JJ Redick has made one thing very clear since becoming the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers: he hates losing. He’s admitted before that defeats affect him deeply, sometimes enough to spend nights alone in his basement replaying mistakes in his mind.
Saturday night in Atlanta was one of those nights.
The Lakers came out flat against a short-handed but energized Atlanta Hawks squad. Atlanta played with force, pressure, and speed. The Lakers did not. The result was a 122-102 loss that felt even more lopsided than the score.
Los Angeles gave up 36 points off 19 turnovers, lost transition battles all night, and trailed by as many as 30 in the second half. The body language told the story: frustration, confusion, and no sustained response.
And then came the postgame interview.
“I Knew We Were Going to Lose.”
Redick’s press conference lasted 82 seconds — one minute and twenty-two seconds.
That was enough.
Redick: “I realized we were going to lose in the first two minutes of the game.”
Reporter: “What did you see?”
Redick: “Nothing.”
No metaphors. No extended explanations. No excuses.
When asked whether he planned to rewatch the game or move on entirely, Redick simply replied:
“We’re going to watch it.”
The tone said everything.
A Night to Forget
The Lakers didn’t just lose — they were outworked.
- 20 turnovers
- Lost defensive rotations
- Slow in transition
- Low energy and urgency
This is the exact scenario Redick has repeatedly warned his team about: the “mental letdown” game.
An assistant coach summed it up after the game:
“These nights happen. But with JJ, the response will be fast.”
Looking Ahead
The Lakers continue their road trip Monday against the Charlotte Hornets.
The question now isn’t about strategy, rotations, or matchups.
It’s energy. Focus. Intensity.
And maybe, whether Redick’s next press conference lasts longer than a minute and a half.
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