JJ Redick Ready to Put Luka Doncic and Team Through ‘Course Correction’ After Disappointing Road Trip

JJ Redick took responsibility for his team's performances and underscored the need for a 'course correction'.

JJ Redick Ready to Put Luka Doncic and Team Through ‘Course Correction’ After Disappointing Road Trip

JJ Redick (Image creditd - Firstsportz)

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After a strong start to the season despite the absence of Lebron James, JJ Redick’s Los Angeles Lakers suffered a heavy 121-92 defeat to the defending champions, Oklahoma City Thunder. It is their second loss in three games after they lost by 20 points to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.

This loss serves as a reality check to JJ Redick and team that while their first 10 games were promising, they still are a work in progress before they can be considered at the same level as OKC or the Denver Nuggets in the West.

With the loss, the Lakers dropped to 8-4 and fifth in the table while OKC remained at the top, improving to 12-1 and extending their winning streak to four games. It was the second game on a back-to-back for OKC as they had thumped the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday.

It is back to the drawing board for Redick and his staff, who underscored the need for a ‘course correction’. The Lakers will take on the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA Cup on Friday and the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday in a back-to-back to end their five-game road trip, which has not had the best of starts. He said after the game:

I think you have to look at the big picture and where your team is at right now. I don’t think it has been a great road trip for us just in terms of how we have played. The Atlanta game and tonight I don’t think are reflective of who the group is going to be, but it clearly is who the group is right now and so we have go to course correct.

Los Angeles Lakers suffer a humiliating loss to Oklahoma City

Things did not go as planned from the onset as the Lakers were down by 12 in the first quarter and were trailing 70-38 at the end of the first half. Lakers point-guard Luka Doncic was averaging 37.1 points per game heading into the fixture but was held to only 19 points as he made seven shots in 20 attempts from field, making only one three-pointer in five attempts. Doncic and Austin Reaves had formed a formidable offensive duo during James’ absence but struggled to find any rhythm against the league-toppers.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and co. put on a show in a convincing win over the Lakers

There were some improvements and signs in the second half but it was a little too late to cut the first half deficit. League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the highest scorer with 30 points while Isaiah Joe scored 21 off the bench. Lu Dort, a defensive stopper who normally guards Doncic, was out with an upper right trapezius strain, but the Thunder got the job done anyway.

Coming into the game, Lakers scored at least 116 points in every game this season but struggled to score even 100 on Wednesday. The Lakers will be looking for James to return and provide them with some much needed firepower as they clearly lacked another star against OKC.

LeBron James’ return is getting closer

The return of LeBron James is getting closer than ever. The 40-year-old veteran heading into his 23rd season in the NBA has yet to make an appearance this campaign due to a sciatica nerve injury. But he seems to have taken a key step towards recovery as he practiced with the Lakers’ South Bay G League affiliate on Wednesday.

James has been officially cleared for contact basketball activities and will be re-evaluated in one to two weeks as reported by Shams Charania.

It was James’ first practice in a team setting since the season got underway. The reports are that he looked good and was moving well. The Lakers staff expect him to make his return in the second or third week of November.

Despite his age, the Lakers will be hoping to see him on court soon as he is coming off an impressive 22nd season, in which he averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists in 70 games. James will become the first player in league history to play 23 NBA seasons when he makes his season debut.

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