Perhaps their best perimeter defender will return to the Los Angeles Lakers in time for a game against their highly anticipated cross-arena rivals. Head coach Darvin Ham said that Cam Reddish is getting closer to playing again after missing the last month due to an ankle injury. The Lakers play the LA Clippers on Wednesday.
“Cam is doing good man,” Ham said on Tuesday, per ClutchPoints’ Lakers beat writer Michael Corvo. “He just played in practice today, so we’ll see how he wakes up in the morning”
Whether Cam Reddish plays against the Clippers or returns to the court the following day to take on the Washington Wizards, expect him to come off the bench. Because of his defensive prowess at the point of attack, Ham made his way onto the Lakers roster early in the season. However, in an effort to relieve some of the pressure on LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Ham has since switched to lineups that are more offensively focused. Over the course of the last 22 games, D’Angelo Russell has started in the backcourt alongside Austin Reaves, helping Los Angeles turn around and record a 14-8 record. Rui Hachimura has started the last nine games as the opening player for Russell, Reaves, James, and Davis in half of those matches.
With Paul George already ruled out of Wednesday’s game because of a knee injury, the Lakers will have an easier time stopping James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. When both are on the floor, Reddish, if he’s available, will probably take his time checking Harden, leaving Hachimura and James to check Leonard. Reddish’s return may also result in fewer minutes for sophomore guard Max Christie.
On Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. (PT), the Lakers and Clippers will tip off from Crypto.com Arena.
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