"The questions came in rapid succession to Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton, following L.A.'s first practice since a disappointing Christmas Day loss to the Houston Rockets that caused Lakers coach JJ Redick to publicly rebuke his team's effort. How was the energy of the group? Was what needed to be said actually said? And how was it received? "Hold on. Hold on. Hold on," Ayton said. "That's a lot. You're bombarding me with a lot.""
""Myself, I'm always going to look in the mirror first," the second-year coach said. "And I think it's easy as a player, as a coach to say, 'It's this guy's fault,' or, 'We're not doing this because X, Y, and Z.'" Was it uncomfortable? "The truth is uncomfortable," Redick said, "and so you have to put everything out there, that's all it is.""
El Segundo practice followed a disappointing Christmas Day loss to the Houston Rockets that drew a public rebuke from coach JJ Redick. Players, including center Deandre Ayton, faced rapid-fire questions about energy, communication and reception of team messages. The Lakers have lost three straight and six of their last 10, with all 10 defeats this season by 10 points or more. Starting guard Austin Reaves suffered a pulled calf and is expected to miss about four weeks. Redick ran a lengthy, uncomfortable meeting and practice focused on recalibration and reconnection while the team remains fourth in the Western Conference.
Read at ESPN.com
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