JJ Redick and the Lakers leave Phoenix not only with a defeat but also with regrets. They had the match in their hands on several occasions and yet it was the Suns who won the game. This first defeat of the season therefore has a bitter taste, especially for the technician.
“He’s upset”, confirms Anthony Davis speaking of his coach, after this setback. “It shows how involved he is. His passion is on another level”adds Austin Reaves.
The object of JJ Redick's anger is the Lakers' second quarter. The latter, notably thanks to a big Anthony Davis, had dominated the first before thwarting in the second.
A “random” attack
“We can’t have a 14-point quarter. It's my fault. I am partly responsible”assumes the coach, evoking the attack of the Lakers and the absence of two-handed holds on Kevin Durant. “I have to make sure we play good offense. There, it was random. We were blocked. We talked about it during the break. For us to attack at a high level, things have to move, both the players and the ball. There must be screens. They were able to get us out of that. This second quarter hurt us very badly. »
The coach is right to emphasize it: the Suns also did the work in the second quarter to react. They defended much better, limiting the balls for Anthony Davis. The Lakers therefore only scored 14 points at 6/22 on the shoot, in twelve minutes.
A defeat but not a setback
With an ailing LeBron James not at his best, Los Angeles was without an important weapon, which made things easier for Phoenix. “We played very well offensively in the second half”specifies JJ Redick, while his players took control in the third quarter, buoyed by their 3-point skill.
Devin Booker, with his free throws, and Kevin Durant, excellent in “money time”, will finally bring down the Lakers, who can also keep some positives from this setback. This is what LeBron James wants to do.
“Defeats are inevitable but it is the style and continuity, match after match, week after week, which will define the team that we are,” indicates the four-time MVP. “So, even with this defeat, we did good things. We could have obviously done better and this second quarter with 14 points put the Suns back in the match. We started the last one with a seven-point lead and we let them come back. We can do better but we have done good things too. »
