Following the 99-93 loss, JJ Redick pointed directly at the second quarter as the turning point.

The Lakers took the opening quarter of Game 5, ending the first quarter with a 7-point lead. However, the Rockets, with their physicality, disrupted the Lakers in the following period, leaving the LA side searching for momentum for the rest of the game.

“Another period in the second quarter where we just turned the ball over,” Redick said at the presser. “Certainly some long stretches where we didn't have successive turnovers, but that was part of it.” 

The numbers show what Redick is trying to say. The Lakers committed 15 turnovers in the game, but only 1 came in the second quarter. That came from LeBron James on an out-of-bounds play.

James had urged the team to protect the ball after their loss in Game 4, when they gave away 23 turnovers, including 8 from him. He responded in Game 5 with just two turnovers. However, Redick felt the damage from the second quarter carried over into the rest of the game in the defensive effort.

Redick admitted that coaching decisions and defensive KYP (Know Your Personnel) mistakes hurt the team. He added, “They made shots tonight, including some guys who normally don't make threes.”

The defensive lapse was notable when Dorian Finney-Smith knocked down two threes on five attempts. He is not a high-volume shooter, but the Lakers gave him space and paid for it. In a six-point defeat, those mistakes mattered.

JJ Redick Addresses Offensive Struggles and Luka Doncic's Absence

Redick didn’t question the defense; he questioned the offense instead.

“You hope 99 is enough to win, he said. “We just couldn't make shots. Missed some layups. Certainly had some good looks from three that didn't go down.”

Redick's comments came amid Luka Doncic's continued absence, for which the team has no confirmed return timeline. The Slovenian’s effortless shot-making ability could have made it easier for the Purple & Gold.

In his absence, Austin Reaves, returning from an injury, scored 22 points off the bench. Although he shot 4-16, he managed to draw fouls, shooting 13 free throws

No team has ever managed to come back from a 0-3 deficit, but the Lakers have lost two straight games after taking the lead in the series. However, Redick seemed determined, as he said at the press conference, “We'll take a look at the whole process and take a look at the substitution patterns and figure out where we could be better in Game 6.”

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Written by

Shahul Hameed