The Los Angeles Lakers are in trouble once again. The team has lost three straight games with rookie HC JJ Redick under the gun to rectify the Lakers’ sinking ship. The team dropped to 10-7 after Tuesday night’s 127-100 loss to the Phoenix Suns, prompting Skip Bayless to question his coaching credibility.
Bayless’ critique of JJ Redick and the Lakers came as the team has hit a roadblock over the past week. They are in the midst of their second three-game losing streak after going on a 6-0 run over the past couple of weeks. With Tuesday’s loss to the Suns dropping the Lakers to the sixth seed in the West, Skip Bayless lambasted Redick’s coaching on his X account.
Right now the Lakers aren’t responding to JJRedick’s coaching. Maybe he and LeBron should just go back to doing the podcast together so they can remain friends. Remember, the “GOAT” always needs a scapegoat.
Skip Bayless wrote on X
Right now the Lakers aren’t responding to JJRedick’s coaching. Maybe he and LeBron should just go back to doing the podcast together so they can remain friends. Remember, the “GOAT” always needs a scapegoat.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) November 27, 2024
Bayless issued a warning to JJ Redick to avoid becoming a ‘scapegoat’ for the Lakers’ failures if their season continues on its unstable trajectory. He alluded to Redick’s ‘Mind the Game’ podcast with LeBron James. The two had started the podcast during the 2024 offseason prior to the former sharpshooter’s hiring as the Lakers new head coach.
In a bid to maintain their off-court friendship, Skip Bayless called for Redick to drop the Lakers coaching job to avoid being made a scapegoat for the team’s failures. The former Fox Sports analyst suggested that previous Lakers head coaches, such as Darvin Ham and Frank Vogel, have suffered similar fates by becoming scapegoats for the team’s failures.
JJ Redick calls out Lakers’ defensive struggles
After the loss to the Suns, JJ Redick called out the defensive struggles of the Los Angeles Lakers. The team surrendered 127 points in back-to-back games against the Denver Nuggets and then the Suns on Tuesday night. Redick spoke to the media about the roster issues on the team, causing their defensive struggles.
Some (of) it is personnel-based. We don’t have a lot of guys that can pick up full court.
JJ Redick told the reporters
JJ Redick: “Some if it is personnel-based. We don’t have a lot of guys that can pick up full court.”
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) November 27, 2024
The team had started the season with a dominant defense spearheaded by MVP candidate Anthony Davis. Lately, however, the Lakers have struggled on the defensive end of the floor, with a 125.1 defensive rating in their last three games, which would rank near the bottom of the league. The Lakers need to find a solution to their troubles, and they need to find it soon.
