"JJ Redick lost us this series" - Lakers fans point blame squarely at HC as consecutive 4th-quarter meltdowns lead to early exit

LA Lakers fans blamed coach JJ Redick for the team's first-round exit from the 2025 NBA playoffs. The Lakers suffered a 103-96 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 at the Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday after crumbling in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers erased a nine-point deficit with a 31-point effort in the third quarter, but their offense stagnated in the fourth. They managed just 16 points as Minnesota cruised to victory. The performance was similar to Game 4, where they put up just 19 points in the fourth and blew a 10-point lead.

Fans held Redick accountable, with one saying the first-year coach cost the Lakers the series.

"JJ lost us this series. Vando not playing in the 4th quarters is absolutely criminal. Trash assistant coaches too if no one has the mental capacity to tell him that."

"That’s on JJ. No game plan or plays," another fan seconded said.

"3 after 3 after 3 after 3. JJ has 0 control over his own players as a Coach. Egregious," one fan commented.

Austin Reaves copped some flak as well.

"It's all on JJ and AR," a fan noted.

"This was a full 4 quarter meltdown," another fan commented.

The Lakers were outplayed on both ends of the floor. LeBron James ended his evening with 22 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Luka Doncic, battling a back injury, put up 28 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, and a steal. Minnesota was led by Rudy Gobert, who had 27 points and 24 rebounds. Julius Randle chipped in with 23 points.

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"I can get a lot better": JJ Redick sums up his season after Lakers' first-round playoff exit

Speaking to the media after the loss, JJ Redick said there was room for improvement and that he would work to get better at his role.

"I can get a lot better," he said at the end of his press conference.

The Lakers surpassed expectations in Redick's first season. They finished as the No. 3 seed and got past the 50-win mark for the first time since 2019-20.