Los Angeles Lakers coach J.J. Redick absolutely appeared youthful than his 40 years upon storming out of Wednesday’s postgame press convention.
Not significantly youthful or toddler youthful, simply missing the refinement befitting a person his age—if not his NBA head teaching expertise.
All of us keep in mind the standing Mike Gundy as soon as ascribed to 40-year-olds, proper?
Frustration undoubtedly acquired the higher of Redick as he digested a 1-4 street journey. Being requested repeatedly to dissect why LeBron James, six months and 6 days the rookie coach’s junior, exhibited probably the most effort of any Laker within the journey finale at Memphis merely added up.
Right here’s hoping Redick listened to a positive-thinking podcast or slept it off on the flight dwelling. On a roster with its share of inconsistent performers, the coach should set a gradual instance.
Memphis defeated Los Angeles 131-114 on Wednesday, the Lakers’ second-most lopsided defeat on the journey.
Heart Anthony Davis, the group’s main scorer and rebounder, missed the sport with left heel soreness, whereas an sickness saved fellow starter Rui Hachimura out.
James aimed to shoulder the absences as greatest he might, scoring 39 factors on 15-for-24 capturing to go together with seven rebounds and 6 assists.
“I feel LeBron was incredible tonight,” Redick mentioned. “Largest factor that stood out … he performed arduous. Nearly 40 years outdated and performed the toughest on our group. It says loads about him.”
Redick confirmed that singling out can go each methods when he spoke of D’Angelo Russell, who logged solely 6:06 of his season-low 22 minutes after halftime. His 12 factors had been inefficient, Redick thought, as Russell went simply 4-for-12 from the ground, together with 2-for-9 from deep.
“Simply stage of compete, consideration to element, among the issues we’ve talked with him about for a few weeks,” Redick mentioned. “And at occasions, he’s been actually good with that stuff and different occasions, it’s simply reverting again to sure habits.”
The Lakers are set to return dwelling Friday evening, kicking off a three-game homestand towards a foe that additionally has heard sufficient in regards to the “E” phrase.
Effort to think about the Philadelphia 76ers with out envisioning Joel Embiid, who’s serving a three-game suspension for shoving Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes.
Sidelined within the early season by a knee damage, Embiid took exception to a Hayes column that referenced Embiid’s son and late brother in critiquing the star middle’s skill to remain in form.
Redick merely transferred stress to the highest of a desk when he walked out of his media session in Memphis. A follow-up query about handle effort with seemingly each Laker, however James drew his ire; it already was a preferred matter within the postgame.
“It goes again to selections,” Redick mentioned earlier. “It’s one thing we’ve mentioned as a gaggle, and you’ve got a alternative each evening for the way you play. It has nothing to do with making photographs. There’s acquired to be a gaggle of individuals, seven to eight guys, that make that alternative and we’re a very good basketball group.
“We acquired a handful, two or three, we’re not going to be basketball group that evening. That’s simply the fact.”
The Lakers landed within the latter class as a rule through the street journey. Friday brings their subsequent attempt at reversing course.
