Lakers’ Title Hopes Dwindle: Defensive Woes and Execution Failures Sink Their Season

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered their third consecutive loss on Tuesday, falling to the Phoenix Suns 127-100, marking their first-ever defeat in NBA Cup action. This loss puts their chances of making it to Las Vegas and defending their title in serious jeopardy.

More concerning than the scoreline was how the Lakers were outclassed by the Suns, showing a clear gap in performance, much like they did against the Denver Nuggets just days earlier. At 10-7, the Lakers are struggling against teams above .500, and if they don’t quickly turn things around, they risk slipping further down the Western Conference standings.

While the lack of execution from the players is undeniable, it raises the question: how much blame should fall on the coach? The Lakers’ inability to execute the game plan, especially on defense, points to a deeper issue. It’s difficult to blame coach JJ Redick entirely for the losses, given the challenges his team faces in terms of player performance.

However, as the head coach, accountability ultimately rests with him. If the Lakers’ defense continues to rank among the worst in the NBA, Redick will inevitably have to shoulder some of the blame. For now, he remains relatively unscathed, but if the struggles persist, questions about his ability to get this team on track will become unavoidable. The season is still early, but the window to address these issues is rapidly closing.