Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick promised a “uncomfortable” training Saturday after his team lost in embarrassing fashion at Christmas. After a team meeting and a long practice Saturday, the Lakers appear to be back on the same page after a three-game losing streak.
Redick, in particular, was much calmer and more collected, being blamed for calling out his players following the team’s loss to the Houston Rockets, according to ESPN.
“Myself, I’m always going to look in the mirror first,” said Redick, who is in his second season as Lakers coach. “And I think it’s easy as a player, as a coach, to say, ‘It’s this guy’s fault’ or ‘We’re not doing this because of X, Y and Z.'”
“The truth is uncomfortable,” Redick said, “and so you have to come clean, that’s all.”
Although Redick’s note that the truth is uncomfortable suggests that this was a controversial meeting, it doesn’t appear that was the case. The coach later called it a day of “recalibration and reconnection.” He noted the team staff had a “great meeting” and said talking to the players was “very positive.”
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A few Lakers players seemed to agree with that sentiment. Both Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton expressed optimism that the team would bounce back after the meeting.
It was quite different from Thursday, when Redick praised the team’s efforts and motivation following a 119-96 loss to the Rockets.
“We don’t care enough right now. That’s what bothers me a lot. We don’t care enough to do the things that are necessary. We don’t care enough to be professional.
It’s a matter of choice, and too often we have guys who don’t want to make that choice. It’s pretty consistent who these guys are. Saturday’s practice, I told the guys, it’s going to be uncomfortable. The meeting is going to be uncomfortable. I won’t do another 53 games like this.
In particular, Redick has not been satisfied with the team’s defensive performance in recent games. On Tuesday, he destroyed the team’s defensive efforts after a loss to the Phoenix Suns.
Those struggles continued into Christmas, as the Lakers were overwhelmed 48-25. This was apparently one of the main reasons for Redick’s speech.
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Ayton, who leads the team in rebounds, said Saturday he would hold players accountable in future games. Ayton had just two rebounds against the Rockets on Thursday. He blamed it on a lack of concentration.
After getting off to a flying start, the Lakers have run out of steam somewhat in recent weeks. The team is 19-10, good for the fifth seed in the Western Conference. There is still plenty of time to turn the situation around, even if the team’s task will be more difficult following an injury to Austin Reaves.
The Lakers will look to get back on track on Sunday, when the team takes on the Sacramento Kings. With an 8-23 record, the Kings are one of the worst teams in the league. A dominant Lakers win on Sunday would go a long way toward proving that the team has moved on after Redick’s upset Thursday.
