### Lakers' Struggles: JJ Redick's Reality Check After Disappointing Losses The Los Angeles Lakers have faced a challenging start to their five-game road trip, suffering significant defeats against the Atlanta Hawks and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Head coach JJ Redick has expressed his frustration with the team's performance, particularly highlighting a lack of effort and urgency during these games. The Lakers' recent losses have raised concerns about their competitiveness, especially against teams that were missing key players. Redick's candid remarks following these games have underscored the need for improvement as the team prepares for upcoming matchups. ### Breakdown of Recent Lakers' Performance and Redick's Response 1. **Loss to the Atlanta Hawks**: - The Lakers lost 122-102 to the Hawks, who were missing several key players, including All-Star Trae Young. Redick noted that his team failed to match the Hawks' intensity and effort [https://www.standard-journal.com/ap/sports/article_5ec45e2a-95af-5768-9840-ee4b2ea866d8.html]. - Redick's postgame press conference was notably brief, lasting under two minutes, where he answered six questions with minimal elaboration, reflecting his frustration [https://americantalk.live/jj-redick-darts-out-of-awkward-lakers-press-conference-after-ugly-loss]. 2. **Comments on Team's Urgency**: - Redick criticized the Lakers for their lack of fight, stating that the Hawks "brought the requisite level of effort and urgency," which his team did not [https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-jj-redick-blasts-la-lack-of-fight-shorthanded-hawks]. - He acknowledged the Hawks' bench players stepping up, with Mouhamed Gueye scoring a career-high 21 points, while the Lakers struggled to find their rhythm [https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/3392599/frustrated-redick-keeps-postgame-comments-brief-after-loss-to-hawks]. 3. **Subsequent Loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder**: - Following the defeat to the Hawks, the Lakers faced another setback against the Thunder, further compounding their issues on the road [https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-jj-redick-harsh-reality-check-hawks-thunder-losses]. - Redick's comments after these games have emphasized the need for a more competitive spirit as the Lakers prepare for their next opponents. ### Key Takeaways from Redick's Critique and Lakers' Performance - **Lack of Competitive Spirit**: The Lakers have shown a concerning lack of urgency and fight in their recent games, particularly against teams that were not at full strength. - **Coaching Frustration**: JJ Redick's brief and pointed postgame comments reflect a coach who is not satisfied with the team's effort and is calling for immediate improvement. - **Upcoming Challenges**: The Lakers must address these issues quickly as they face a series of challenging games ahead, including matchups against the Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Pelicans, and Milwaukee Bucks. In summary, the Lakers' recent performances have prompted a strong response from head coach JJ Redick, who is urging his team to elevate their game. The combination of disappointing losses and Redick's candid assessments highlights the urgency for the Lakers to regroup and refocus as they continue their road trip.