Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick addressed his team’s 122-108 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, emphasizing the challenges posed by a short-handed roster.
“It’s hard to run offense without ball handlers,” Redick said, noting the absence of key players like LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Marcus Smart, and Gabe Vincent.
Despite Austin Reaves scoring 41 points, Redick acknowledged the difficulty of generating quality shots under the circumstances.
“Our half-court defense was excellent, first-shot defense was excellent, and for the most part, we had a highly competitive, connected group you could build on,” he added.
Redick highlighted Reaves’ role as the primary ball handler. “He had eight turnovers, but it was circumstantial. They played the five on our five, and there wasn’t another guy to bring the ball up,” he explained, praising Reaves’ effort under pressure.
The coach also singled out Jrue Holiday, his former teammate, for his performance. “Just a great appreciation for him as a person, player, competitor. Second night of a back-to-back, and he did everything he wanted offensively and mucked the game up defensively. It was a great performance,” Redick said.
Reaves’ leadership on and off the ball did not go unnoticed. “I see it again and again, whether that’s on defense or offense. He’s been great in huddles and during timeouts, very connected with the team,” Redick noted.
Redick also praised Dalton Knecht for his contributions in limited minutes. “It wasn’t just making shots. He played with tenacity, got out in transition, and continues to believe in himself. I have very high belief in him,” he said.
The coach emphasized that his young group showed effort despite the loss. “There was a group of guys that played hard. They’re young and will get better. For the most part, they competed, and that’s something you can build on,” Redick said.
He also highlighted the value of mid-range scoring from Ayton, noting it helps spacing and team organization. “It’s very valuable against teams that play a deep drop. His patience and decision-making have been really good,” Redick added.
The Lakers, now 2-2, will travel to Minneapolis to face the Timberwolves on Wednesday, while Portland improves to 2-2 and heads to Salt Lake City to play Utah.
