JJ Redick Discusses Missed Opportunities Following Lakers' Defeat To Cavaliers

Add as a preferred source on Google

The Los Angeles Lakers faced disappointment after losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who secured their eighth consecutive win with a 122-110 victory. LeBron James made history by becoming the first NBA player to play in games during both his teens and 40s. Despite Austin Reaves scoring a season-high of 35 points, along with 10 assists and nine rebounds, and Anthony Davis contributing 28 points and 13 rebounds, the Lakers couldn't end 2024 on a high note.

Los Angeles struggled to contain Cleveland's three-point shooting, similar to their previous encounter in October. The Cavaliers had five players scoring at least 15 points each, with Jarrett Allen leading with 27 points. Coach JJ Redick expressed frustration over missed opportunities, stating, "We certainly had our chances." He emphasised the need for near-perfect basketball against strong teams like Cleveland.

Redick acknowledged the Cavaliers' ability to capitalise on their shots while highlighting the disparity in three-point success as a decisive factor. "You think about some of those threes they made and some of the threes we missed—that level of disparity from the three-point line is really the difference in the game," he noted.

Austin Reaves started slowly but played a crucial role in keeping the Lakers competitive. He tied his career-high in points and nearly achieved a triple-double. Anthony Davis praised Reaves' performance, saying, "What'd he have? 36 tonight? 35? looked good to me." Davis highlighted Reaves' adaptability in handling increased responsibilities when key players like Gabe Vincent or LeBron are absent.

Davis further expressed confidence in Reaves' ability to manage point guard duties effectively. "He's been in the league long enough now where he knows how to run the point guard position," Davis stated. He emphasised that Reaves is prepared for more repetitions and has earned their trust.

Despite their efforts, the Lakers couldn't overcome Cleveland's formidable play. The loss underscored areas needing improvement as they look forward to future games.