The Los Angeles Lakers won’t repeat as NBA Cup champions.
LeBron James and company couldn’t keep up with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and they’ve officially been eliminated from contention.
Even so, J.J. Redick was proud of his team’s defense in the loss.
Following the game, the first-year coach claimed that this was the most connected he had seen the team on that end of the floor since the start of the season (via Spectrum SportsNet).
Redick on the team's defense:
"That was as connected as our group has been on that end of the floor since the first game of the season."Get closer to the action on Spectrum SportsNet+ with the NBA app, on us!
?: https://t.co/k8Sa1tKN6U pic.twitter.com/KSGoRsgJzv— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) November 30, 2024
Redick’s Lakers have been fairly inconsistent this season.
They’ve alternated winning and losing streaks, which is not the kind of basketball that usually leads to winning seasons.
Redick has proven to be a savvy tactician, and he’s done a solid job for the most part.
However, this roster isn’t as talented as others, and sometimes, it all comes down to that.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis are playing at an elite level, and the Lakers have gotten contributions from guys like Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht, but they still lack a clear-cut third-scoring option who can be more consistent.
The Lakers have been very good against bad teams, yet they continue to struggle against championship contenders.
There should be no shame in losing to a team like the Thunder, but if their aspirations are higher, there are valid reasons to be worried about this team.
Notably, both of the last NBA Cup finalists are no longer in contention, and the In-Season Tournament seems to have been a major success for the league, as teams are playing hard again despite being in November.
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