The Lakers are adamant that blame is on them, not coaches, during losing streak

With the Lakers stuck in a losing streak, the players repeatedly stated that the blame falls on them, not the coaching staff.

While the Lakers' situation is far from ideal, to say the least, their response to it could hardly have been better.

Saying the right things only goes so far, but it does signal the right mindset and approach from the team. And after Wednesday’s blowout loss to the Heat, JJ Redick took an appropriate amount of blame, but also insisted the players must take ownership as well.

To that point, the Lakers were doing as much with their own comments after the defeat as well.

“I hate losing,” Anthony Davis said. “The way we’re losing, we’re playing bad, blown out, I’m not playing well individually. It’s an accumulation of things. It’s frustrating...It’s on us players, to be honest. We’re getting the schemes. Schemes are on point but we just got to go out and do it and execute them.”

While it’s a bit of beating a dead horse, but compare this response to the one the team had during their losing streak they had about this point last season and it’s a stark difference.

The players were not coming out and defending the scheme last year, but they also weren’t exonerating the coaching staff of blame like AD did. And he wasn’t alone, either. LeBron James was asked if there was an understanding of what they were being asked to execute and he could not have been clearer on the matter.

“We’ve been preaching it since July…It’s been preached since July so there should be an understanding,” LeBron said. “It’s not on the coaches. It’s definitely on us, for sure.”

On one hand, it’s encouraging to see the players, and particularly the stars, echoing the sentiment of the coach. On the other hand, again, actions speak louder than words. The Lakers have to offer a response on the court after all this.

But the words could not have been stronger on Wednesday.

“There’s no schemes or X’s and O’s that’s going to get you through that,” LeBron said. “If you don’t want to come to compete, that’s other issues.”

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.