'Electronic Chip in the Ball': JJ Redick Shares Bold Reference Around Lakers’ Shooting Struggle

“The ball stopped rattling in and out… When there are five of those shots in a quarter, it’s—it’s a little odd,” Redick told LakeShowYo. “There’s a basketball movie about that where they put a little electronic chip in the ball, and every time it got near the rim, they would make it rattle off.”

The coach was talking about “Summertime Switch,” a movie in which kids cheat at games by using magnetically controlled basketballs that act strangely at the rim.

The Lakers had just dominated the second quarter 40-18 after struggling with those rim-outs. Washington managed just 7 of 24 shooting in that frame, including 1 of 10 from deep, while Los Angeles found rhythm attacking the paint.

The big change from being frustrated to being in charge made the rookie head coach’s problems in the first quarter seem even more suspicious.

At the age of 41, LeBron James scored 21 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished out 12 assists in the win. This was his 125th career triple-double. He broke his own record by 11 days to become the oldest player ever to get a triple-double.

The Lakers won their 15th game in 17 tries, bringing their record to 49-26. Austin Reaves, Jaxson Hayes, and Luke Kennard each scored 19 points.

The Lakers have been playing better lately, which makes the first-quarter rim-outs stand out even more. Hayes made all eight of his shots, and Kennard made four of five from three-point range.

The rest of the team had a hard time shooting from long range, making only 3 of 19 shots, but Los Angeles controlled the paint the whole time to win easily over Washington, which was having a hard time.

LeBron James leads the Lakers into a big game against the Cavaliers

The easy win over Washington is over. Now the real test starts. The pressure builds as LeBron James plays against Cleveland, a team that is tied to his legacy. The energy changes every time he plays them. Tuesday night will be the same.

Luka Doncic is back in action, which makes things even more exciting. Fans will be watching closely as he teams up with LeBron, who is known as “King James.”

Both teams are working hard, even though they have a lot going on, to get that important home-court advantage.

The Lakers (49-26) and Cavaliers (47-28) will both be playing two games in a row as they try to secure home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

LeBron is getting better at the right time after another triple-double. He also matched Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for the most wins in history. The Lakers are ready for the challenge ahead because their confidence is high and their rhythm is building.