The Los Angeles Lakers’ defensive breakdowns against the San Antonio Spurs were nothing short of embarrassing. Straight-line drives, missed rotations, and a complete lack of team effort exposed just how far the Lakers had fallen defensively. But head coach JJ Redick wasn’t about to let the performance slide. His response? A wake-up call that was as harsh as it was necessary.

The game was a disaster in more ways than one, and Redick was clear about it. The clips he showed in film sessions were brutal—15 to 20 of the worst defensive lapses imaginable, with players getting to the rim without resistance, missed shifts, and far too many breakdowns. He wasn’t sparing anyone, and his words were unrelenting.

“We are we’re a team defense. And for us to be good, we have to defend as a team. … [But no,] We left every single guy on an island,” Redick said. “It was atrocious. We put together an edit. We had to cut it a little short this morning. There’s 15 to 20 clips where they just get to the rim, and there’s no shift, no low man.”

The slap-in-the-face moment came when assistant coach Greg St. Jean received a text from his dad, and Redick made sure the team heard it. The text said, “I know the modern NBA, you guys do things a little differently. You guys wanna give up the middle? No, it was atrocious.”

Although meant for St. Jean, the message was a sharp commentary on the Lakers’ struggles—and a painful reminder that even outsiders could see the glaring issues. “We all got to take responsibility in that,” Coach Redick further emphasized. “And we got to be better, and we will be.” 

It was clear that the Purple & Gold weren’t just letting their coach down—they were letting their fans and families down, too. The Lakers didn’t waste any time licking their wounds after the Spurs debacle, though. Just two nights later, they bounced back against the Miami Heat in a game that was nothing short of crucial.

A swift turnaround: JJ Redick & Co.’s statement win against the Heat

While the Heat were missing Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro made his presence felt with 34 points, but the Lakers had other plans. In the second half, they turned a 12-point deficit into a 64-43 surge, with Anthony Davis leading the charge.

“It’s all about accountability now,” Davis said after the game, and it was clear that the Lakers had learned from their earlier mistakes. Davis ended up with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Rui Hachimura led the scoring with 23 points. Austin Reaves also shone brightly, notching 14 points and a career-high 14 assists, and LeBron James contributed 22 points and 9 assists. The Lakers weren’t just back on track—they were clicking as a team, executing defensive schemes, and playing like a unit.

If the Spurs game was a brutal reality check, the Miami game was a declaration that the Lakers were ready to learn from it. They didn’t just end a losing streak—they made a statement. When this team locks in, they’re capable of competing with the best. The real question now is: can they carry this momentum forward?

The Lakers aren’t perfect, and there are still plenty of challenges ahead. But Wednesday’s victory gave fans a reason to believe that the team can bounce back from adversity. As Davis said, it’s all about accountability—and they seem to be embracing that.

For now, though, the Lakers can hold their heads high. They’ve turned a moment of embarrassment into a renewed sense of hope—and shown us that their best might still be on the horizon.