redick has simply placed Luka in that same high leverage spot while trusting LeBron and Reaves to make the next pass or the next cut without thinking. It looks calm, looks patient. It is also brutal on a tired defense.
LeBron off ball. Reaves connects the lanes
LeBron thrives when he can move without holding the ball every trip. Redick has said he wants LeBron working as a screener and receiver in defined areas. This balance lets LeBron arrive at the catch with an advantage instead of dribbling into one. It also saves legs over 82 games and leaves room for quick post seals against smaller guards. Reaves connects all of it by making the early pass, by cutting with purpose, and by taking the corner three when the tag stays in. The three man action of Luka, LeBron, and Reaves creates three clean options every time. Cut. Pop. Skip. The defense cannot sit on all three at once.
The pairing changed the shape of this team. This allowed Redick to lean into smart, repeatable sets that do not need 20 dribbles. It turned the elbow into a command center, gave LeBron easy catch and shoot looks and simple slips to the rim. It gave Reaves a roadmap for when to cut and when to space. Most of all, it gave the Lakers a way to score without playing slow. That is why this offense feels both calm and sharp. It is built on the simplest rule in the sport. Put your best mind at the elbow and let him read the room.
I’m a sports and pop culture junkie who loves the buzz of a big match and the comfort of a great story on screen. When I’m not chasing highlights and hot takes, I’m planning the next trip, hunting for underrated films or debating the best clutch moments with anyone who will listen.
