New Orleans Pelicans fans need to be paying attention to the playoffs because something happened in the final seconds of Game 4 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder game that could spell doom for the Pelicans.
The Lakers had an opportunity to tie the game with just seconds left and instead of putting Rui Hachimura on the court, JJ Redick replaced him with Maxi Kleber. This move has been blasted by a number of critics, including former players turned analysts Dwayne Wade and Candace Parker.
The Lakers were down three points, and Hachimura had already hit four three-pointers in the game. He also happened to be the Lakers' most reliable three-point shooter in the series. You also have to keep in mind that Kleber wasn’t a really trustworthy person to shoot that last shot, seeing as he was on the bench the entire game and was coming in cold.
Some will argue that Kleber was simply there to make screen for Austin Reaves, but in a position like that you never know who will be left open to take the final shot.
This was a very questionable decision by Redick, not only with the game up for grabs, but the Lakers' entire season on the line.
Rajon Rondo's lack of experience could be a detriment
What does this have to do with the Pelicans you ask? Well, the Pelicans are currently looking for their next head coach and one of the finalists is a former player with no previous head coaching experience like Redick.
When Rajon Rondo’s name came up in rumors surrounding the Pelicans' head coaching search, he immediately became a fan favorite. I understand why. Rondo is not only tough, but also a very smart player with a championship resume. If someone with no head coaching experience can step in and succeed in the role, it would be Rondo.
We have seen the hiring of a former player with no head coaching experience a couple of times recently in Steve Nash and Redick. Nash lasted just over two seasons as the Brooklyn Nets head coach, and Redick has just finished his second season in Los Angeles. Both guys were very smart and successful players, but they both made notable mistakes as head coaches.
Redick’s blunder with Hachimura and Kleber is going to get scrutinized this offseason, and rightfully so. Would a more seasoned head coach have made this type of mistake? Nobody knows, but it’s fair to question whether Redick’s inexperience in the head coaching spot has hindered the Lakers.
I am not making the argument that the Pelicans should avoid hiring Rondo because of his inexperience. But seeing Redick make such a bad decision in such a critical moment certainly makes me think about the potential downside of hiring a head coach with no previous experience in the position.
Rondo could very well be the Pelicans' next head coach, and he could be great in the position. I would just look to Redick as a cautionary tale of what happens when hiring a person with no previous experience in the role. Mistakes are bound to happen.
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