JJ Redick laid into the Lakers’ defensive efforts following a 132-108 blowout road loss to the Suns on Tuesday, saying bluntly, “We just can’t move.”
“The theme with our team,” Redick told reporters after the defeat, “is, like, these young teams that move, we just can’t move. So, it’s like we’re stuck in mud.”
The Suns knocked down 50 of their 85 field-goal attempts in the victory, including 14 of their 34 3-point shots.
Six Phoenix players scored doubled digits, including LeBron James’ rival, Dillon Brooks, who poured in 25.
The Suns seemingly couldn’t miss to start the second half as well — something Redick was visibly frustrated with when he was answering questions about his team’s defensive effort.
“We practice this stuff enough,” Redick said. “We review this stuff enough. We show film on this stuff enough.
“It comes down to just making the choice. It’s making the choice There are shortcuts you can take or you can do the hard thing and you can make the second effort or you can sprint back or you can’t. It’s just a choice. And there’s a million choices in a game, and you’re very likely not going to make every choice correctly. But can you make the vast majority of them correctly? It gives you a chance to win.”
Several Lakers felt similarly, with James saying matter-of-factly that the reason they lost was, “The offense was clicking; our defense wasn’t. That’s what it was.”
The loss marked the first time all season the Lakers — who were playing without Luka Doncic (calf) — dropped back-to-back games.
Redick, though, seemed to have a plan to get them right before their primetime Thursday night matchup with the Rockets.
“I told them, ‘Detach tomorrow,’” he said. “‘Be with your family. Enjoy the holiday. We’ll all come with the right mentality on Christmas.’”
