Lakers head coach JJ Redick reflected on Tuesday night’s 128-106 loss to the Detroit Pistons, highlighting the impact of turnovers and Detroit’s physicality.
“About midway through the third…we had like five turnovers in that stretch,” Redick said. The coach noted the Pistons’ aggressive style: “They’re a really good physical basketball team, it’s part of their DNA.”
When asked about his players’ frustration with officiating, Redick acknowledged it: “I think there’s probably a level of frustration when you’re turning the ball over and you’re feeling like you’re getting fouled. There’s frustration there for sure.”
He added that his team is still finding its identity this season: “Still trying to figure that out…we’ve had a lot of stops and starts…building an identity is difficult.”
On the Lakers’ tendency to lose by large margins, Redick explained, “The turnovers, the fast break points…they kill you and a team shoots 63% and it’s most of that’s at the rim or in the paint. It can be deflating.”
Redick also stressed the importance of playing through physicality: “We said it this morning. They’re going to foul every possession. It’s just you got to play through it.”
Despite the loss, he maintained that the team’s effort was generally there: “The intent and the effort was…there for the most part tonight. There was some technique stuff in pick and roll that we tried to adjust and we didn’t get there.”
Tuesday’s defeat saw Detroit dominate in the paint, scoring 74 points and taking advantage of mismatches against Deandre Ayton and the Lakers’ undersized frontline. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 27 points and 11 assists, while Marcus Sasser added 19 points.
LeBron James scored 17 points on his 41st birthday, including three 3-pointers, and Luka Doncic contributed 30 points and 11 assists, but the Lakers were unable to contain Detroit’s aggressive attack.
The Pistons improved to 25-8 and finished their West Coast trip 3-2, while Los Angeles fell to 20-11. Detroit hosts the Miami Heat Thursday, and the Lakers return home against the Memphis Grizzlies.
