Honeymoon is Over for JJ Redick as Same Old Lakers Problems Surface

When the Los Angeles Lakers started the 2024-25 season with three straight wins, fans were quick to jump on the bandwagon. The JJ Redick era was here, and he was going to take this team to places Darvin Ham failed to take them.

Fast forward to the end of the five-game road trip, and the Lakers are 4-4 after embarrassing double-digit losses to the Pistons and the Grizzlies. Redick criticized his team's efforts after the Memphis game, singling out D'Angelo Russell and his lack of intensity.

This is the first real challenge for Redick as a first-time head coach. Winning is fun, but when the going gets tough, the head coach has to lead the team out of the mud. Redick's chops as a leader and a coach will be tested as the Lakers embark on a three-game home slate against the Sixers, Raptors, and Grizzlies.

For anyone who has been paying close attention to the Lakers, however, this is not surprising. This is a flawed, top-heavy roster that lacks talent and depth. As of now, they are 13th in offensive rating, and a disappointing 23rd in defense.

That is the main thing Redick needs to fix. There has been an emphasis on Anthony Davis being more of an offensive hub this season. While he is having an excellent season on that end of the floor, that came at the expense of his elite defense. In a grueling 82-game season, it is unrealistic to expect AD to carry the offense while maintaining his defensive production.

That's where the roster's flaws come in. The frontcourt depth is terrible as the only other viable big man on the roster is Jaxson Hayes. And how viable he is is certainly up for debate.

On the perimeter, they have no stoppers. D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves are highly flammable on the defensive end. When they can't stop penetration, and Davis isn't his elite self protecting the rim, the Lakers struggle to stop anybody.

How Redick gets himself out of this mess will be a huge test for the young head coach. Whether calling out the team's lack of effort lights a fire under them remains to be seen.

More Lakers news and rumors: