Dec. 24 (UPI) — Los Angeles Lakers coach J.J. Redick blasted his players for a lack of effort and taking “shortcuts” after a lopsided loss to the Phoenix Suns.
Redick made the comments after a 132-108 setback Tuesday in Phoenix. The Lakers, who were 15-4 through November, are 4-5 in December. Their loss to the Suns gave them their first two-game skid this season.
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The Suns made 58.8% of their shots, the highest percentage this season for a Lakers opponent. They also made 50% of their 3-point attempts over the final two quarters, held a 35-22 advantage in assists and scored on their first 13 possessions of the second half.
“There are shortcuts you can take or you can do the hard thing and you can make the second effort or you can sprint back or you can’t,” Redick told reporters. “It’s just a choice. And there’s a million choices in a game, and you’re very likely not going to make every choice correctly.
“But can you make the vast majority of them correctly? It gives you a chance to win.”
Suns forward Dillon Brooks made 10 of 15 attempts, including 3 of 6 3-point tries, en route to 25 points. Devin Booker totaled 21 points and 11 assists. Fellow Suns guard Collin Gillespie and forward Royce O’Neale, who made 4 3-pointers apiece, scored 16 and 12 points, respectively.
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“It’s the hard choice,” Redick said. “It’s not the easy choice. It’s human nature. We all do it. We do it on a daily basis. We make easy choices because it’s comfortable. Being comfortable doesn’t win.”
Star forward LeBron James, who led the Lakers with 23 points, cited team health and chemistry when asked about Tuesday’s struggles. Lakers guard Luka Doncic (calf) and forward Rui Hachimura (groin) did not play.
“It’s the same thing I said before. It has to be five guys on a string,” James said.
James and the Lakers (19-9) will host the Houston Rockets (17-10) at 8 p.m. EST Thursday in Los Angeles.