Accountability continues to flow throughout the Lakers organization

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most explosive offensive teams in the NBA. First-year head coach JJ Redick has created a modern offense within which Anthony Davis and the Lakers are thriving, routinely putting up points with both volume and efficiency.

Unfortunately, for as great as the Lakers have been on offense, they've been equally as horrific on the defensive end of the floor.

At 10-6, Los Angeles is off to its best start to a regular season since 2020-21. Unfortunately, despite setting the pace for a 50-win season, the Lakers boast a net rating of negative-0.8 through 16 games—due in no small part to the team's defensive inconsistency.

According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Redick and his coaching staff have taken accountability for their part in the Lakers' defensive woes early in the 2024-25 season.

“Some of coaching is playing whack-a-mole,” Redick said. “Me and my staff will take some ownership on that as well. It’s not just players not executing the game plan. It’s all of us. We’re all on the same team. We all want the same outcome. We all want to be a good defensive team. So we’ve got to figure out that together.”

There are an abundance of reasons for the Lakers' lackluster play on defense, but a coaching staff owning their role offers reason for optimism.

JJ Redick takes ownership of role in Lakers' defensive woes

Through 16 games, the Lakers are allowing 117.9 points per 100 possessions. That ranks No. 27 in the NBA, with the only teams lower than Los Angeles being the 7-11 Chicago Bulls, 4-14 New Orleans Pelicans, and 2-13 Washington Wizards.

The Lakers have bailed themselves out by ranking No. 4 in the NBA in offensive rating, but there's reason to believe their shortcomings will catch up with them.

In 2023-24, only six teams allowed at least 117.9 points per 100 possessions. The 36-46 Atlanta Hawks and the 31-51 Utah Jazz were the only teams in that group that won at least 30 games—and Atlanta ranked No. 12 in the Association in offensive rating.

The Lakers certainly have the talent to win shootouts with Anthony Davis, LeBron James, and a strong cast of capable scorers and shooters, but the sustainability of that approach is debatable.

That much has been on display early in 2024-25. Los Angeles has secured win streaks of three and six games, but has also dropped at least two consecutive outings on three different occasions—including a five-game road trip during which it went 1-4.

That trend of either dominating or losing consecutive outings is consistent with a team that can put up points in a hurry, but can't prevent the opposition from doing the same.

Thankfully, roughly 80 percent of the regular season remains—and the 2025 NBA trade deadline is more than two months away. Perhaps the resolution will be found internally, or maybe Rob Pelinka will finally pull the trigger on the trade Lakers fans have been waiting for.

Regardless of how the Lakers improve, the one harsh reality that Redick has openly embraced is that he and his coaching staff must find an answer sooner than later.