EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — When the Los Angeles Lakers reviewed the tape of their disappointing 119-109 opening-night loss to the Golden State Warriors, coach JJ Redick mentioned there was an essential voice within the room as they sifted via the wreckage: LeBron James.
“LeBron was actually useful,” Redick mentioned after follow Wednesday.
James, wearing a go well with and glasses, appeared stoic in his padded seat on the finish of the bench Tuesday as he missed his first regular-season opener of his 23-year profession due to sciatica affecting his decrease again and proper leg.
Whereas James will not be reevaluated for one more one to 2 weeks and sources advised ESPN’s Shams Charania he is not anticipated to make his season debut till mid-November, he was lively within the movie session when the teaching workers identified how L.A. allowed Stephen Curry and Buddy Hield to shoot too many open 3s.
“We did a poor job of finding the lasers in transition, which was a degree of emphasis of our protection,” Redick mentioned. “Buddy Hield acquired two [3-pointers] off within the second half. Steph acquired one proper in entrance of our bench within the first half. That was actually the second precedence of the sport, was finding these guys in transition. So, clear that up and once more discuss via that. … All of us sort of talked about that in movie.”
Redick mentioned he encourages the discourse that the 40-year-old James can stir for the workforce.
“I advised them him asking questions, him giving his enter, us having a back-and-forth is so wholesome,” Redick mentioned. “I wish to have dialogue and back-and-forth and questions each single time we do movie and train. You bought a query, communicate up. If you wish to make a degree, communicate up. It was good.”
Hield and Curry combining to shoot 8-for-19 from 3, whereas the Lakers shot 8-for-32 as a workforce, was simply one in every of a number of issues for L.A. within the opener.
The Lakers additionally have been outscored 33-18 in bench factors and 35-25 within the third quarter, missed 11 free throws, and dedicated 20 turnovers, resulting in 22 factors for the Warriors.
Nonetheless, members of the workforce mentioned the movie evaluate allowed for clear-eyed perspective because the Lakers look to enhance on that preliminary exhibiting after they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
“I believe there have been some obvious issues that we will work on, which in some methods is encouraging,” Lakers guard Gabe Vincent mentioned. “You discover issues that find yourself being 12, 14 factors, and it is like, ‘Oh, if we will clear that up, it is a totally different dialog. That recreation appears to be like so much totally different.'”
Added Lakers ahead Jarred Vanderbilt: “It wasn’t as dangerous as we thought it was. It is a couple issues that we will clear up on that might simply change the best way the sport went. And it is issues which are controllable. … So simply locking in, specializing in these.”
One other factor that does not seem like as dangerous because it appeared is Luka Doncic’s well being.
The Lakers star required greater than an hour of therapy on the within of his proper leg after showing to tug his groin late within the fourth quarter on the best way to scoring 43 factors in 41 minutes in opposition to Golden State. However Redick didn’t sound too involved Wednesday.
“He appears to be high quality,” Redick mentioned. “I do not assume it is something main. He acquired some therapy this morning, and we did not follow lengthy, however he was a participant in follow.”
Doncic’s availability shall be paramount, particularly with James out, as L.A. tries to construct some continuity to begin the season.
“Our workforce, by the top of final season, had a connective mind tissue,” Redick mentioned. “We functioned very well as a unit no matter group was on the market. We simply haven’t got that but. We do not have that connectivity the place all of us sort of belief and know one another on each ends of the ground and we all know precisely what we’re doing.
“We will get there. I am very assured we will get there.”