Lakers fans slam JJ Redick for controversial decision to bench star amid concerns LeBron James is ‘showing his age’
The Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA Cup defense didn’t last long. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 points, including 15 in a fourth-quarter tear, as the Oklahoma City Thunder won 101-3 on Friday night. GettyJJ Redick and LeBron James both came under fire[/caption] The loss means Los Angeles cannot realistically make it out of the group stage after winning the inaugural tournament last year. Phoenix, San Antonio and Oklahoma City are all 2-1 in West Group B, while the Lakers slipped to 2-2. JJ Redick is on a tough run despite a resounding victory over Victor Wembanyama‘s San Antonio Spurs earlier this week. Fingers are being pointed – and it appears nobody is safe. First in the firing line is head coach Redick. On a night where LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined for 27 points, D’Angelo Russell was one of the few bright points. Benched by Redick after a slow start to the season, the 28-year-old managed 17 points and nine rebounds in 26 minutes. Russell’s eight points were the most by any Laker in the fourth quarter, where they were outscored 30 to 24 to give up the game. But Redick decided to keep a struggling Davis and Austin Reeves on the court and bench the hot hand – fans were not happy. “Damn this is bad JJ,” posted one on X. GettySGA was too good for the Lakers to handle[/caption] GettyRussell and Dalton Knecht were the best Lakers on the night[/caption] “Yeah Dlo earned the right to stay on the floor tonight especially with how rough Austin had of a night and didn’t look quite right after the fall either,” added another. “JJ is just a Dlo hater, I knew it,” wrote a third. Rookie Dalton Knecht – one of the steals of the NBA Draft at No. 17 – scored 20 points, including five 3-pointers for the Lakers. His excellence is another massive positive this season but there are question marks over the men supposed to be leading from the front. Davis was off form last night and 39-year-old LeBron is not immune to criticism. “Father Time catches us all,” wrote one. “I’m about to say something I really don’t want to say but I’m just gonna say it…Lebron starting to look his age on the court,” added another. King James is not about to give up his crown without a fight and will hope to be back on song against the Utah Jazz on Sunday. The Lakers’ biggest issue this season has been miscommunications on defense and Redick addressed the area after a fourth loss in five, before trying to end on a positive note. “Over the last two games, that was as disconnected our group has been on that end of the floor since the first game of the season,” he said. “We played well enough and hard enough to win against the best team in the West so, it’s definitely good stuff,”
The Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA Cup defense didn’t last long.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 points, including 15 in a fourth-quarter tear, as the Oklahoma City Thunder won 101-3 on Friday night.
The loss means Los Angeles cannot realistically make it out of the group stage after winning the inaugural tournament last year.
Phoenix, San Antonio and Oklahoma City are all 2-1 in West Group B, while the Lakers slipped to 2-2.
JJ Redick is on a tough run despite a resounding victory over Victor Wembanyama‘s San Antonio Spurs earlier this week.
Fingers are being pointed – and it appears nobody is safe.
First in the firing line is head coach Redick.
On a night where LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined for 27 points, D’Angelo Russell was one of the few bright points.
Benched by Redick after a slow start to the season, the 28-year-old managed 17 points and nine rebounds in 26 minutes.
Russell’s eight points were the most by any Laker in the fourth quarter, where they were outscored 30 to 24 to give up the game.
But Redick decided to keep a struggling Davis and Austin Reeves on the court and bench the hot hand – fans were not happy.
“Damn this is bad JJ,” posted one on X.
“Yeah Dlo earned the right to stay on the floor tonight especially with how rough Austin had of a night and didn’t look quite right after the fall either,” added another.
“JJ is just a Dlo hater, I knew it,” wrote a third.
Rookie Dalton Knecht – one of the steals of the NBA Draft at No. 17 – scored 20 points, including five 3-pointers for the Lakers.
His excellence is another massive positive this season but there are question marks over the men supposed to be leading from the front.
Davis was off form last night and 39-year-old LeBron is not immune to criticism.
“Father Time catches us all,” wrote one.
“I’m about to say something I really don’t want to say but I’m just gonna say it…Lebron starting to look his age on the court,” added another.
King James is not about to give up his crown without a fight and will hope to be back on song against the Utah Jazz on Sunday.
The Lakers’ biggest issue this season has been miscommunications on defense and Redick addressed the area after a fourth loss in five, before trying to end on a positive note.
“Over the last two games, that was as disconnected our group has been on that end of the floor since the first game of the season,” he said.
“We played well enough and hard enough to win against the best team in the West so, it’s definitely good stuff,”
