Bronny James Praised by JJ Redick, HC Explains Lakers' 'Trust' in Guard Ahead of NBA Playoffs

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised second-year guard Bronny James and said he thinks the team trusts him and that he's improved a lot this season during a chat with reporters on Wednesday, three days ahead of his team's first-round playoff series vs. the Houston Rockets.

The Lakers enter the playoffs significantly shorthanded without two of their three All-Stars, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, out with a hamstring strain and oblique strain, respectively.

James' father, LeBron James, has stepped up as the team's top scorer, ball-handler and distributor with both of them out. He averaged 28.0 points on 60.0 percent shooting, 12.7 assists and 7.7 rebounds in the three full games he played after Dončić and Reaves suffered injuries against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2.

Bronny James has played all five of the Lakers' games since April 2, averaging 6.6 points on 46.4 percent shooting and 2.0 assists per game. He's also hit six of his last 10 three-pointers in his last three games.

He'll play a key role for the Lakers as a top guard off the bench. Elsewhere, Luke Kennard, a trade acquisition from the Atlanta Hawks earlier this season, has entered the starting lineup and asked to take on a much bigger role. L.A. also just got guard Marcus Smart back after he missed nine games with a right ankle contusion. Third-year guard Nick Smith Jr. has seen increased time as well.

Ultimately, the Lakers have had to regroup after being dealt a pair of tough blows, but they'll give it their best shot Saturday when they host Game 1 vs. Houston at 8:30 p.m. ET.