Luka Doncic took responsibility for the Lakers' defensive struggles, acknowledging that star players—including himself—need to lock in and give more effort on that end.
The Los Angeles Lakers boast one of the league's best records, yet head coach JJ Redick remains unsatisfied.
Los Angeles Lakers / Schedule
According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, Redick has placed a strong emphasis on defense, urging his team to lock in earlier and maintain consistency, particularly when talking about stars like Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
Doncic acknowledged the challenge.
"He was right," Doncic told reporters after Wednesday's practice. "You got to get a little bit more, especially from the star players. That's on us. That's on me."
After the win in Phoenix, the team held a meeting to discuss areas for improvement.
"It was good," Doncic said. "We talked about a lot, not just that, but he was right. ... And we just got to give more, especially at the start of the game. We got to start the game better."
The numbers support Redick's concerns. Entering Wednesday, the Lakers ranked 20th in defensive rating. So, during the NBA Cup break, the coaching staff led film sessions to help players adjust.
The L.A. Lakers currently sit at 18-7 and will face the Utah Jazz next.
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