In his post-game interview following the 127-100 loss to the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick provided a detailed explanation for the team’s defensive collapse.
Redick acknowledged that the Lakers struggled to contain the Suns’ offensive firepower, leading to a one-sided defeat. The first-year head coach pointed out that the Lakers’ defensive issues were multifaceted.
“We had a good first half defensively, but we made some gameplan mistakes in the second half,” Redick said. “We weren’t able to get stops when we needed them, and that allowed the Suns to build momentum.”
The Suns’ star players, including Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal – who both came back from injury – had a field day against the Lakers’ defense. Durant scored 23 points, while Beal added 26 points, both exploiting the Lakers’ defensive lapses.
“Their main players got to their spots and hit tough shots,” Redick explained. “We need to be better at executing our gameplans, especially against top-tier offensive teams.”
Redick also highlighted the Lakers’ struggles with defensive rebounding and transition defense.
“We were 7-for-26 from three in the second half, and when you’re not getting stops on the other end, it can be demoralizing,” he said. “We need to improve our defensive rebounding and limit opponents’ fast-break opportunities.
Despite the loss, Redick remained optimistic about the team’s ability to bounce back.
“We have to look at some things defensively and make adjustments,” he said. “We have the potential to be better, and we’ll work on that moving forward.”
The Lakers will need to address their defensive shortcomings if they hope to compete with the top teams in the Western Conference. With key players like Anthony Davis and LeBron James, the Lakers have the talent to turn things around, but it will require a concerted effort on the defensive end.
