LeBron Talks Playing Entire 2nd Half vs. Wolves amid Viral Criticism of Lakers' Redick
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James addressed the criticism head coach JJ Redick faced for making no substitutions in the second half of their Game 4 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, which preceded their elimination from the playoffs in five games.
During Thursday's episode of Mind the Game, James told his co-host Steve Nash that he didn't disagree with Redick's decision.
"I felt in the moment. I wasn't tired, I wasn't looking for a sub. If it came, cool, I would've accepted it," James said at the 30:30 mark. "But we had an opportunity to tie the series at 2-2 on the road vs. a great team, and the coaches rolled the dice, and we rolled with it. We just didn't make enough plays."
The Lakers were outscored 32-19 in the fourth quarter on their way to a 116-113 loss in Game 4. James, who had 27 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, had a costly late turnover and a late foul that was called on him after a coach's challenge that allowed the Timberwolves to secure the win.
Minnesota star guard Anthony Edwards, who exploded for 43 points, said after the game that he felt the five players who stayed on the court for Los Angeles "were gassed going down the stretch."
However, James told Nash that his fatigue stemmed from the intensity of a playoff game rather than not getting a break over the final two quarters.
"I left that game extremely tired and extremely like, 'Ooh s--t,' because it was a postseason game, not because I played the whole second half," he said. "I was tired as hell because I gave my whole body, my mind, my soul to the game for 48 minutes. I was extremely tired. But it wasn't because I played 24 straight minutes in the second half. No, we had an opportunity and we didn't counter it."
After the Lakers' season came to an end with a 103-96 loss in Game 5, James praised Redick for the job he did in his first year as a head coach. Thursday's comments further affirm that the 40-year-old is aligned with Redick's strategies.
