Kendrick Perkins RIPS JJ Redick After 3rd Straight Loss: “Got More Excuses Than a Brother Going to Jail”

JJ Redick is the latest Los Angeles Lakers personnel to come under fire after the team lost three straight games.

Kendrick Perkins RIPS JJ Redick After 3rd Straight Loss: “Got More Excuses Than a Brother Going to Jail”

Kendrick Perkins wants JJ Redick to 'coach' Lakers (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Kendrick Perkins criticized JJ Redick for making excuses after the Lakers' third consecutive loss.
  • Stephen A. Smith joined Perkins in questioning Redick's coaching decisions and defensive strategies.
  • Charles Barkley humorously suggested the Lakers are "tanking" following their recent poor performance.

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick is back to his defensive best when answering questions about how his team has managed to lose three straight games in a row.

He may not have reached the point where he storms out of the press conference, but a few more losses and some hard-hitting finger-pointing questions could do that.

After their loss against the Phoenix Suns, the second-year head coach used a lot of excuses while answering some tough questions. Even for someone who has worked in the media, it is getting to the point where it is becoming difficult to come up with a clear answer.

JJ got more excuses than a brotha going to jail… It’s time for you to coach. Get the attention of your locker room. When you have one of the worst defenses in the league, that’s a reflection of your coach!… If you think that Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic can be your two max guys to bring a championship back to LA, you’ve done lost your damn mind.

Kendrick Perkins said

In the past, the cast of First Take would generally defend former colleague JJ Redick as far as they possibly could. But now, during Kendrick Perkins‘ rant, even Stephen A. Smith could not stop himself from agreeing with the former center’s logic.

The NBA champion made it clear that it is not a problem concerning LeBron James. Rather, it is squarely about how opposing teams pick on Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, and succeed half the time. Therefore, Perkins expects Redick to come up with a plan to avoid that.

Stephen A. Smith joins in to question JJ Redick’s game plan

Last year, when Stephen A. Smith defended JJ Redick, he had reasons to do so. Eventually, the Los Angeles Lakers finished third. This season, the ESPN analyst is finding it hard to defend his former debate partner.

LeBron James and JJ Redick
LeBron James and JJ Redick (Image via Lake Show/X)

You did say that Vanderbilt was on the bench. That’s one body that you could’ve put out there… The reality is that LeBron James, at age 41, is still better than most in the league. Why isn’t he being utilized a bit more effectively?… Why is your bench getting outscored by 31 points?… You’re losing to the Phoenix Suns without Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks?

Stephen A. Smith said

The 58-year-old produced valid points, as the primary reason Grayson Allen managed to get past Luka Doncic was the latter’s inability to stay with faster guards.

On top of that, that drive forced LeBron James and Jake LaRavia to come over to help. That is the lack of defensive production that Smith believes is killing the Lakers.

Had Jarred Vanderbilt been out there, they would have a better chance at stopping a shot. Moreover, Smith, who has been ‘beefing’ with James in the past, questioned why JJ Redick was not utilizing him effectively, merely making him a corner specialist.

Charles Barkley jokes that the Lakers are tanking

Where Kendrick Perkins and Stephen A. Smith were quite serious about what JJ Redick has been doing wrong with the Los Angeles Lakers, Charles Barkley had a different opinion.

The Lakers out here tanking right now. Adam Silver gotta fine them soon… The Lakers lost to the Suns last night. They are closer to the play-in than they are first place. Adam Silver just don’t have the courage to fine the Lakers.

Charles Barkley said

His colleagues on Inside the NBA chuckled as soon as he said this, because they knew the Hall of Famer was joking about Adam Silver fining them for tanking.

But if this is the joke now, a few more losses could encourage others to join in on the allegations. After all, as is evident from their opinions, these losses have been hard to defend.

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