Los Angeles Lakers head coach J.J. Redick called for team leaders to step up after two consecutive blowout losses. Photo by Ryan Sun/EPA-EFE
First-year coach J.J Redick sat silent in his thoughts for several moments after the Los Angeles Lakers’ 41-point loss to the Miami Heat. He then cited the Lakers’ “glaring” problems, including a lack of accountability.
The Lakers earned their latest win Sunday by the slimmest margin (105-104). They went on to lose by 29 points a day later to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Heat then hammers Redick’s Lakers 134-93 Wednesday in Miami. Advertisement
The Lakers’ two-game losing margin of 70 points set a franchise record.
“Has to be some ownership,” Redick said Wednesday at his postgame news conference. “You can splinter, and it’s easy to not want the ownership, particularly when it’s embarrassing.
“I’m embarrassed. We’re all embarrassed. It’s not a game that I thought we had the right fight, the right professionalism.” Advertisement
The Lakers, who started the season 10-4, lost six of their last eight games by an average of 21.8 points. On Wednesday, they hit a new low, allowing the Heat to tie a franchise record with 24 3-pointers. Star forward LeBron James was strong early on, scoring the Lakers’ first six points.
The Lakers offense then plummeted, with no long-distance scoring threats and lax defense. Center Anthony Davis made just 3 of 14 shots for eight points, his lowest total in a game in which he played at least 31 minutes since 2022-23.
“Obviously, when you lose by 41, the problems are glaring,” Redick said. “You gotta get with the group and fix it.
The Lakers, losers of six of their last eight games, averaged the fourth-fewest made 3-pointers (11.5) and rebounds (40.3) per game so far this season. They also allowed opponents to shoot a league-best 47.7% on shots from 5 to 9 feet and 43.9% on shots from 20 to 24 feet.
They rank among the worst teams in the league in several hustle-related statistics, including loose balls recovered.
“We’re having trouble right now on both ends with, like, base-level game-plan stuff,” Redick said. “It’s odd. It’s very odd.” Advertisement
Redick said he met with James on Wednesday morning to discuss what he needs from Lakers leaders. He said he noticed James improved his communication and encouragement with teammates.
“There are no schemes or Xs and Os that are going to get you through that,” James said of the loss to the Heat. “If you don’t want to come to compete, that’s other issues.”
James said he “agrees 1000% with Redick’s assessments. He also said Lakers players need to address their flaws while watching film.
“I’ve been in this game way too long,” James said. “Never get too high, never get too low, because I know how fast [expletive] turns.”
Davis, who averaged 27.4 points per game through his first 14 appearances this season, averaged 16.7 points per game over his last seven starts.
“Guys are doing their part, I’m not doing mine,” Davis said. “It’s tough on our team. I’ll try to play better individually on both ends. I hold myself to a higher standard and haven’t been doing what I need to do, especially offensively, for our team.”
The Lakers (12-10) will face the Atlanta Hawks (12-11) at 7:30 p.m. EST Friday in Atlanta. Advertisement
“There has to be some ownership on the court, and I’ll take all the ownership in the world,” Redick said. “This is my team and I lead it and I’m embarrassed. But I can’t physically get us organized.
“I can’t physically be into the basketball. I can’t physically talk and call out [switches] and physically call out coverages. And by the way, I’m not blaming players. I own this, but going to need some ownership on the court, as well.
“There’s not a sense from me that we’re together right now.”
