FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

This trip was supposed to be a measuring stick for the Lakers, with matchups against three of the league’s elite teams in mid-March. Instead, it became a trip they’d rather forget.

“We went 0-4, so it’s a pretty bad trip,” Austin Reaves said. “But s—, JJ said a week ago, ‘Everybody’s, like, Lakers in five.’ We just don’t listen to any of it. We know when we’re fully healthy and got everybody on the team that we have a really good chance to beat anybody. I just see this group coming together, locking in on one common goal, and that’s to win.

“I think (Friday was) the biggest testament to that. Very shorthanded and went and played a really good basketball team with, probably, the best player in the world and went toe-to-toe and had an opportunity to win it and just didn’t execute the last 50 seconds. I guess that’s what you take positive.”

Before the loss to the Bucks, the Lakers sent James, Hachimura, Hayes and Maxi Kleber back to Los Angeles to rest and recover. Redick called James, Hachimura and Hayes “day-to-day,” though he also noted that they could return within the next three days to a week, “if not a little bit longer than that for one guy.” That player appears to be James, though Redick did not specify.

Three days from Friday would knock out the trio from Sunday’s game against Phoenix and potentially Monday’s game against San Antonio — two games that are suddenly must-wins for the Lakers if they want to avoid No. 6 Golden State and No. 7 Minnesota nipping at their heels.

One of the silver linings of Friday’s performance was the opportunity it gave to several players, including Reaves (37 points, eight rebounds, 13 assists and four steals) and Dalton Knecht (32 points, his second-highest total of the season). Those two carried the offense, but they also had help from Shake Milton (16 points), Jarred Vanderbilt (nine points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals), Jordan Goodwin (10 points and six rebounds) and Christian Koloko (eight points and seven rebounds). Bronny James played a season-high 16 minutes and looked confident and comfortable with the group.

“I think if you’re looking to make a long playoff run, that’s like another third of the season, and (with) the intensity of playoff games, every possession is significant,” Redick said pregame. “You may have guys banged up in the playoffs and someone who may not be in a playoff rotation may need to come in and help you win a basketball game. That’s nights like (Friday). I did it, you know, my first three years. You’re not in the rotation every night, but when your number’s called, you gotta play well. You gotta play hard and, hopefully, you earn some trust.”

After the game, Redick confirmed that multiple players earned increased trust with the coaching staff.

“It certainly is a reference point,” he said of Friday. “Again, the trust is maintained and sustained when it’s consistent. I thought a lot of guys played at a really high level of energy and fight. When they are able to do that consistently, that trust is going to be there long-term.”

At the same time, there are no moral victories for the Lakers this late in the season. They have proven the post-January group can compete with just about anyone and belongs in the contention conversation once you get past Boston, Oklahoma City and Cleveland. Their standards are higher; they expect to beat the Nets, Bucks and Nuggets without James — or anyone else — no matter how delusional it seems from the outside looking in.

The Lakers return to Los Angeles for a five-game homestand, though it’s not as pleasant as it sounds considering they play two sets of back-to-backs — the first of which starts at 12:30 p.m. PT on Sunday, roughly 36 hours after they get back from their nine-day road trip. The Lakers host the Suns and Spurs in a back-to-back, then the Nuggets and Bucks in a back-to-back, before closing out the homestand with a game against the Chicago Bulls. Then, it’s back on the road for a four-game trip to Orlando, Indiana, Chicago and Memphis.

James’ absence looms large, especially with the Nuggets and Bucks on the slate again. The Lakers have the sixth-hardest remaining schedule, according to Tankathon, and every game James misses is one they can theoretically lose. Potentially getting Hachimura and Hayes back should help bolster their depleted frontcourt, adding size, length and athleticism. The Lakers have sorely missed both.

In the meanwhile, the Lakers are just trying to remain above water in the perilous West. Redick rejected the premise of aiming for home-court advantage and said the goal is to simply advance to the postseason.

“We gotta figure out a way to get in the playoffs, and that’s my focus,” Redick said. “We need to get some more wins to be in the playoffs.”

JJ Redick on Hayes/Hachimura/LeBron, possibly returning within the next week, whether it’s two days or 7: “They’re all very close to returning.”— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 15, 2025

This is, IMO, the right decision due to their 6 games in 8 nights with 3 sets of back to backs stretch. 1 month til the playoffs, can’t burn guys out on a 2nd night of a back to back on the road. https://t.co/4dUWDJA28P— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) March 14, 2025

Might as well rest Austin too. Great medical crew the Lakers hired this season. I did not think they could do worse but they apparently have to floor when it comes to injured players. Can’t even stay healthy for a couple of days.

Lakers players out with injury:LeBron JamesLuka DoncicRui HachimuraJaxson HayesGabe VincentDorian Finney-SmithMaxi Kleber pic.twitter.com/IwqTnPMsd3— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) March 14, 2025

I’d rather get a W but we got a signature Luka Doncic game.. good sign moving forward.. now JJ do the right thing.. pull him from the game.— 𝓛𝓪𝓴𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓓𝔂𝓷𝓪𝓼𝓽𝔂 #Lakeshow (@LakersDynastyHQ) March 14, 2025

When there’s injuries…doesn’t matter what seed we end up in as long as we make the playoffs healthy. Really doesn’t matter to me because I know the type of squad we have & we can play against ANYBODY.— GoldenKnight (@GoldenKnightGFX) March 14, 2025

I hate losing but I’m happy to see him getting better and better every game. pic.twitter.com/kCXcwFrozB— Ryan Rueda (@iDude14) March 14, 2025

LeBron James is the anchor of our defense and the more games that pass by without him, the more evident it becomes.— 🎗NBA•Fan🎗 (@Klutch_23) March 14, 2025

No it wouldn't, the Lakers would take the 2nd seed by having higher percentage pointsIt would beLakers 41-23 .640Grizzlies 42-24 .636Nuggets 42-24 .636 https://t.co/NM9elAE9Jn— CL Owens 🏀 🇺🇸 (@CSmoove_Sports) March 13, 2025

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

The Los Angeles Lakers exited the Darvin Ham era with one word permeating the locker room, front office, and news desks. In the immediate aftermath of suffering an eighth postseason loss in nine tries, everyone seemed to want one thing: Accountability.

That became the theme of the Lakers’ search for an eighth coach since Phil Jackson retired in 2011, and ultimately played a significant part in the decision to hire JJ Redick.

Redick has been magnificent during his first season at the helm, guiding Los Angeles to a 40-23 record through 63 games. He has the team on pace for its first 50-win season since 2019-20 and has helped the locker room overcome trades, losing streaks, and injuries.

Following a brutal 111-108 loss to the 22-42 Brooklyn Nets, Redick showed exactly why he’s been able to lead the Lakers as far as he has: He’s held them accountable.

Per Dave McMenamin of ESPN:

“I think it was just an overall mentality just to take shortcuts tonight,” Redick said. “Want to be a good team? You want to win in the NBA? You got to do the hard stuff. We couldn’t even pass to each other. We couldn’t enter our offense, running ball screens literally at half court. Yeah, that’s going to end up in a turnover. I don’t know what we’re doing.”

That may sound harsh, but it’s the exact type of brash approach to leadership that intrigued the Lakers in the first place.

Not everyone prefers to be coached the same way, but the Lakers seem to have a locker room that responds to this type of dialogue. It’s far from surprising, as former franchise player Anthony Davis spoke publicly about the need for accountability prior to the 2024-25 season.

Redick himself has highlighted accountability as a key element of what he hopes to instill as a primary value in Los Angeles.

This is exactly what accountability looks like from a coaching staff to the players themselves. In the same article published by McMenamin, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves openly spoke about what they could be doing better—and what’s gone wrong.