JJ Redick delivers strong statement to his team following loss to Nets
The Los Angeles Lakers dropped their second straight game on Monday night losing to the Brooklyn Nets who were on a seven game losing streak.
The first sign of trouble in paradise has presented itself for JJ Redick and his Los Angeles Lakers. Like any team late in the season, they are dealing with injuries and those injuries are affecting their performance on the floor, but their coach isn’t using that as an excuse.
LeBron out for a week or two
LeBron James was injured in the Lakers game against Boston over the weekend, and has since been ruled out for at least a week, maybe two. In the first game since the all-time leading scorer in NBA history was sidelined, the Lakers were beaten by a Brooklyn team that was on a seven game losing streak heading into Monday night.
LA started off on the right foot, holding the Nets to just 16 points in the first quarter while building up a 12 point lead, but that didn’t last long. The Nets came roaring back thanks to Noah Clowney’s 19 points off the bench.
In the post game press conference Redick look frustrated and sounded off on his team. “I think it was a very low level communication game for our team” said the first year coach.
Long injury list for LA
The Lakers weren’t just missing LeBron in Brooklyn, their main big man Jaxson Hayes, Dorian-Finney Smith and Rui Hachimura were all sidelined on Monday, but Redick wasn’t using that as an excuse. “I don’t think being short handed is an excuse for how we played basketball tonight,” continued Redick.
The Lakers gave up 16 offensive rebounds and turned the ball over twice as much as the Nets. “I think it was an overall mentality just to take shortcuts tonight. We just wanted to take shortcuts.”
Luka Doncic finished the game with a triple double, his second with the Lakers, and Gabe Vincent had 24 points, but turnovers and second chance points killed LA who dropped their second game in a row and dropped to third in the Western Conference.
Redick finished his presser saying, “If you want to win in the NBA you have to do the hard stuff. We couldn’t even pass to each other.”
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