…Gabe Vincent helped Miami Heat reach 2023 NBA Finals
Former NBA champion and ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins has criticised Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick for his lack of trust in role players, particularly Gabe Vincent, during the Lakers’ narrow 116-114 Game 4 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
Vincent, a key contributor to the Miami Heat’s 2023 NBA Finals run, was among the role players who remained benched throughout the second half. Instead, Redick relied solely on his starting five—LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes—for the entire second half, a strategy that ultimately backfired as fatigue set in and a 10-point lead slipped away.
Although Redick acknowledged post-game that he had spoken with the benched players, who were understandably disappointed by the lack of trust, Perkins insisted the coach made the wrong call.
“Gabe Vincent helped the Miami Heat get to the NBA Finals. You mean to tell me that in a crucial three-minute stretch, you couldn’t find minutes for him?” Perkins questioned during an appearance on ESPN LA. “Vincent’s a guy who’s proven on the biggest stage. Erik Spoelstra trusted him, and he delivered.”
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Perkins continued: “You have a 10-point lead, and you don’t trust that if Gabe Vincent had two three-point attempts, he might make one? I believe he could. And what about Jarred Vanderbilt? At 6’9″ with a high motor, you don’t think he could’ve provided some defensive stops before Minnesota went on that 9-0 run? I do.”
Vincent, captain of Nigeria’s D’Tigers at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, has struggled to find rhythm in the series, averaging 3.5 points over 18.3 minutes per game and totaling 14 points so far. Nonetheless, Perkins believes the veteran guard could have provided valuable experience and energy off the bench in Game 4.
With the Timberwolves leading the series 3-1, the Lakers face a must-win Game 5 at home to keep their playoff hopes alive and avoid elimination.
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