JJ Redick knew coaching the Lakers wasn’t going to be easy. But even he couldn’t mask his frustration during their 120-108 win over the Denver Nuggets. And thanks to ESPN’s broadcast crew, neither could anyone watching.
Redick pacing, head shaking, clearly annoyed with the Lakers not getting some pieces of the second quarter right, the cameras saw it all. Nuggets head coach Michael Malone wasn’t watching the same old Lakers team he was accustomed to while across the court.
Because this team? It’s a completely different squad.
Luka Doncic has changed everything. The Lakers have a brand-new identity, and the numbers back it up. They’re faster, sharper, and playing with a new level of intensity. But even with all that, Redick still isn’t satisfied.
The Lakers came out absolutely flying, dropping a ridiculous 46 points in the first quarter alone. They looked unstoppable. Doncic? He was in full attack mode, putting up 21 of his 31 points in the opening frame. Austin Reaves was right there with him, keeping the offense humming, and for a while, it felt like Denver might be in for a long night.
Then the second quarter happened.
Just after a timeout, the Lakers entered into a set play. Simple execution, right? Nope. First pass—boom, stolen. Fast break, one and a set of nuggets take it the other way. Seconds later, Gabe Vincent barrels into Russell Westbrook for an offensive foul. Two straight momentum-killing mistakes.
And the ESPN crew? Oh, they weren’t letting this slide.
“By the way, you should have seen the look on JJ Redick’s face when they came out of the timeout,” one of the commentators said. “First possession, you’ve got something drawn up, and the very first pass leads to a breakaway three the other way. Three-point play. And now an offensive foul, so back-to-back turnovers. The Nuggets force trying to chip away at this lead. Gabe Vincent picks up his second.“
Welcome to the jungle, MPJ.
Four straight possessions being hunted by Luka Dončić. pic.twitter.com/JSv3znZ7P3
— Raj C. (@RajChipalu) March 20, 2025
Redick might have been angry, they said, but then again, the Lakers were still up 73-59 at halftime. But those kinds of careless plays? That’s the kind of thing that keeps coaches awake at night.
While there were mistakes, the Lakers were still shooting 50.6 percent from the field and outplayed Denver in every area, 18 turnovers against 13 by the Lakers. But Redick? But he wasn’t going to let those sloppy moments go.
Michael Malone highlights the JJ Redick’s Lakers’ major shift
While ESPN was zooming in on Redick’s frustration, Malone was focused on something else—just how much the Lakers have evolved. And he wasn’t shy about saying it.
“Different players, different coaches. There’s a lot of change within the Lakers… They’re a different team. JJ is coaching them, and his fingerprints are all over this team.” And he’s absolutely right.
Since the Lakers pulled off the trade for Luka Doncic, their defensive numbers have skyrocketed. And Malone was quick to give them their props. “They’ve added another MVP candidate in Luka, and the most amazing thing about that trade is just how the Lakers’ defense has gone almost to the top of the charts. They play small, they play athletic, they play a lot of versatile guys, and they’re just really disruptive on that end of the floor. You have to be able to counter that.“
Mar 10, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) high fives head coach JJ Redick during the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
And Denver? Yeah, they couldn’t. The Lakers suffocated them in the third quarter, holding the Nuggets to just 18 points and shutting down any chance of a comeback. Aaron Gordon did his best, finishing with 26 points and 11 rebounds, but it didn’t matter—LA controlled the pace from start to finish.
And it’s not just about Doncic’s scoring. Yeah, he had 31 points, but he also pulled down 9 rebounds and dished out 7 assists, keeping the offense balanced and unpredictable. Meanwhile, Austin Reaves stepped up with 22 points, proving this Lakers team isn’t just a one-man show.
Malone sees it. The rest of the league sees it. The Lakers aren’t just better—they’ve completely reinvented themselves. But that second-quarter frustration from Redick? That tells you everything you need to know about his mindset. This team is playing at a high level, but for him, that’s not enough. He knows regular-season mistakes turn into playoff disasters. He’s pushing for perfection, and as ESPN’s cameras showed, he’s not afraid to let that frustration show.
The Lakers are climbing the standings. They’re looking more dangerous by the day. And if Redick has anything to say about it, they’re nowhere near their ceiling yet.
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