The Los Angeles Lakers recently played the Chicago Bulls in a thrilling matchup at Crypto.com Arena. This contest signified the highly anticipated return of superstar LeBron James, who had been sidelined for seven games due to a groin injury. However, despite the excitement surrounding his comeback, the Lakers suffered a disappointing defeat, which understandably frustrated head coach JJ Redick.
Luka Doncic delivered a stellar performance in the game, playing for 32 minutes and scoring 34 points, along with 6 assists and 8 rebounds. Austin Reaves also made a significant impact, contributing 25 points, 5 assists, and 2 rebounds. Despite these impressive efforts, the Lakers struggled against the Bulls’ dominance and ultimately lost the game 115-146. During the post-game interview, JJ Redick criticized the Lakers’ defensive effort.
“Well, our defense. I mean, we gave up 44 points in the paint. Our turnovers killed us all night, which led to them getting shots in transition. I thought we did a poor job contesting. I mean, again, they were five-for-22 at the half from three and I think they were 14-for-19 in the second half….
You can certainly get into the technicality of it, and you can certainly get into the turnovers for us offensively and how that kind of destroyed our rhythm. But, the disposition and the mentality, I don’t know if we assumed because we had everybody back that it was just gonna be like it was three weeks ago.” Redick said.
Upon his return, James played for 31 minutes, scoring 17 points, providing 4 assists, and grabbing 6 rebounds. Rui Hachimura also returned from injury in that game, scoring 5 points and collecting 2 rebounds.
JJ Redick Discusses Mindset Following Blowout Loss To Bulls
The Lakers previously achieved an eight-game winning streak, which ended with a 111-101 loss against the Boston Celtics. In James’ absence, Reaves delivered impressive performances, helping the team secure three consecutive wins after four straight losses. However, their recent back-to-back losses could affect the Lakers’ standings. During the post-game interview, Redick shared his mindset for achieving success in the upcoming games.
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“Again, I love my team. I love those guys. That was the worst our defense has looked, frankly. Maybe all year, but certainly in the last three months. Our success this season has been based on our defensive disposition. That’s gonna determine our success for the next 3 weeks and that’s gonna determine our success if we are able to secure a postseason berth.” Redick said.
JJ:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) March 23, 2025
"Our success this season has been based on our defensive disposition. That's gonna determine our success for the next 3 weeks and that's gonna determine our success if we are able to secure a postseason berth" pic.twitter.com/S4qDGOwSzI
The Lakers currently hold the fourth spot in the Western Conference standings with a 43-27 record. They will play their next game against the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center.
