Lakers head coach JJ Redick faces heavy criticism from former NBA player after Game 4 loss

The Los Angeles Lakers have endured a turbulent season. At times, they looked like top contenders for the NBA championship. However, they now seem clear favorites to be eliminated in Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Even so, JJ Redick has taken a strong step forward in his debut as head coach demonstrating his ability to lead a team. However, the Lakers’ latest loss exposed some of his weaknesses. As a result, a former NBA player delivered sharp criticism of the head coach.

“You mean to tell me the time that you went up 10 points that you couldn’t find time to rest those guys and get those guys a breather…And you’re going against a young athletic squad in the Minnesota Timberwolves who are a bunch of dawgs...I got to blame this loss on JJ Redick. He got to take accountability on this,” stated Kendrick Perkins on ESPN.

The Los Angeles Lakers struggled physically against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The difference was clear because Minnesota have a much younger roster. In contrast, JJ Redick’s team lacked the same energy and athleticism throughout the NBA game.

Moreover, Redick decided not to make any changes in the second half. This decision had a clear impact on the final result. Therefore, it raises the question of whether Redick fully trusts the depth of his roster. Many players could have helped the team, especially by bringing more physical presence on the court.

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and head coach JJ Redick.

Magic Johnson criticizes JJ Redick’s lack of substitutions during Lakers’ playoff loss

LeBron James is 40 years old, but he still played 46 minutes against a physical Timberwolves team. His heavy workload raised a lot of criticism. Many believed the Lakers, already worn down, should have managed the situation differently. Instead, they argued, the team could have relied on a more athletic player. This move would have allowed Austin Reaves to have a bigger role, although he did not take advantage of his chances.

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Considering this, Lakers legend Magic Johnson did not hesitate to share his opinion on Redick’s decision:  “I don’t know if it smart to play LeBron and Luka the entire second half after only having one day of rest between Games 3 and 4. When we needed LeBron to take over in the fourth quarter he couldn’t – he scored 0 points in the fourth,” posted Magic Johnson on X, formely twitter.

However, this is not a criticism of LeBron James, whose physical and defensive commitment remained undeniable. He scored 27 points and collected nine defensive rebounds. Nevertheless, Redick’s refusal to trust other players in a crucial game raised serious questions about his confidence in the bench.