JJ Redick's latest viral moment emphasizes his difficult transition into coaching

Redick stormed out of his postgame news conference after the Lakers lost for the fourth time in five games. He called out his players' lack of effort in dropping Wednesday's game to the Memphis Grizzlies, 131-114, but left the podium angrily when a reporter asked a follow-up question about the team's effort. It's only eight games into the season.

First, Redick picking fights with Kendrick Perkins on "First Take" might have been good for ESPN's business, but it's not helpful for a team that is, at best, a fringe contender in the Western Conference. Redick has to answer questions from those same reporters for five more months, yet he's losing his temper over innocuous — and fair — questions.

When the reporter asked Redick how he'd "address those issues with the team," Redick angrily said, "I just did." But that answer implies that calling out the players in the media was sufficient. Sure, Redick is used to getting his messages out via cameras or podcasts, but that's a questionable approach with one's players.

Being able to analyze basketball, draw up offensive sets and call players out is a valuable skill for a TV commentator. However, the job of an NBA head coach involves dealing with grown-ups, day in and day out, whether they're players, members of the media, or team staffers. Just as an NBA general manager's job is more than making trades and signings, being a head coach is more than breaking down film.

But perhaps it's calculated. Redick dropped f-bombs during his introductory news conference as Lakers head coach, which became a story. Indeed, it's more of a story than the Lakers gambling on a head coach with zero head coaching experience. Perhaps storming out was a calculated move to distract from the Lakers losing three of their last four games by an average of 17.7 points.

Still, it feels like the Lakers' rookie coach is feeling the pressure and losing his cool unusually early in the season. If it's an act, it's not a very inspiring one. The Lakers have the 76ers on Friday night and will get a rematch with the Grizzlies at home next Wednesday. The team might be in for a rough season if the story is their head coach's petulant behavior next week.