5 months ago
Head coach J.J. Redick and nan Los Angeles Lakers are connected their first two-game losing streak of nan season. Photo by Ryan Sun/EPA-EFE
Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers coach J.J. Redick blasted his players for a deficiency of effort and taking "shortcuts" aft a lopsided nonaccomplishment to nan Phoenix Suns.
Redick made nan comments aft a 132-108 setback Tuesday successful Phoenix. The Lakers, who were 15-4 done November, are 4-5 successful December. Their nonaccomplishment to nan Suns gave them their first two-game skid this season.
The Suns made 58.8% of their shots, nan highest percent this play for a Lakers opponent. They besides made 50% of their 3-point attempts complete nan last 2 quarters, held a 35-22 advantage successful assists and scored connected their first 13 possessions of nan 2nd half.
"There are shortcuts you tin return aliases you tin do nan difficult point and you tin make nan 2nd effort aliases you tin sprint backmost aliases you can't," Redick told reporters. "It's conscionable a choice. And there's a cardinal choices successful a game, and you're very apt not going to make each prime correctly.
"But tin you make nan immense mostly of them correctly? It gives you a chance to win."
Suns guardant Dillon Brooks made 10 of 15 attempts, including 3 of 6 3-point tries, en way to 25 points. Devin Booker totaled 21 points and 11 assists. Fellow Suns defender Collin Gillespie and guardant Royce O'Neale, who made 4 3-pointers apiece, scored 16 and 12 points, respectively.
"It's nan difficult choice," Redick said. "It's not nan easy choice. It's quality nature. We each do it. We do it connected a regular basis. We make easy choices because it's comfortable. Being comfortable doesn't win."
Star guardant LeBron James, who led nan Lakers pinch 23 points, cited squad wellness and chemistry erstwhile asked astir Tuesday's struggles. Lakers defender Luka Doncic (calf) and guardant Rui Hachimura (groin) did not play.
"It's nan aforesaid point I said before. It has to beryllium 5 guys connected a string," James said.
James and nan Lakers (19-9) will big nan Houston Rockets (17-10) astatine 8 p.m. EST Thursday successful Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (C) celebrates pinch teammates aft nan Dodgers conclusion nan Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 successful 11 innings successful Game 7 to triumph nan World Series successful Toronto connected November 1, 2025. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
