Imago
Credits: Imagn
Imago
Credits: Imagn
If there was any hint that JJ Redick’s patience was running low, the events in the Lakers-OKC rematch and the subsequent presser made it clear. Once again, the Purple and Gold suffered a blowout loss, extending their season record against the reigning NBA champs to 0-4. They were shorthanded, of course, with next to no star power tonight. But Redick’s not taking or making any excuses. In a game that got confrontational between the head coach and some of his own players, his review of the lineup tonight was scathing, to say the least.
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Without Luka Doncic (hamstring), Austin Reaves (oblique), LeBron James (left foot), and Marcus Smart (ankle), Redick placed heavy expectations on the other players. His frustration seemingly boiled over, specifically targeting the lack of an all-in mentality from key starters Rui Hachimura, DeAndre Ayton, and Jarred Vanderbilt. The tension peaked early when the head coach called a premature timeout to bench Hachimura after he had a lapse in judgment.
This happened after Redick yelled, “Rui, get the f**k over there,” as the Lakers attacked in the first quarter. They were 2-8 down. “I just called the early timeout because Rui didn’t do his job, and so I took him out of the game,” Redick told reporters post-game. Jarred Vanderbilt also ended up confronting the coach on the sidelines after he was subbed out for missing three free throws. He never returned to the court, but Redick unbelievably said it was a “normal interaction” after the game. Reaves wouldn’t have needed to place himself as a barrier between the boss and Vanderbilt if this were a normal chat…
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Deandre Ayton, the only regular starter playing, who is catching flak from the Lakers fanbase, was not spared either. “He’s had trouble catching the ball,” Redick stated bluntly. “So, we’ve run a bunch of plays for him… I don’t know if that’s the passing or if it’s him trying to get position. He just hasn’t been able to catch the ball.”
Ayton has had trouble re-integrating into the offensive flow after an injury. Which means there are too many highlight reels of him failing to catch LeBron James’ alley-oops lately. Emotions are running high as the Lakers go through a brutal week. Two blowout losses to OKC, back-to-back losses, and the threat of slipping from the No. 3 seed while fighting for home-court advantage. The absence of key starters left a massive void in playmaking that Tuesday’s lineup failed to fill.
It’s been one minute and JJ Redick already cursing out the team 😭
“RUI, GET THE F*CK OVER THERE” pic.twitter.com/vjPbSjeZ9I
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) April 8, 2026
Hachimura, who had been a reliable scoring threat, finished with just 15 points in 26 minutes of action. Ayton’s three points and three rebounds are getting him dragged by LakeShow online. Redick also slammed the lack of defense and execution. But this speaks more to the coach’s fury with the players and his expectations in the final stretch of the regular season, which the players aren’t meeting.
JJ Redick isn’t afraid to do his job and shake up the Lakers’ lineup
A few months ago, Deandre Ayton was frustrated, declaring, “Bigs can’t feed themselves.” While fans, analysts, and retired NBA bigs told him to get to his position and catch the ball, JJ Redick vaguely defended him. Clearly, he can’t defend any of his players anymore. Despite attempts to simplify the playbook for the big man, Redick highlighted a fundamental execution breakdown, a point reinforced by fans sharing clips online. It was clear that tensions were flaring in the Lakers’ locker room. However, the coach has made his ground-level expectations quite clear.
“It’s my job to make sure… we’ve got to find nine guys that are all-in on us fighting and willing to go out on the, whatever metaphor you want to use. I don’t want to use a war metaphor in this time, but whatever you’ve got to do to go out and fight and be all in on the team, we’ll find those nine guys,” Redick said. He didn’t have his ‘nine’ guys tonight because he did the equivalent of a teacher publicly announcing grades to the whole school.
The blowout loss to the Thunder leaves the Lakers searching for answers with only three games remaining in the regular season. Redick made it clear that past performance will no longer dictate minutes as the playoffs approach. The good news, though, is that Redick will have some of his stars returning. LeBron James should be back for at least one of the upcoming games on Thursday and Friday. The coach also hinted last night that Marcus Smart is trending towards playing soon.
Redick started two-way big Drew Timme against the Thunder, but it’s important to remember that he is ineligible for postseason play. Dalton Knecht finally got some game time. Adou Thiero got 21 minutes, the most he has seen in Purple and Gold, and scored 10 points. Bronny James played 23 minutes off the bench, and with Redick needing another guard, expect that to continue. They will bank on Luke Kennard not getting injured and starting too.
The coach admitted that his team is “undermanned,” which it definitely is, but they are at a stage where Luka Doncic’s return to the USA after his treatment is still expected by the end of the first round. Anything before that would be a bonus. Redick, for sure, won’t stop trying his combinations, but it’s now on the rotation players to help the Lakers survive long enough in the postseason to get their stars back.
