3 lessons from LA Lakers vs. Utah Jazz: Stunning 4th quarter collapse shows JJ Redick has work to do

LA Lakers trio show they can win even when struggling

As mentioned above, the Lakers were led in scoring by their three best players – Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James.

Doncic scored 32 points, with 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Reaves had a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. And LeBron James had 17 points with 6 rebounds and 8 assists.

With their three best players putting up these kinds of numbers, the rest of the Lakers players just have to do their part to ensure they keep on winning games. But there is still one glaring issue.

LA Lakers still can’t fix their three-point shooting

The Los Angeles Lakers are struggling to make their shots from beyond the arc. On the night, they went 10-38 from deep, converting just 26% of their shots from distance.

The Lakers had just three players to shoot above 33% from distance, with Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James shooting an abysmal 4-24 as a collective, just 18.3%.

The Lakers rank 26th in the NBA when it comes to three-point percentage, and 30th in three-pointers made, showing they are one of the worst sides when it comes to their shooting from range.

JJ Redick is running big risk not stopping fourth quarter comebacks

While the LA Lakers got the win in the end, the Utah Jazz managed to make quite the comeback effort in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter.

Things got close enough that the Jazz were down by just one point in the final minute. One successful free throw, combined with successful defensive plays from the Lakers, kept them safe in a win.

But this loss in concentration for the Lakers is yet another example of what has long been an issue for the side, as they should have seen out a comfortable win.

This is something JJ Redick is going to have to address with the LA Lakers roster, ideally ahead of their two NBA Cup games against the LA Clippers and Dallas Mavericks this week.