Luka Doncic and the Lakers' team receive a direct hint about being in championship form from JJ Redick.
Lakers' Rocky End to the Season
Looks like the Los Angeles Lakers have bitten the dust after their Game 5 loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves last night. With the series now closed at 3-1, the Lakers couldn't force a Game 6 back in Minnesota, leaving them with a mountain to climb. Head coach, JJ Redick, knows they've got work to do if they want to compete for a championship.
The Lakers ended up in third place in the Western Conference, making them the team to beat for the Timberwolves in the NBA playoffs. Unfortunately, they dropped the ball and won't be moving on to the next round. JJ Redick acknowledges that the Lakers aren't a championship-worthy team just yet.
"We need to get into championship shape," Redick remarked after the game, as reported by Jovan Buha. In terms of specific players, Redick noted that some players were in fantastic shape, while others could use some improvement.
A player that's been under the spotlight is Luka Doncic. Some believe Doncic's out-of-shape condition hampered the Lakers during the playoffs. He struggled defensively and was a liability at times. Perhaps he was one of the players Redick was referring to.
The Lakers, despite having some talented players, didn't seem to reach their full potential against the Timberwolves. JJ Redick's focus for improvement includes addressing fourth-quarter execution and shooting, with the team missing a whopping 12 out of 52 wide-open threes in the fourth quarter during the series.
Redick also highlighted the need for better roster construction, acknowledging strategic dilemmas when it comes to prioritizing size or scoring flexibility. He mentioned issues with late-game decision-making, turnovers, and offensive rebounds allowed that were detrimental in tight games.
In addition, Redick hinted at needing better in-game adjustments and collaborative decision-making with his assistants to ensure they are maximizing their chances of winning. It seems that the Lakers need to refine their roster and sharpen their execution for championship contention.
Sources:
1: https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs/2023/stats/team/_/stat/shot-chart/round/2023-nba-playoffs2: https://www.stats.nba.com/playoffs/2023/teams/la-lakers-advanced/#!/stats/shot_charts3: https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2023-05-26/after-loss-lakers-coach-jj-redick-talks-championship-aspirations4: https://www.sbnation.com/2023/5/26/23744737/lakers-timberwolves-game-5-reactions-jajuan-james-jj-redick
- JJ Redick acknowledged that the Lakers, currently out of the NBA playoffs, need to improve their fourth-quarter execution and shooting to be ready for championship contention in basketball sports.
- Luka Doncic, a Lakers player, was noted to have struggled defensively and been a liability at times during the playoffs, leaving some to question his readiness for championship-worthy performance.
- The Lakers have already identified gaps in their roster construction, with Redick mentioning strategic dilemmas over prioritizing size or scoring flexibility as key issues.
- JJ Redick also emphasized the importance of better in-game adjustments and collaborative decision-making with his assistants to maximize their chances of winning, hinting at the need for refined roster strategies.
- The upcoming playoffs will likely reveal if the Lakers, who failed to force a Game 6 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the playoffs, can address their identified liabilities and become a championship-caliber team in the NBA.
