JJ Redick Reflects on Lakers’ Defensive Collapse in One-Sided Loss to Suns

JJ Redick Reflects on Lakers’ Defensive Collapse in One-Sided Loss to Suns

In a game that highlighted glaring defensive vulnerabilities, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a humbling defeat to the Phoenix Suns, losing 123-95 on Sunday night. Former NBA sharpshooter and current analyst JJ Redick provided sharp insights into the Lakers’ performance, particularly focusing on their defensive lapses that allowed the Suns to dominate from start to finish.

The Suns, led by Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, showcased a well-oiled offensive machine. Durant tallied 32 points, while Booker added 28, exploiting defensive mismatches and capitalizing on the Lakers’ inconsistent rotations. Redick, speaking on ESPN’s postgame show, emphasized that the Lakers’ defensive breakdowns were the primary reason for their lopsided loss.

“This wasn’t just about the Suns being great offensively,” Redick noted. “The Lakers made it easy for them. There was a lack of communication on switches, players were late to close out on shooters, and they didn’t bring the physicality needed to disrupt a team as talented as Phoenix.”

The Lakers’ defensive issues were evident early, as Phoenix opened the game with a 12-2 run. The Suns repeatedly found open looks, whether it was Durant drilling mid-range jumpers or Booker driving to the rim unchallenged. By halftime, the Lakers trailed by 20 points, a deficit that seemed insurmountable given their inability to string together stops.

Redick pointed out that while LeBron James and Anthony Davis are central to the Lakers’ success, the team’s defensive effort must come collectively. “You can’t rely on AD to clean up every mistake or expect LeBron, at his age, to carry both the offensive and defensive load,” he said. “The Lakers have to commit to a team defensive identity. Right now, it’s not there.”

The Suns exploited the Lakers’ defensive gaps with precision. Pick-and-roll actions left the Lakers scrambling, and Phoenix’s ball movement created wide-open shots. The Suns finished the game shooting 51% from the field and 43% from beyond the arc, a testament to the ease with which they dissected Los Angeles’ defense.

For the Lakers, this defeat raises serious questions about their ability to compete against elite teams. Despite boasting stars like James and Davis, the team has struggled to establish defensive consistency. Head coach Darvin Ham acknowledged these shortcomings postgame, admitting, “We weren’t locked in defensively, and that’s on us as a group. We need to be better.”

Redick also highlighted the lack of effort from the Lakers’ supporting cast, stating, “Defense is about effort and focus, and too many Lakers players were caught ball-watching or not giving maximum effort on closeouts. That’s unacceptable if they want to contend in the Western Conference.”

This loss drops the Lakers to a middling position in the standings, underscoring their need to address these defensive issues quickly. With a tough schedule ahead, including matchups against other Western Conference contenders, the Lakers must find solutions to their defensive woes.

Redick concluded his analysis with a challenge to the Lakers: “Defense wins championships. The Suns exposed them tonight, but the question is whether the Lakers will respond and commit to the grind it takes to be great defensively. If they don’t, nights like this will become all too common.”

The Lakers’ next opportunity to bounce back comes in a pivotal game against the Denver Nuggets, a matchup that will test their resolve and defensive discipline. Whether they rise to the occasion remains to be seen.