The Los Angeles Lakers closed out their preseason with a humbling 121-94 loss to the Dallas Mavericks — and head coach JJ Redick didn’t sugarcoat the reality afterward. In a brutally honest postgame interview, Redick broke down the three hidden reasons behind the team’s 27-point collapse against the Mavs.
Despite a solid start to training camp, the Lakers looked sluggish and disconnected against a younger, hungrier Dallas squad led by rookie sensation Cooper Flagg, who finished with 13 points and showcased flashes of elite two-way potential. Redick, however, said the result had far more to do with the Lakers’ own shortcomings than Flagg’s brilliance.
1. Lack of Defensive Intensity
Redick didn’t hesitate to call out the team’s lack of energy on the defensive end.
“We just didn’t compete defensively,” Redick admitted. “Dallas dictated the pace from the opening tip. Our rotations were slow, and our transition defense was non-existent. You can’t give up that many easy looks and expect to win.”
The Mavericks capitalized on every mistake, shooting over 50% from the field and dominating the paint. Redick emphasized that defensive communication and effort must become priorities before the regular season begins.
2. Poor Ball Movement
Another glaring issue, according to Redick, was the offense. The Lakers often relied on isolation plays and failed to generate consistent ball movement.
“We got stagnant,” Redick said. “Too much one-on-one basketball, not enough trust in the pass. That’s not who we want to be.”
The Lakers’ 15 turnovers led to 20 fast-break points for the Mavs — a stat Redick called “unacceptable” for a team with championship aspirations.
3. Lack of Urgency
Finally, Redick pointed to a deeper issue — mindset.
“Preseason or not, you have to compete like it matters,” he said. “Dallas played with purpose, and we didn’t. That’s the difference between winning habits and losing ones.”
With stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis watching closely from the sidelines, Redick stressed the importance of setting a tone early in the year. “Every rep counts. Every possession counts. We’ve got to establish our identity now,” he added.
The loss might not affect the standings, but it certainly sent a message. As the Lakers prepare for their regular-season opener, Redick’s comments serve as both a warning and a wake-up call.
The next test won’t get any easier — the Lakers’ rematch with the Mavericks is set for November 29 at Crypto.com Arena. This time, JJ Redick expects a very different result.
