-
Dave McMenamin, ESPN Staff Writer
MIAMI — As Heat guard Tyler Herro went nuclear, hitting seven straight 3-pointers within the third quarter of a 134-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, it dawned on L.A. coach JJ Redick simply how misplaced his group has turn into.
“We’re having hassle proper now on each ends with, like, base-level game-plan stuff,” Redick stated after the Lakers misplaced for the sixth time up to now eight video games. “It’s odd. It’s very odd.”
Odder nonetheless is how a group that was 10-4 simply two weeks in the past, with an opportunity to make it 11-4 if it solely hit some late free throws towards the Orlando Magic, is immediately in free fall, shedding these six video games by a median of 21.83 factors.
“Has to be some possession,” Redick stated. “You can splinter, and it is easy to not need the possession, notably when it is embarrassing. I’m embarrassed. We’re all embarrassed. It’s not a sport that I assumed we had the correct struggle, the correct professionalism.”
Redick added: “There must be some possession on the court docket and I’ll take all of the possession on the earth. This is my group and I lead it and I’m embarrassed. But I am unable to bodily get us organized. I am unable to bodily be into the basketball. I am unable to bodily discuss and name out reds and bodily name out coverages. … And by the way in which, I’m not blaming gamers. It’s not. I personal this, however going to want some possession on the court docket as nicely. … There’s not a way from me that we’re collectively proper now.”
LeBron James bounced again from a capturing hunch to attain 29 factors on 12-for-18 capturing, together with 1-of-4 from 3-point vary to interrupt a streak of 20 straight missed 3s. But he didn’t quibble with Redick’s remarks.
“I agree with the whole lot JJ stated,” James stated, making it clear he wouldn’t come off as unaligned with the first-year coach. “Whatever he stated, I agree 100%, 1000%.”
James did, nonetheless, absolve Redick in his function in Wednesday’s debacle, saying, “It’s not on the coaches. It’s undoubtedly on us, for certain.”
The Lakers have been outrebounded 52-36, permitting Miami to tie a franchise document for 3s in a regular-season sport by going 24-for-47, together with 9-for-16 from Herro, who completed with a team-high 31 factors. Meanwhile, the Lakers went 5-for-22 (22.7%) from deep.
Anthony Davis, who not too way back was thought-about an early-season MVP candidate, volunteered for the lion’s share of the blame after scoring a season-low eight factors on 3-for-14 capturing. This after Davis had beforehand set his season low with 12 factors on Monday, going 4-for-14 from the sphere in a 29-point loss towards Minnesota.
“I’ve the utmost confidence on this group and this teaching workers,” Davis stated. “I personally simply assume it begins with me. If I play higher, then guys play higher. I undoubtedly take accountability, particularly the final couple of video games. Just not being there for the group on the offensive finish.”
Lakers guard Gabe Vincent had 9 factors and three steals off the bench however was nonetheless a part of a Lakers second unit that was outscored 51-28 by Miami’s reserves. He characterised his group’s temper as “upset.”
“I feel we’re undoubtedly far off from the place we wish to be and the place we count on to be this time of the yr,” Vincent stated.
James, who’s the oldest participant within the NBA and can flip 40 in a number of weeks, preached endurance even whereas admitting, “It sucks for certain to get your ass whooped like that twice in a row.”
Moving ahead, he urged the Lakers to “keep even keeled,” including, “I’ve been on this sport method too lengthy. Never get too excessive, by no means get too low. Because I understand how quick this s— turns.”
Davis aimed for the turnaround to start when the Lakers conclude their four-game street journey Friday towards an Atlanta Hawks group using a five-game successful streak.
“Just bought to discover a method, to be sincere,” Davis stated. “Find a method in Atlanta to get the dub.”
