JJ Redick identifies a consistent problem when LA doesn’t play well

LOS ANGELES – After a huge come-from-behind victory against the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers could not be upgraded that momentum falls to the LA Clippers112-104. After starting the season well, the Lakers have not been able to string together consistent games. And the head coach JJ Redick he believes he knows a consistent reason why things turn around when a team struggles.

After the Lakers’ loss to the Clippers on Thursday, JJ Redick stressed the need for the team to trust each other more and consistently look to pass the ball. It wasn’t just against the Clippers, it was a constant theme.

“We didn’t trust each other offensively, we didn’t have enough passes,” Redick said. “It’s a consistent thing when we don’t play well, we don’t pass to each other.”

The Lakers finished with 24 assists in the game, compared to the Clippers’ 23. And they had more consistent ball movement as they tried to engineer a second-half comeback. But there was plenty of one-on-one play in the second quarter as the Clippers built a double-digit lead.

As someone who played 15 years in the NBA, Redick has experienced multiple locker rooms and can understand why players might resort to isolation basketball all the time.

“I think it just goes back to the human element of everything,” Redick said. “Guys are worried about their future and, that’s what happens when you get a team full of free agents and options. I think it’s only natural to worry about the attack. I’ve been there, it gets in your head a little bit. Five minutes and you still don’t have a chance. It’s the real thing, it’s nobody’s fault.”

Redick was clear that he was speaking in general rather than any specifics regarding those Lakers, but one player who can help set the tone in terms of ball movement is Luka Doncic. As it is the main player of the Dončić team he takes it upon himself to try and make sure the ball doesn’t stick.

It can be a challenging balance, one that Redick believes Doncic has done a good job of finding. For him, the blueprint for how the Lakers should play from the rebound was during the second half against the Clippers.

“We had 24 assists, which is not bad, but it could have been better. I think the ball moved well in the second half,” Doncic said after the game. JJ said at halftime that the ball needs to move more.