The Los Angeles Lakers received the worst possible Christmas present. The crushing 119-96 defeat to the Houston Rockets on December 25th sparked outrage among fans and analysts, who were quick to point the finger at the person they consider responsible for this situation: head coach JJ Redick.
The debacle at Crypto.com Arena hit the Lakers hard. Beyond it being Christmas Day, it marked their third consecutive loss, and their position in the Western Conference is now precarious.
The game was a showcase of the worst the Lakers have done this season. They played disorganized basketball, turning the ball over 16 times, allowing the Rockets to shoot 53.3% from the field, and ultimately losing the board game 48-25.
After the debacle, Redick pointed the finger at the team, saying, “We don’t care enough. And that’s the part that bothers me a lot.” Analysts like Kendrick Perkins disagree.
Perkins criticizes Redick for his lack of accountability
In an analysis for ESPN’s Get Up, Perkins didn’t hesitate to point the finger at the head coach. “It’s always somebody else’s fault. It’s never JJ Redick’s fault,” the former Boston Celtics star criticized.
He explained that LeBron James’ body language revealed the seriousness of the situation, as did Luka Doncic’s constant complaints to the referees.
“But JJ? Why not JJ?” Perkins demanded, pointing to the numerous offensive lapses and their lack of defensive solidity. The 2008 NBA champion then criticized Redick for his lack of leadership.
“You’re the coach. That’s a reflection of you,” Perkins asserted. “When a team isn’t responding and unable to compete at a high level,” things start with the coach, the former player criticized.
LeBron and Doncic had one of their worst games.
The numbers back up Perkins. Doncic had one of his most lackluster games of the season, scoring 25 points on 9-of-17 shooting. James, meanwhile, scored 18 on 7-of-13 shooting.
Frustration is taking hold of the Lakers, and if Reddick doesn’t step up with accountability and leadership, it will soon be too late to stop the freefall.
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