JJ Redick blasts Lakers first-half performance after preseason loss

“Wie wir in dieses Spiel gestartet sind, war verrückt. Ich weiß nicht, warum, denn diese Gruppe war in den zwei Monaten, in denen ich sie erlebe, großartig. Es ist also einfach inakzeptabel, die erste Halbzeit war inakzeptabel,” head coach JJ Redick said after his team fell behind heavily early on.

The Los Angeles Lakers dropped their second preseason game of the schedule, absorbing a 124-98 defeat against the Golden State Warriors without their star trio of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler. The loss dropped the Lakers into a steep early hole at Chase Center, sparked by a dominant first half that left the visitors trailing 81-53 at the break.

Redick Blasts First-Half Performance After Lopsided Defeat

Redick did not hold back in his postgame assessment of the roster’s collective output during the opening twenty minutes. The second-year head coach expressed frustration with the way his squad approached the opening tip-off, especially given the competitive habits established during training camp over the preceding two months.

“Wir hatten eine Handvoll solcher Spiele, in denen dir Starspieler und ein Großteil der Tiefe fehlen. Ich erwarte trotzdem zu gewinnen und dass wir nach unseren Standards spielen,” Redick stated, emphasizing that absences do not excuse a lack of execution or defensive intensity.

The starting lineup featured Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jake LaRavia, Adou Thiero, Quentin Grimes, and Bronny James. For the younger James, the upcoming campaign marks a notable transition as his first in Purple and Gold without his father, LeBron James, sharing the floor alongside him.

Bronny James and Reserves Handle Tough Warriors Rotation

Bronny logged 21 minutes of floor time against Golden State, finishing with four points on 2-of-5 shooting from the field. He added five assists while committing three turnovers, ending the contest with a -13 plus-minus rating that stood as the second-best mark among the Lakers’ starting five.

Golden State head coach Steve Kerr deployed several of his key veterans for stretches of the contest, complicating matters for the short-handed Lakers reserves. Stephen Curry played 14 minutes and shot efficiently, tallying 16 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Draymond Green added defensive pressure and playmaking in 15 minutes of action, recording eight assists, three points, and a game-high +25 plus-minus rating. Brandin Podziemski chipped in 16 points across 19 minutes, while rookie Yaxel Lendeborg paced the Warriors with 17 points and nine rebounds in 21 minutes.

Second-Half Adjustments and Praise for Adou Thiero and Jake LaRavia

Los Angeles found more defensive resolve after intermission, outscoring Golden State 45-43 in the second half. Redick pointed to the energy of specific bench pieces as the catalyst for the tighter play after the break, singling out Adou Thiero and Jake LaRavia for special praise.

“Ich fand, dass wir in der Mannschaft, die in die zweite Halbzeit gestartet ist, in der Verteidigung wieder zu unserer körperlichen Stärke zurückgefunden haben. Vor allem Adou und Jake haben in dieser Phase wirklich gut gespielt,” Redick noted regarding the pair, who are projected to handle minor rotation roles during the regular season.

Sandro Mamukelashvili led the Lakers in scoring off the bench, producing 15 points in 18 minutes by shooting 6-of-10 overall and 3-of-4 from three-point range.

Upcoming Preseason Schedule for the Lakers

The defeat followed the Lakers’ preseason opener against the Sacramento Kings, a game where Luka Doncic showcased strong early-season form. Los Angeles meets Sacramento again in the night from Thursday to Friday, before concluding their preseason series against the Golden State Warriors on October 14, where the team’s regular starters could return to the floor.