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THE SHOCKING REASON JJ REDICK BENCHED DEANDRE AYTON FOR JAXSON HAYES

Jaxson Hayes shines as the Lakers stay perfect in the clutch! Discover how JJ Redick’s defensive tactics crushed the Grizzlies.

The shocking reason JJ Redick benched Deandre Ayton for Jaxson Hayes
Is Austin Reaves being traded?

Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) and guard Luka Doncic (77) were all smiles after beating the Memphis Grizzlies. Hayes had a big role late, stepping in for Deandre Ayton in the fourth quarter.

With just over six minutes left, Lakers coach JJ Redick put Ayton back in at center, subbing out Hayes, who’d started the fourth. But that move didn’t last long. Less than a minute later, Redick swapped Hayes back in and left him out there the rest of the way.

Good call. When Hayes checked back in, the Lakers led by just one, 111-110. From there, they ripped off a 10-2 run, shutting down the Grizzlies—Memphis shot just 1-for-5 and coughed up the ball three times in that stretch. Game over.

Afterwards, Redick got asked why he stuck with Hayes, who played 23 minutes off the bench—his second-longest stint this season. Redick didn’t overthink it: “He was playing better.”

Lakers’ Defense Closes the Door

This win bumped the Lakers to 21-11, and, honestly, it couldn’t have come at a better time. They’d just lost four of their last five, so this could be the start of something better. The real story? The Lakers are now 11-0 in clutch games this season. That’s the secret sauce behind why they keep finding ways to win, and Redick, who doesn’t usually gush about defense, gave the credit there.

He said, “I don’t know what the updated numbers are, but our defense has been really good in the clutch. Down the stretch, once we got Jaxson back in, we executed a couple blitzes and got some turnovers.”

Numbers back it up. The Lakers rank No. 1 in clutch field-goal percentage allowed (just 34.1%), and they’re sixth in three-point percentage allowed (23.8%). They also lead the league in clutch defensive rating at 89.8. Redick pointed out how important it was to get the defense set in the halfcourt.

He said, “Just getting multiple stops in a row. I know they scored a bunch—20 fast-break points and 27 off our turnovers. In their early offense, they probably had 70 points. But when we set our defense, it was one of our better half-court games in a long time.”

Role Players Step Up Big

Redick also talked about the spark they got from Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart, who started with Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura out. LaRavia dropped 21 points and grabbed nine boards. Smart added 13 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. With those guys playing so well, the Lakers have some decisions to make at the trade deadline about Reaves and Hachimura.

The energy just felt better with those guys out there.

“It’s massive. It can’t just be one guy,” Redick said. “When guys like Smart, Vando, Jake, and Jaxson really embrace their roles and play with that energy, it’s huge for us.

“It might sound weird, but them playing like that actually takes pressure off LeBron, Luka, and AR when he’s back. It’s not like we’re telling those guys not to work hard on defense, but when that group is crashing, running, and playing tough, it means everything.”

CORY UNDLIN AND MIKE RUTENBERG NAMED FINALISTS FOR BROWNS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR JOB

Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator search: Cory Undlin, Mike Rutenberg, and Jason Tarver fight for the 2026 DC role

top-news
The Browns’ Defence Reached New Heights During The 2025 Season

Cory Undlin, who used to run the Detroit Lions’ defence, is now in the mix for the Cleveland Browns’ defensive coordinator job.

So, here we are. The Browns have been hunting for Jim Schwartz’s replacement for about ten days now, and they’ve narrowed it down to three names. A decision’s coming soon.

Mary Kay Cabot from Cleveland.com reports the finalists: Cory Undlin, who’s currently the Texans’ passing game coordinator; Mike Rutenberg, who handles the same job for the Falcons; and the last in-house option, linebackers coach Jason Tarver.

The Browns need a new coordinator because Schwartz is out; he was frustrated after the team passed him over for the head coach job when they fired Kevin Stefanski. Schwartz had the defence humming, too. His first year, they finished No. 6 in Pro Football Focus’ rankings, then No. 8, and last year, they jumped to No. 2.

Only one candidate left from inside the building: Tarver. There’s been a lot of talk about keeping Schwartz’s “wide nine” approach, even if someone else takes over. That definitely helps Tarver’s cause since he’s been on staff under Schwartz for three seasons.

Tarver’s been a defensive coordinator before, but it didn’t go great. With the Raiders from 2012 to 2014, his defences ranked 28th, 29th, and 32nd in points allowed. Not exactly a glowing record.

Still, keeping Tarver would probably go over well with the players and coaches, especially those who weren’t thrilled with how the Schwartz situation played out. But there’s also a case for new head coach Todd Monken bringing in someone he knows and trusts. That’s where Undlin comes in; he and Monken go way back to their Jaguars days nearly twenty years ago.

Undlin also spent time with Schwartz on the Eagles’ staff from 2016 to 2019.

Then there’s Rutenberg, who’s kind of the wild card. He doesn’t have any clear ties to Monken or the Browns. He’s only been with the Falcons for a year, and before that, he coached linebackers for the Jets from 2021 to 2024.

Monken told reporters at his first press conference that he hoped Schwartz would stay, but he also said the Browns could run Schwartz’s system without him. He made a point that it’s the players, not the coordinator, who make the defence work.

That’s only part of the story. Under Schwartz, plenty of guys who hadn’t really stood out before started playing at a new level, like Maliek Collins, Alex Wright, and Devin Bush. Even Myles Garrett, one of the league’s best pass rushers, gave Schwartz a tonne of credit.

“I don’t think I get two DPOYs without Jim,” Garrett said last week. “He helped mould my potential as a player and put me in a scheme that fit me. He let me do what I do best: rush the passer and attack up front. See the ball? Go get it.

“So, can we keep that going? It’s about the guys we have in the locker room. We all need to be on the same page, focused on the mission, and attack it with urgency.”

THE SIXTH RING? WHY MICHAEL JORDAN CLAIMS DAYTONA 500 GLORY FEELS LIKE NBA TITLES

Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing wins the 2026 Daytona 500! See MJ’s emotional reaction to Tyler Reddick’s win and his NBC Sports move.

top-news
Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing Claims First-Ever Daytona 500 Win

Jamal Crawford didn’t hold back; he called Michael Jordan’s move to NBC Sports a game-changer, and you could tell he felt proud to join him as a teammate.

But the real headline came earlier, at the 2026 Daytona 500. When 23XI Racing took the checkered flag, Michael Jordan just stood there in victory lane, clearly overwhelmed. He watched Tyler Reddick soak in the biggest win of his NASCAR career, confetti raining down, and then pulled his driver into a hug. It was one of those moments that felt straight out of Jordan’s own basketball glory days.

This win was huge for a team Jordan and Denny Hamlin only started back in 2020. What began as a brand-new Cup Series entry has turned into a serious contender. On Sunday, all that hard work paid off on NASCAR’s biggest stage. Sure, Reddick’s gutsy move on the last lap clinched it, but Jordan’s reaction to how much this meant to him and the whole team really told the story.

Jordan compared the Daytona win to winning an NBA title. Standing in victory lane, he tried to put it into words: “This is what it feels like to win a championship. We’ve built this from the ground up, and to see it pay off like this… It’s indescribable.”

A little earlier, talking to FOX, he admitted the whole thing felt surreal: “I can’t even believe it. It’s so gratifying. We had four guys really fighting and helping each other out. You never know how these races will end. You try to survive.”

He kept coming back to one thing: teamwork. Jordan made a point to call out Riley Herbst for his push in those final laps: “I thought Riley did an unbelievable job pushing at the end. That’s what teamwork is all about. He doesn’t get enough credit and probably won’t, but we feel the love, and we know exactly what he did.”

For Jordan, that win was about more than just a last-lap move. “We just hung in there all day. The team had a great strategy and gave us a chance at the end. Look, I’m ecstatic. I don’t even know what to say. It feels like I won a championship, but until I get my ring, I won’t even know.”

He knows how much work goes into superspeedway racing: the preparation, the timing, and the drafting partners. It’s a group effort, start to finish.

For 23XI Racing, this wasn’t just another win. It’s the biggest moment in their short history. Since 2020, they’ve grown from a single-car team to a regular threat in the Cup Series. Now, they’ve got a Daytona 500 win under their belt.

Jordan’s been front and centre for all of it, pushing the team, raising its profile, and living out that relentless drive for excellence. After the race, cameras caught him celebrating with fist pumps, big hugs with Reddick, and the whole team pouring into victory lane.

Later, Jordan reflected on the journey. He’s always chased greatness, and now he sees that same fire in his NASCAR crew. For a guy with six NBA championships, winning the Daytona 500 just proved he still has that competitive edge. This time, instead of the hardwood, the celebration happened right there at Daytona International Speedway: his team, their win, and one of NASCAR’s biggest moments.

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