Lakers Criticised By JJ Redick For Taking Shortcuts In Loss To Brooklyn Nets

The Los Angeles Lakers faced a setback against the Brooklyn Nets, losing 111-108 at Barclays Center. Despite leading by 15 points early, the Lakers couldn't maintain their advantage. This defeat marked their second consecutive loss following an eight-game winning streak. The absence of LeBron James due to a groin injury was felt, but JJ Redick insisted it wasn't an excuse for the team's performance.

In addition to James, the Lakers were missing Jaxson Hayes, Rui Hachimura, and Dorian Finney-Smith due to injuries. Redick criticised the team's mentality, stating that they took shortcuts during the game. "I think it was a very low-level communication game for our team," Redick said. "I don't think being short-handed is an excuse for how we played basketball tonight."

Luka Doncic managed his second triple-double as a Laker with 22 points, 12 assists, and 12 rebounds. However, his shooting was off, hitting only 8 of his 26 attempts. Austin Reaves contributed 17 points but struggled with accuracy, making just 3 out of 14 shots. Reaves expressed his frustration: "I just thought I played incredibly bad."

Redick emphasised that winning in the NBA requires doing the hard work and not taking shortcuts. He pointed out issues like poor passing and ineffective ball screens as reasons for turnovers. "We couldn't even pass to each other," he noted about their struggles on offense.

Reaves acknowledged his need to improve in James' absence and highlighted personal accountability as crucial for team success. "Everybody's got to buy in to helping the team be successful," he stated.

The Lakers hold a record of 40-23 this season and are positioned third in the Western Conference standings. They are set to face the Milwaukee Bucks next on Wednesday as they aim to bounce back from recent losses.