The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a 41-point beatdown against the Miami Heat, 134-93, on Wednesday for their sixth loss in their last eight assignments.
The Lakers have looked awful in their four-game road trip. Prior to the defeat to the Heat, they only scored 80 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday—their lowest output since 2017.
For what it’s worth, LeBron James had a strong game against the Heat, finishing with a team-high 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting, five rebounds and eight assists.
His running mate, Anthony Davis, however, struggled mightily. He scored a season-low eight points on 3-of-14 shooting.
During the postgame media conference, Lakers coach JJ Redick didn’t bite his lip about their woeful slump.
Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick with forward LeBron James at Footprint Center.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
“It’s easy to not want the ownership, particularly when it’s embarrassing,” said Redick in a video shared by Courtside Buzz. “I’m embarrassed. We’re all embarrassed. It’s not a game I thought we had the right fight, the right professionalism.”
The first-year tactician doubled down on his stance and fired a strong message to his players.
“I can’t physically get us organized, I can’t physically be into the basketball, I can’t physically talk and call out reds and physically call out coverages,” furthered Redick. “I’m not blaming players, I own this. But there needs to be ownership on the court as well.
“There’s not a sense from me that we’re together right now. And that’s what we say in the huddle, (but) it doesn’t feel that way.”
The Lakers only shot 42.0%, while allowing the Heat to shoot 57.8%, including 51.1% from the three-point area. Los Angeles was also outrebounded, 52-36.
The Lakers, who are hampered by injuries to key rotation guys in Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wood and Jaxson Hayes, will close out their road trip against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.
