LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers have now lost three games in a row for the first time this season. The latest game against the Phoenix Suns was again a 25+ point blowout after their previous embarrassment against the Denver Nuggets. What seemed like a small dip in that game has turned out to be a scary situation for JJ Redick and his players.
Anthony Davis bounced back with a decent double-double outing. However, one look at the game and the stat sheet, and one would know that the Lakers were horrible shooting the basketball. They also seemed to have lost their early season energy.
The Phoenix Suns had Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal return to the lineup and blow the Lakers out. The problem for the Lakers is that they have not had any personnel changes in their lineups, suggesting JJ Redick has to figure out their problems before this goes downhill. Here are three issues he needs to fix as soon as possible.
1. JJ Redick needs to fix the horrible shooting
Despite having a period of rest between all three games, the Los Angeles Lakers have declined in their shooting efficiency. Against the Orlando Magic, their shooting was good but lost due to missed clutch free throws. But against the Denver Nuggets transition defense, that shooting looked worse.
JJ Redick Then it showed its ugly head against the Phoenix Suns. That franchise is not known for its perimeter defense, yet the Lakers shot a laughable for a playoff contender, 23.5% from three. The percentages are also horrible from the entire field, but better numbers from role players offset it on the stat sheet.
If anything, JJ Redick, who built his career off his shooting, needs to fix this first and foremost. The men in purple and gold are either struggling with something fundamental, or a lack of practice, or taking it casually. Either of those reasons are not good if they want to go deep into the playoffs.
2. Over reliance on LeBron James and Anthony Davis
This might sound more as a problem the front office needs to solve. But a head coach has to make the best out of what he has before throwing in the towel and demanding better players. Excepting rookie Dalton Knecht, who did not play well in this game, the rest of the bench has been appalling.
Big name stars such as D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent have been horrible. The only efficient guard on the bench other than Knecht is Max Christie. But he is tasked to handle defense and does not get the ball much while on offense.
JJ Redick had taunted former head coach Darvin Ham by suggesting the Lakers of old did not play sets well. That has backfired in these three games as the likes of Christie and Russell stand in a corner waiting for the playmaker to throw the ball.
Redick has to unlock some production from the bench, else he risks two problems in the long term. One is tiring out LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The other is sustained unproductivity from the bench will prove disastrous in the long run.
3. Return to Showtime basketball
When the Los Angeles Lakers opened the season with a 10-4 run prior to these three straight losses, they played exciting basketball. Many felt Redick had brought back the Showtime days when his players displayed slick movements and passing to create scoring opportunities.
In these past three games, LeBron James and Anthony Davis have played more isolation basketball than before. It has been a problem for the Lakers the past two seasons. The two as leaders generally switch to that method of play if they feel that the team is struggling.
But the first-year head coach has to talk them into snapping out of it. He also has to motivate the rest to execute his schemes well. Only then can those two leaders feel confident in going with the flow. Without a return to Showtime basketball, the Lakers with their current roster do not have a chance at winning crucial games.
