New Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach, Same Results
When the Los Angeles Lakers hired JJ Redick to be their head coach in June, they hoped that a fresh voice and a new perspective would lead to improved results on the court. Unfortunately, through 21 games, that has not been the case. Los Angeles has the same record, 12-9, they had under former Head Coach Darvin Ham. Inconsistency has been an issue for the team this season. They lost by 29 points last night to the Minnesota Timberwolves as it was their sixth loss this season by double figures.
Redick replaced Ham after two years on the job. He was shown the door last year following a 47-35 regular season record and a first round NBA Playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets. With a roster that has remained mainly the same from last season, the on-court performance has also been stagnant. How will the rest of the season go for Redick and the Los Angeles Lakers?
Los Angeles Lakers Season Summary
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Los Angeles is once again led by the dynamic duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. James is embroiled in the worst shooting slump of his career. This fact has left NBA fans wondering if this is just a blip on the radar or if “Father Time” has finally caught up to the seemingly ageless player. He is averaging the second-lowest points per game of his career(22.0) and is shooting some of his worst percentages from both the field and three-point range. Davis, while James has struggled out of the gates, has picked up right where he left off last season. He is top 10 in the league in points in rebounds and is fifth in blocks per game.
As one of the best shooters in league history, Redick was hired to improve the Los Angeles Lakers offense. Thus far this season, he has not been able to live up to those lofty expectations. The team is 17th in the league in points per game and 19th in three-point shooting. Last season, the Los Angeles Lakers were sixth in points per game and top 10 in three-point shooting. Los Angeles has struggled on the defensive end as well in 2024. They are 22nd in opponents points per game.
Final Thoughts
If James continues to play like he has over the last few games, the Los Angeles Lakers will have another disappointing season. While attrition is expected for a player nearing 40, he will need to recapture some of his form from years past for this season to be a successful one. Los Angeles plays the third game of their four-game road trip tomorrow against the Miami Heat and plays the final game of the trip on Friday against the Atlanta Hawks.
The Los Angeles Lakers are a franchise with championship aspirations each season, and such a mediocre start over the past two seasons will not be tolerated. James and Davis will need to carry the team again this year as supporting pieces like D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves look to add to the overall success of the Los Angeles Lakers.
