LOS ANGELES — Head coach JJ Redick described the Los Angeles Lakers as “a work in progress” after Tuesday night’s defeat to the Orlando Magic at Crypto.com Arena ended the club’s eight-game homestand at an even 4-4.
The Lakers controlled much of the contest but faltered late, a collapse Redick attributed in part to an offense that can stall when possessions turn into isolation play. “I think you gotta give your guys some leeway to play in early offense versus just playing in the half court,” he said. “We gotta find that balance.”
Redick cited primary creators Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and LeBron James as players who need freedom early in the shot clock, yet he stressed that the group must avoid prolonged stagnation. Against Orlando’s switch-heavy defense, Los Angeles expected the coverage but struggled to capitalize consistently.
Luke Kennard provided a spark off the bench, using constant movement to counter the Magic’s switching. Overall energy, Redick noted, improved from the previous outing against the Boston Celtics. “We played well enough to win tonight,” he said. “We certainly had the edge and played hard enough to win. We played together. We did our best to play the right way and share the basketball.”
Results, however, told a different story. The loss kept the Lakers in the middle of a crowded Western Conference playoff race, underscoring the need for progress as the regular season winds down.
Despite the early ups and downs in Redick’s first year on the sideline, Hall of Fame coach and executive Pat Riley recently said the franchise chose the right person to lead the team.
Source: Lakers Nation
