The Reeling Lakers are partly responsible after the 41-point loss to the Heat

MIAMI – When Heat guard Tyler Herro hit seven straight 3-pointers in the third quarter of a 134-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, L.A. coach JJ Redick realized how lost his team has become.

“We’re having problems with base-level game plans on both sides right now,” Redick said after the Lakers lost for the sixth time in the last eight games. “It’s strange. It’s very strange.”

What’s even stranger is how a team that was 10-4 just two weeks ago and had a chance to go 11-4 if only they hit a few late free throws against the Orlando Magic is suddenly in free fall and these six games with a difference of 1:1 loses an average of 21.83 points.

“There has to be some ownership,” Redick said. “You can splinter, and it’s easy to not want the possession, especially when it’s embarrassing. I’m embarrassed. It’s embarrassing for all of us. It’s not a game where I thought we had the right fight, the right professionalism.”

Redick added: “There has to be some ownership on the pitch and I take all the ownership in the world. This is my team and I lead it and I’m embarrassed. But I can’t organize us physically. I I can’t get physical with basketball and denounce the Reds. I also need some personal responsibility on the court. … I don’t feel like we’re together right now.”

LeBron James recovered from a shooting slump to score 29 points on 12-for-18 shooting, including 1 of 4 from 3-point range, to break a streak of 20 consecutive missed threes. But he didn’t contradict Redick’s comments.

“I agree with everything JJ said,” James said, making it clear he wouldn’t disagree with the first-year coach. “Whatever he said, I agree 100%, 1000%.”

However, James absolved Redick of his role in Wednesday’s debacle, saying: “It’s not the fault of the coaches. It’s definitely up to us.”

The Lakers were outrebounded 52-36, allowing Miami to set a franchise record of 3s in a regular season game by hitting 24 of 47, including 9 of 16 from Herro, who scored a team-high 31 points . Meanwhile, the Lakers shot 5-for-22 (22.7%) from deep.

Anthony Davis, who not long ago was considered an MVP candidate early in the season, willingly took most of the blame after scoring a season-low eight points on 3-for-14 shooting. This comes after Davis matched his season low with 12 points the previous Monday when he went 4 of 14 from the field in a 29-point loss to Minnesota.

“I have the utmost confidence in this group and this coaching staff,” Davis said. “Personally, I think it starts with myself. If I play better, the boys will play better too. I definitely take responsibility, especially in the last few games. I’m just not there for the team on offense.”

Lakers guard Gabe Vincent had nine points and three steals off the bench, but was still part of a Lakers second unit that was outscored 51-28 by Miami’s reserves. He described the mood of his team as “annoyed.”

“I think we’re definitely a long way from where we want and expect to be at this time of year,” Vincent said.

James, who is the NBA’s oldest player and turns 40 in a few weeks, preached patience but also admitted, “It definitely sucks to get your ass busted like that twice in a row.”

He continued by urging the Lakers to “stay balanced,” adding, “I’ve been in this game for far too long. Never get too high, never get too low. Because I know how fast things turn.” “

Davis wanted the turnaround to begin when the Lakers wrap up their four-game road trip on Friday against an Atlanta Hawks team riding a five-game winning streak.

“To be honest, I just have to find a way,” Davis said. “Find a way to get the sync in Atlanta.”