Lakers Skid Continues as Spurs Knock Them Out of NBA Cup Quarterfinals
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The Los Angeles Lakers’ run in the inaugural Emirates NBA Cup ended Tuesday night, falling 118-101 to the San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Arena. San Antonio played without rookie star Victor Wembanyama, sidelined by a calf strain, yet still controlled the game behind a relentless transition attack.
Head coach JJ Redick acknowledged recurring problems that resurfaced in the defeat. “We just didn’t do a good job getting back in transition,” Redick said postgame. “Containing the basketball is probably the hardest thing for our team right now.”
Repeated Defensive Breakdowns
The Lakers surrendered multiple fast-break opportunities and struggled at the point of attack, allowing the Spurs to build double-digit leads in both the first and second quarters. Redick pointed to poor execution in “end-of-quarter stuff” that immediately put his club “behind the eight ball.”
Los Angeles also failed to create turnovers or generate extra possessions on the offensive glass—areas Redick described as “the margins” where his roster must improve. “We don’t crash, we can’t force a lot of turnovers,” he said. “If a team shoots well, we’re going to be in trouble.”
Same Issues, Same Results
The loss marked another lopsided outcome for a team that entered the season with championship aspirations. “Very few teams don’t have something you can expose, and we consistently get exposed to the same things,” Redick added.
Players have previously accepted blame for subpar effort and attention to detail, but the pattern has persisted. Tuesday’s result not only eliminated the Lakers from the tournament but amplified doubts about their status as contenders.
Rich Paul Weighs In
Agent Rich Paul, whose Klutch Sports represents LeBron James, recently criticized the Lakers’ organizational culture during an interview with Max Kellerman, drawing an unfavorable comparison to the Miami Heat. Paul’s remarks followed reported dissatisfaction with how the franchise handled James’s contract discussions.
The Lakers return to regular-season play later this week, searching for answers to the defensive lapses Redick says opponents continue to target.
Source: LakersNation
