LOS ANGELES — JJ Redick knows that the Lakers are unlikely to immediately recapture the rhythm they were playing with before injuries took time away from them further building their continuity.
Even with the excitement of, hopefully, having their full rotation for the last three weeks of the regular season, Redick knows it’s going to take time to build chemistry and familiarity after having just a handful of games with Luka Doncic at the helm before multiple starters missed time with injuries.
“I’m excited for these last 13 games to build some continuity, build some chemistry, and hopefully the way we were playing prior to the Boston game [on March 8], we can kind of get back to that,” Redick said pregame. “It may not be [Saturday], it may not be Monday, but we’re a good basketball team if we’re playing the way we played for that six, seven-week stretch.”
Saturday’s homestand-ending 146-115 loss to the Chicago Bulls showcased the strides the Lakers are going to have to make during the season’s final stretch – and old issues appearing for at least one night.
With LeBron James and Rui Hachimura returning to the floor after being sidelined for seven and 12 games, respectively, the Lakers (43-27) played with a disjointedness that can be associated with unfamiliarity.
They turned the ball over frequently (21 giveaways for 27 Bulls’ points).
Even with great shotmaking from Doncic (34 points, eight rebounds and six assists) and Austin Reaves (25 points, five assists), with the duo combining for 19-of-31 shooting from the field and 11 for 20 on 3-pointers, the Lakers struggled to find their offensive flow.
And their transition defense was well below their standard, with the Bulls (31-40) finishing with 30 fastbreak points after they consistently got to the rim or the shots they wanted with ease in the open floor.
And once the Bulls found their rhythm from beyond the arc in the second half, making 14 of their 19 3-point attempts (73.9%) in the final two quarters, the Lakers didn’t stand a chance, dropping their second consecutive home game after previously winning nine straight.
James finished with 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals in 31 minutes in his first game since March 8.
Doncic had seven turnovers while James finished with five.
Hachimura had five points and two rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench in his first game since Feb. 27.
Coby White led the Bulls with a game-best 36 points, while rookie wing Matas Buzelis finished with a career-high 31 points.
Josh Giddey nearly finished with a quadruple-double, recording 15 points, 17 assists, 10 rebounds and eight steals.