JJ Redick Claims Lakers’ Offense Struggled for 90% of Loss to Hornets

JJ Redick addressed the media after the Los Angeles Lakers’ 100-97 defeat to the Charlotte Hornets. He mentioned that the team appeared sluggish throughout the game, with their offense being ineffective for most of the contest. However, Redick seemed to acknowledge that the All-Star break disrupted the team’s rhythm and still praised his players for maintaining a strong work ethic and spirit despite the tough loss.

“I don’t think it was just Austin [Reaves]. Not having him certainly hurt us, but overall, we played 39-44 minutes of poor offense. Some of it was expected, some of it was due to sloppiness, some was from bad spacing, and some from poor execution,” Redick stated.

“The reason I’m not overly concerned is because I believe our guys competed hard tonight. They played with a lot of energy. I also think Charlotte was sloppy too. That’s not an excuse, just the reality of having six days off as a team and trying to integrate new players. That’s bound to happen sometimes…”

“I thought our effort and competitive spirit were enough to win, but we were really bad offensively for 90% of the game.”

The Lakers had a rough offensive night, shooting just 41.1% from the field (37-90), 29.4% from beyond the arc (15-51), and 66.7% from the free-throw line (8-12). They also committed 18 turnovers, which added to their struggles.

Redick was correct in pointing out that the Hornets also had a sloppy performance. Unlike the Lakers, the Hornets made 36.3% of their field goals (33-91), 34.0% from three, and turned the ball over 17 times, just one less than the Lakers. However, it was their accuracy from the free-throw line, hitting 94.1% of their attempts (16-17), that helped secure the win.

Growing Pains for the New-Look Lakers

As Redick pointed out, the Lakers’ struggles were partly due to the integration of Luka Doncic into the team. Though Redick didn’t mention Doncic by name, it’s clear that he is the primary new addition to the lineup.

However, Redick wasn’t blaming Doncic for the loss. While Luka had a poor performance, including moments where the Hornets took advantage of his defensive weaknesses, his subpar offensive showing is still understandable. Doncic himself admitted after the game that he needs more time to adjust and settle into the Lakers’ system.

Redick has been consistently positive about Luka’s future with the team, expressing his excitement about finding ways to fit him into the Lakers’ offensive plays. The hope from Redick and the Lakers’ fanbase is that Luka will quickly adapt and become a reliable offensive option for the team in the near future.