Lakers coach JJ Redick did not mince words about the team's lack of progress after facing a defeat in Luka Doncic's preseason debut on Tuesday. It was their third loss and the second against the Phoenix Suns, who were without their Devin Booker, and other starting-caliber players.
The Lakers kicked well behind a fiery run from Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. But as the game continued, the Suns caught up with their tenacity. The Lakers did not match it and eventually paid the price with a 113-104 defeat.
Redick credited the team for doing well on a few occasions, but called out their inconsistency.
"If you wanna be a good team, you have to do it every single time," Redick said. "You gotta do the right thing every single time. That's where I don't think any of the groups tonight were as consistent as they need to be."
JJ Reddick said the Lakers took a few steps forward defensively against the Warriors on Sunday and a step backward against the Suns.
"That's a little bit frustrating," he added.
One of the biggest problems with the Lakers is their transition defense. In four games, LA has allowed 24.8 points off turnovers and 18.8 fast-break points, both in the bottom five.
Luka Doncic-Austin Reaves tandem shown positive signs for shorthanded Lakers
The Lakers have yet to see their core players on the court together. That won't be possible now with LeBron James sidelined because of sciatica. With just two games remaining, they have yet to test the rest of the core together sans James. Luka Doncic played his first game, but LA was without primary rotation players, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent on Sunday.
Nevertheless, Doncic got enough time on the floor with his up-and-coming co-star for the foreseeable future, Austin Reaves. The Lakers' backcourt duo wrecked havoc offensively against Phoenix, amassing 25 points apiece. Doncic produced seven more rebounds and four assists, shooting 7 out of 15, including 4-for-8 from 3.
Reaves amassed four rebounds and two assists on 8 of 16 shooting. Both got to the free-throw line, with Doncic taking nine chances and Reaves eight. That was a positive sign for the Lakers, as this duo has to carry the team over the next month at least while James gets fit.
There were questions about the duo's capacity to give impactful performances together, but Tuesday's effortless execution without them disturbing each other's flow has quashed those doubts.