Redick Calls Lakers' Start 'Unacceptable' After Early Timeout
Coach JJ Redick expresses frustration with the team's performance in the opening minutes of a blowout loss.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick utilized an uncommon early timeout just 52 seconds into the game against the Golden State Warriors, citing an "unacceptable" start to the eventual 124-98 defeat. The Lakers were already shorthanded, missing several key players expected to be in their rotation for the regular season opener.
The unusual decision came after a chaotic opening possession that saw Sandro Mamukelashvili turn the ball over, leading to a Warriors fastbreak and an early 3-pointer. By the Lakers' next possession, Redick had seen enough. "When you draw up a first play, and then give them a second play that is a play we’ve scripted for ten days, or whatever it’s been, and they don’t run either correctly, that’s unacceptable," Redick stated. "You’re not ready to play. That got us off to a poor start."
This early deficit contributed to a poor first half for the Lakers, who trailed 45-31 at the end of the first quarter and were down 81-53 by halftime. "The way we started that game was insane," Redick said. "I don’t know the reasons why, because this group has been awesome for the two months I’ve been around them. The first half was unacceptable."
Redick conveyed his displeasure to the team during halftime. "I told them at halftime: I’ve had a handful of these games as a coach where you’re missing star players and a lot of your depth – and I still expect to win," he said. "I expect us to play to our standards, and that first half did not meet my expectations; and I let them know that." Player Adou Thiero acknowledged the team understood the message, noting, "So coming in and being able to talk about it at halftime, JJ came in and he just let us know straight forward what it was."
Despite the stern words, the Lakers outscored the Warriors 45-43 in the second half, but the significant deficit created by their early struggles proved too much to overcome. The Lakers were without Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle, and Collin Sexton for the game.