Lakers zero in on turnovers after 23 miscues in Game 4 loss
lakers-zero-in-on-turnovers-after-23-miscues-in-game-4-loss
The Los Angeles Lakers will devote the next few days to tightening their ball security after committing 23 turnovers in Sunday’s 105-97 defeat to the Houston Rockets, head coach JJ Redick said.
Those giveaways led directly to 30 Houston points and pushed the Lakers’ series total to 80 turnovers—more than any other team in this year’s playoffs. Los Angeles still owns a 3-1 advantage in the first-round matchup.
“We’ll spend a lot of time over the next couple of days just figuring out ways to try to prevent some of those turnovers,” Redick told reporters following Game 4 at Crypto.com Arena.
Veteran guard Marcus Smart, who finished with five turnovers, said most mistakes were unforced. “Majority of them was mental,” Smart noted. “We were dropping passes—normal plays we make on a regular basis. It’s something we have to clean up.”
Injuries have thinned the Lakers’ pool of primary ball-handlers, increasing the playmaking burden on LeBron James. A possible return from Austin Reaves could help steady the backcourt, but Redick emphasized that ball security must improve regardless of personnel.
Los Angeles can close out the series in Game 5 on Tuesday night in Houston. Limiting turnovers, players and coaches agreed, will be essential to finishing the job.
Source: Hoops Wire
