The Los Angeles Lakers have followed a three-game winning streak by squandering what should've been a fourth victory and getting blown out on the road the next time around. That's a difficult truth to stomach, but it's the reality facing first-year head coach JJ Redick during a grueling five-game road trip.
Thankfully, this type of adversity comes at the perfect time for a coach who has put distractions behind him and positioned the Lakers to recover and thrive.
Within the first five games of the season, Redick has already navigated some of the biggest challenges a head coach can encounter. He's had to placate his superstar, balance winning with player development, and overcome an unfavorable schedule.
During that time, he's led the Lakers to wins over postseason-caliber opponents, found a way to feature Dalton Knecht off the bench, and given Bronny and LeBron James their family moments.
Compounded by the Lakers playing a back-to-back in the second and third games of the season, it's been a tremendous display of how to eliminate distractions as quickly as possible. It was easier to praise Redick when the Lakers were 3-0, but it's crucial to not lose perspective.
If Redick is going to have to learn how to snap a losing streak, then it's better to face that problem in November than later in the season.
JJ Redick is faced with a new challenge—in November, when he has time to learn
The Lakers played each of their first five games against teams that either made the Playoffs or the Play-In Tournament in 2023-24. That includes a 2024 Western Conference Finalist, a team led by three multi-time All-Stars, and a Cleveland Cavaliers squad that won 99 games between the previous two seasons.
To walk away from that five-game stretch with a winning record is nothing short of an accomplishment—first-year coach or otherwise.
In the face of that success now comes adversity, however, as Redick is tasked with helping the Lakers bounce back from consecutive losses. That includes a 134-110 decimation at the hands of the Cavaliers in a game that included a second opportunity for Bronny James to have a moment in the spotlight.
Los Angeles will play each of its next three games on the road, hoping to turn its recent string of disappointing results into a memory rather than a reminder of its limitations.
The good news for the Lakers is that their next two games are against opponents they're expected to defeat: The Toronto Raptors on Nov. 1 and the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 4. Even if the Lakers lose those games, however, this is the perfect time for Redick to learn what it's like to struggle as a head coach.
Losing streaks are an inevitable part of an NBA season, and Redick must learn how to look a defeated team in the face and make them believe they can right the ship.
The ideal result would be for the Lakers to win the games they're favored in and potentially close out the road trip with a victory against Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 6. No matter what transpires, however, fans can take solace in the fact that it's happening early in Redick's tenure.
Not only will Redick have time to learn from his early mistakes as the season progresses, but he can gain invaluable insight into how to navigate this terrain before the playoffs near.
No one enjoys adversity, but Redick has a unique opportunity to utilize it to his and the Lakers' advantage in the opening weeks of the 2024-25 season.