JJ Redick Opens Up After Lakers’ NBA Cup Elimination: “We Keep Getting Exposed”

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers’ elimination from the NBA Cup came with more than just frustration. Following Wednesday night’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs, head coach JJ Redick didn’t sugarcoat what went wrong, using his postgame press conference to deliver a candid — and familiar — assessment of his team.

The defeat was particularly painful given the stakes. With the NBA Cup on the line, the Lakers once again saw their season-long issues resurface at the worst possible time.

🎙️ Redick’s Honest Breakdown

Redick quickly identified the root of the problem: defense.

“We keep getting exposed in the same areas,” Redick said. “We need to demand more from everyone. We couldn’t apply pressure, we couldn’t force turnovers. We were terrible at the end of the first quarter, terrible at the end of the second quarter. If a team is shooting well, we’re going to be in trouble.”

Despite acknowledging that the Lakers’ defense is an improvement over last season, Redick made it clear that progress hasn’t been enough — especially in a single-elimination setting.

📉 A Strong Start That Quickly Unraveled

The night didn’t begin badly for Los Angeles. The Lakers opened the game with energy and briefly built a six-point lead in the first quarter. But that momentum vanished quickly.

Before the second quarter was even underway, San Antonio had flipped the game, and as the night went on, the Spurs stretched the lead to as many as 24 points. Every Lakers run was answered with transition baskets, open threes, or trips to the free-throw line.

🚨 Defensive Breakdown Everywhere

Even with Marcus Smart back in the lineup — and delivering one of his better defensive performances — the Lakers’ defensive structure often looked nonexistent.

Key issues included:

• Poor transition defense, with only one Laker getting back on several possessions
• Minimal ball pressure on Spurs guards
• Late rotations that led to uncontested shots
• A lack of forced turnovers throughout the game

San Antonio consistently capitalized, turning broken possessions into easy points.

❓ Ayton’s Disappearance Raises Questions

Another puzzling storyline was Deandre Ayton’s role — or lack thereof — down the stretch.

The center, who has generally been solid protecting the paint this season, struggled and was notably absent in the fourth quarter. Even more surprising, Ayton wasn’t visible on the bench during the game’s most critical moments. As of now, no injury report has been released to explain his disappearance.

In a win-or-go-home game, the absence of a key rotation player only added to the confusion.

🧭 Where the Lakers Go From Here

Redick’s message was clear: talent alone isn’t enough. Without consistent defensive effort, pressure, and communication, the Lakers will continue to hit the same ceiling — regardless of offensive firepower.

The NBA Cup exit serves as another warning sign. Whether it becomes a turning point or just another missed opportunity will depend on how quickly — and seriously — the Lakers respond.

For now, Redick isn’t hiding from reality. The problems are known. The question is whether they’ll finally be fixed.