Los Angeles Lakers JJ Redick Identifies Critical Issue In Opening Night Loss To The Warriors
The JJ Redick era for the Los Angeles Lakers began with high expectations, a revamped roster, and a renewed sense of optimism. However, the season-opening 119-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors served as a sobering reminder that some old, frustrating habits are hard to break. After a competitive first half, the Lakers faltered coming out of the locker room, a familiar script for fans. In his post-game comments, the new head coach didn’t mince words, shining a spotlight on the team’s most glaring and persistent issue: their inability to perform in the third quarter.
Los Angeles Lakers JJ Redick On 3rd Quarter Collapses
The game against the Warriors was a tale of two halves. The Lakers went into halftime down by just a single point, locked in a tight battle with their long-time rivals. The energy was high, and the game was very much up for grabs. But what happened next has become an all-too-common occurrence for the purple and gold. The Warriors came out of the locker room with a sense of urgency and precision that the Lakers simply could not match. Golden State outscored Los Angeles 35-25 in the third quarter, turning a one-point nail-biter into a double-digit deficit from which the Lakers could never fully recover.
This wasn’t just a bad stretch of play; it was a continuation of a deeply ingrained problem. In his first post-game press conference as a head coach, JJ Redick immediately diagnosed the issue with the directness and analytical clarity he’s known for.
“The trend I see is that we continue to be a terrible third-quarter team to start,” Redick stated bluntly. “That was last year; that was the preseason. Gotta rethink some things, and it’s a two-way thing with the guys. What do they need at halftime to make sure they’re ready to play? They’re not ready to play to start the third quarter.”
Redick’s frustration was palpable. He framed the issue not as a strategic failure but as a problem of readiness and mentality. By asking, “What do they need at halftime?” he put the onus on the players to take ownership of their preparation and intensity. This was not just a coach deflecting blame; it was a leader challenging his team to solve a problem that has plagued the organization for years.
A Lingering Issue That Transcends Coaching Staffs
Redick’s honesty was quickly corroborated by one of the team’s core players, Austin Reaves. When asked about the third-quarter collapse, Reaves confirmed that this was not a new problem specific to the Redick era.
“We’ve just been bad [in the] third quarter [the] last couple years for sure, but I think ever since I’ve been here, we’ve had a problem with [the] third quarter,” Reaves admitted. “The first thing JJ talked about after was just figuring out a way to be better in the third quarter, and that’s on us players; that’s not on the coaches.”
Reaves’ comments are significant. They validate Redick’s assessment and confirm that the third quarter struggles are, in fact, a continuation of a long-standing organizational flaw. This issue has persisted through multiple head coaches and various roster constructions, suggesting it’s a deep-seated cultural problem rather than a simple schematic one. The fact that both the new head coach and a veteran player identified the same issue, and that the player took responsibility on behalf of the locker room, is a crucial first step toward accountability.
Why the Third Quarter Is So Critical
In the NBA, the third quarter is often referred to as the “championship quarter.” It’s the period where good teams make adjustments and great teams impose their will. A strong start to the second half can either extend a lead to an insurmountable margin or erase a deficit and swing the game’s momentum entirely.
For the Lakers, their repeated third-quarter failures have several damaging effects:
- Creates Uphill Battles: Falling behind by double digits in the third quarter forces the team to expend massive amounts of energy in the fourth quarter just to get back into the game. This often leaves them fatigued in the final, decisive minutes.
- Negates First-Half Effort: A strong, competitive first half is rendered meaningless when the team comes out flat after halftime. This can be demoralizing and can erode the team’s confidence in its ability to sustain a 48-minute effort.
- Prevents Championship Habits: Contending teams are defined by their consistency and discipline. The inability to consistently win the third quarter is a clear sign that a team lacks the focus and killer instinct required to compete for a title.
With stars like LeBron James and Luka Dončić leading the team, the Lakers cannot afford to consistently put themselves in a position where they have to mount furious fourth-quarter comebacks. That is not a sustainable formula for a long and grueling 82-game season, let alone the playoffs.
Redick’s Challenge and the Path Forward
While the opening night loss was disappointing, Redick’s immediate and public focus on this issue is a positive sign. He is refusing to let a long-standing problem fester under his watch. His approach signals a new standard of accountability for the Lakers.
Moving forward, solving this problem will require a multi-faceted approach:
- Player Ownership: As Reaves noted, the players must hold themselves and each other accountable for their halftime preparation and on-court intensity to start the second half.
- Coaching Adjustments: Redick and his staff will need to analyze their halftime routine. Are their messages clear? Are the strategic adjustments effective? Do they need to change their warm-up protocols coming out of the locker room?
- Building Chemistry: The Lakers integrated several new pieces this offseason, including Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton. As Rui Hachimura mentioned post-game, the team is still building its rhythm. As this chemistry develops, communication and execution should improve, which could help solve their third-quarter woes.
The loss to the Warriors was just one of 82 games, but it provided an immediate and clear focus for JJ Redick and his team. He has drawn a line in the sand. The JJ Redick Lakers third quarter struggles will not be an accepted norm. How the players respond to this challenge will be one of the most telling storylines of their season and will ultimately determine whether this talented roster can finally reach its full potential and become a true championship contender.
