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Lakers HC pinpoints growth opportunity in preseason loss to Warriors

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Lakers' JJ Redick pinpoints growth opportunity in preseason loss to Warriors

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 10/16/24

On Tuesday, a full-strength Los Angeles Lakers team fell to the Golden State Warriors. JJ Redick's team is now 1-3 in the preseason as it continues to learn the new offensive and defensive system he's implemented since taking over from Darvin Ham.

The Lakers' three-point shooting was of particular concern, with the team shooting 27.5 percent on 11-of-40 attempts as a unit. However, it was the team's third-quarter performance that caused things to get a little ugly for the Purple and Gold.

When addressing the media as part of his postgame news conference, Redick stressed that the stagnation he saw from his team was a growth opportunity. He noted that the rotation lost some trust in the offensive system, opening the door for the Warriors to take control of the game.

“I was highly encouraged with the shots we got,” Redick said. “It was when we didn’t trust our offense and got a little stagnant that we struggled, especially in the third quarter...We just didn’t play good offense that quarter. That happens sometimes. It’s a growth opportunity, a learning lesson for our group...You stop trusting, you start thinking, ‘I got to get myself going,’ and that’s not how we want to play. It’s okay. It happens. We’ll get better.”

JJ Redick: "I was highly encouraged with the shots we got. It was when we didn’t trust our offense and got a little stagnant... that was the beginning of that third quarter."

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Learning a new system takes time. Dropping games in the preseason is no reason for the franchise or its fan base to panic. These games are supposed to be about learning, improving conditioning and pinpointing areas that need additional work before the new season gets underway.

Los Angeles has two future Hall of Famers on its roster. LeBron James and Anthony Davis will ensure Redick's first year as a head coach will at least be a competitive one. Nevertheless, it's foolish to expect a smooth season. Redick's approach will take time to pay dividends.

Of course, that is always the risk when stepping into the Lakers' head-coaching job. It's arguably the most high-pressure role in basketball if not all sports. Redick knew this when accepting the job, and the front office undoubtedly knew his project would take time.

Still, there were some encouraging moments during the Lakers' latest loss. As they get more comfortable with what they are asked, those moments will become far more frequent. Until then, Redick must preach a growth mindset and allow his team to learn from its mistakes without him panicking and changing the approach.

The Lakers will play the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, their final preseason game. It will be interesting to see how much they've learned when facing one of the best offensive rosters in the NBA.

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