Despite avoiding a season-low four-game losing streak, JJ Redick has yet to find a solution to his team’s identity crisis. The Los Angeles Lakers’ head coach recently called the win against the Golden State Warriors their most complete game since the All-Star break. With only 23 games left in the regular season and a 35-24 record ahead of tonight’s game, Redick confidently laid down a clear marker about where his team needs to be better.

“We haven’t had the consistent level of effort and execution that’s kind of been the thing all season to really establish that identity,” Redick said. “But I’m confident we will.”

The Lakers’ lack of effort has been evident in their defensive rating and rebounding numbers. Redick’s team ranks 22nd in defensive rating and is the third-worst in the league for rebounds this season. This is clearly something the coach wants his team and star players, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James, to change.

“The world has fallen 19 different times, and we’ve responded, and again, we’re looking for that level of consistency,” Redick said before the Sacramento Kings game. “It’s not always going to show up in wins and losses, but we’re confident we’re going to find it.”

Another reason Redick’s team has not found an identity is the Big 3’s combined play. Before the game against the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors, Doncic, Reaves, and James had a -7.8 net rating when sharing the floor. But with Reaves and Doncic playing together and the Akron Hammer on the bench, the team was +17.9.

James missed the first 14 games of the season, while Reaves was recently sidelined for 19. Additionally, role players like Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton, and Jaxson Hayes have been in and out of the lineup throughout the year. This inconsistency has made it difficult for Redick to establish a solid core on the court. So, how will any of this change?

JJ Redick has found a solution that will help his Lakers team find its identity

December ended with the coach’s admission of hesitation about the Lakers’ identity. In fact, Redick wasn’t even sure there was one.

“Still trying to figure that out,” Redick said.

The coach admitted that it sounded like a “cop-out.” However, with just 30% and 31% respectively from the three-point line in losses to the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic, it clearly highlights the issues the team faced. Against the Warriors, the team shot 46% from deep, well above its league average of 35.7% (17th). That credit for that should also go to the newest addition to the team.

“Luke Kennard, he just starts the blender for us,” Redick added. “It started with that starting group, and then I thought Luke was huge for our offense tonight.”

It was his 57.1% shooting from beyond the arc, his second-best against the Dubs, also scoring 16 points off the bench, his highest-scoring game in the Purple and Gold. The veteran marksman is a career 44.2% three-point shooter and is expected to add immediate spacing and depth to the rotation. This option will provide greater stability in shooting as the search for a consistent identity continues.