Lakers' JJ Redick Criticizes 'Unfair' Referees in Loss
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Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick, seen here chatting with center Jaxson Hayes, faced a challenging game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Los Angeles Lakers' winning streak came to an abrupt end on Monday with a 119-110 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who were missing key player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander due to an abdominal injury. The game was a close affair, with the Lakers trailing by only three points with a minute to play, but they missed their final three shots, widening the margin.
Despite their strong performance against the Thunder's formidable defense (50.0% field goal percentage), the Lakers struggled from beyond the arc, particularly in the fourth quarter, where they made only 3 out of 11 attempts. This was a frustrating aspect of the game, as the Lakers' shooting woes contrasted with the Thunder's physical defense, which is known for its intensity and sometimes receives different officiating compared to other teams.
Star guard Austin Reaves was whistled for a technical foul in the third quarter after a physical encounter with defenders Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Joe, despite no whistle being blown. This incident sparked further frustration for Lakers coach JJ Redick, who had to use both his coach's challenges.
Redick's Frustration with Challenges
Redick acknowledged the team's awareness of the Thunder's physicality before the game, especially without the injured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. However, he was upset about the need to use his coach's challenges, which are limited to two per game. One challenge was on an out-of-bounds play, and the other was for a trip on Reaves, a significant call that could have resulted in a foul.
"The Austin trip was a crucial moment," Redick stated. "We played well in the first half, but our five turnovers after 10 in the first half were detrimental. Those turnovers led to 20 points. However, the trip call was a significant missed opportunity. I shouldn't have used one of my challenges, especially the out-of-bounds one, as it was ridiculous."
When asked about potential solutions to the challenge issue, Redick noted that coaches are limited to two challenges, and even if upheld, they don't receive additional ones. He questioned the practicality of using all six available challenges in a game.
"I don't know of any remedies for the challenge problem," he said. "How many are you going to use? Six-for-six? Because you get six opportunities."
Lakers' Struggles with Thunder's Physicality
While the referees were a point of contention, the Lakers' loss was not solely due to officiating. The team's first-half turnovers and difficulty adjusting to the Thunder's defensive strategy played a significant role. In the first half, Reaves scored 12 points with a 4-for-7 shooting record, but in the second half, he managed only four points on 1-for-7 shooting.
Redick analyzed Reaves' performance, noting missed opportunities and poor shooting angles. He also mentioned that the Thunder's player, Jalen Williams, had similar success in the final stretch, highlighting the Lakers' missed opportunities from open positions.
The turnovers continued to bother Redick post-game, emphasizing the importance of avoiding unforced errors.
"They pressure you, and we had good possessions with the right players in the right positions," he said. "But they naturally create turnovers. It's the unforced ones we can control. We need to hit singles, not home runs."
Sean Deveney, a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL, and MLB for Heavy.com, has been writing for the platform since 2019. With over two decades of NBA coverage, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for Sporting News, Deveney has authored seven nonfiction books, such as 'Fun City' and 'Facing Michael Jordan.'
