Dave McMenamin, ESPN Staff Writer
MIAMI — As Heat guard Tyler Herro hit the nail on the head with seven straight 3-pointers in the third quarter of a 134-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, L.A. coach J. J. Reddick realized how much the team had lost.
“We’re both having issues right now with the game plan and things like that on a fundamental level,” Redick said after the Lakers lost for the sixth time in the last eight games. “It’s strange. Very strange.”
A team that was 10-4 just two weeks ago and had a chance to get to 11-4 with a few late free throws against the Orlando Magic was suddenly in a free fall, losing six points. It’s still strange to lose a game by one point. Average score: 21.8 points.
“There has to be some level of ownership,” Reddick said. “It can be divisive, and it’s easy to not want ownership, especially when you’re embarrassed. I’m embarrassed. We’re all embarrassed. This is the right fight, the right professionalism. It wasn’t the game I thought I had.”
Redick further added, “There has to be some ownership on the court, and I’m going to take all the ownership in the world. This is my team and I lead it, but it’s embarrassing. But I’m physically unable to organize a team,” he added. I can’t physically participate in basketball, and I can’t physically speak out or cover the game. By the way, I’m not criticizing this. But I think there’s going to be a certain amount of ownership on the court…I don’t feel like we’re together right now. ”
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LeBron James bounced back from a shooting slump to score 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting, including 1-of-4 from 3-point range, ending his streak of missing 20 consecutive three-pointers. However, he did not dispute Reddick’s statements.
“I agree with everything J.J. said,” James said, making it clear he doesn’t see any disagreements with the first-year coach. “No matter what he says, I agree 100 percent, 1000 percent.”
But James absolved Redick of any role in Wednesday’s debacle, saying, “It’s not the coach’s fault. It’s definitely our fault.”
The Lakers trailed 52-36 as Miami scored 24 of 47 points, including 9 of 16 from Herro, who finished with a team-high 31 points, tying the franchise record for 3s in a regular season game. It was done. Meanwhile, the Lakers made 5 of 22 (22.7%) from deep.
Anthony Davis, who was considered an early-season MVP candidate not too long ago, took some of the blame for it himself, scoring a season-low eight points on 3-of-14 shooting. That came after Davis scored a season-low 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting in Monday’s 29-point loss to Minnesota.
“I have tremendous confidence in this group and coaching staff,” Davis said. “Personally, I think it starts with me. If I play better, everyone will play better. I definitely take responsibility, especially in the last few games. “I think it starts with me, offensively. I just wasn’t there for it.”
Lakers guard Gabe Vincent had nine points and three steals off the bench, but was still part of the Lakers’ second unit in a 51-28 loss to Miami’s backup team. He described the atmosphere in the team as “upset”.
“I think we’re obviously a long way from where we want to be and where we expect to be at this time of year,” Vincent said.
James, the NBA’s oldest player, who turns 40 on Dec. 30, acknowledged that “getting spanked like that two times in a row certainly sucks,” but he preached patience.
Looking ahead, he urged the Lakers to “remain calm,” adding, “I’ve been in this game for too long. You can never get too high, you can never get too low. Because he knows how fast he is,” he added. . ”
Davis was hoping for a turnaround to begin Friday when the Lakers end a four-game losing streak against the Atlanta Hawks, who have won five straight.
“Honestly, we have to find a way,” Davis said. “Find out how to get the dub in Atlanta.”
