Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick got straight to the point after the team’s 134-93 Wednesday night loss to the Miami Heat.
“I’m embarrassed. We’re all embarrassed,” Redick said postgame, according to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times. “It’s not a game that I thought we had the right fight, the right professionalism. Not sure what was lost in translation. There has to be some ownership on the court and I’ll take ownership in the world.”
Redick added: “I’m not blaming the players. … I own this, but (I’m) going to need some ownership on the court as well. … There’s not a sense from me that we’re together right now.”
Redick says he intends to meet with his coaching staff, the team, and individual players to prevent the group from splintering further, per The Athletic’s Jovan Buha.
There were a number of poor-effort plays and major mental lapses on the defensive end of the floor during Wednesday’s defeat.
The Lakers have lost six of their last eight contests by an average of 21.8 points, according to the Los Angeles Times’ Dan Woike, and they lost by 29 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.
Miami’s 24 made threes tied the team’s franchise record and are the third-most triples allowed in a single game in Lakers history. The Heat also set a franchise record with 42 assists.
Miami guard Tyler Herro knocked down seven consecutive 3-pointers in the third quarter, pouring in 21 points in the frame.
Lakers star LeBron James finished the game with 29 points, five rebounds, and eight assists, and he echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“I agree with everything JJ said,” James told the media, courtesy of Ethan Skolnick of 5 Reasons Sports. “It sucks for sure to get your ass whooped like that twice in a row.”
“It’s not on the coaches. It’s definitely on us, for sure,” James added, per Buva.
James passed Kyle Korver for seventh all time in made triples with his 2,451st career make. He had missed his previous 20 attempted threes over the course of five games.
All-Star forward Anthony Davis followed up his season-low 12-point performance against the Timberwolves with just eight points on 3-of-14 from the field versus Miami.
“I personally think it starts with me. If I play better, then guys will play better,” Davis said, courtesy of McMenamin.
The 12-10 Lakers are ninth in the West and will finish their four-game road trip against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.
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