Lakers Coach Prepares for Playoff Challenge Against Rockets

Lakers coach JJ Redick candidly expressed that his team wasn’t physically ready for the start of last year’s playoff series against the Timberwolves, which led to a five-game losing streak. He emphasized the impact of their preparation leading up to Game 1 and made it clear that they won’t make the same mistake this time as they gear up to face the physical Rockets.

Physical conditioning involves measurable factors like workload, acceleration, and jumps. Redick mentioned, “We planned this 10 to 12 days ahead. We aimed for specific thresholds, tracked them live, and met those goals. The players approached practice with a focused mentality.”

However, it’s also about the mental side. How well can players cope with defensive pressure as they handle the ball? Can they maintain their focus and tenacity late in the game or series, especially when fatigue sets in?

When asked about the key to succeeding against the Rockets in Saturday’s Game 1 at Crypto.com Arena, Redick quickly replied, “Take care of the ball and box out.” It sounds simple, but facing a Rockets team that ranked first in the league for offensive rebounding percentage at 38.8% last season makes it a challenging task.

Historically, the Rockets have been a dominant force in this regard. They also led the league last year, highlighting just how fundamental offensive rebounds are to their strategy. “That’s the series,” Redick noted. “Sure, scheme and personnel matter, but if we can’t protect the ball and box out, winning will be nearly impossible.” He pointed out that while the Rockets were fourth in scoring opportunities, the Lakers fell to 23rd, emphasizing the need for key players like Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves to capitalize on every scoring chance.

Boxing out is a crucial focus for the Lakers. Redick remarked, “That’s our primary focus against the Rockets.” He explained how they intended to incorporate boxing drills into their practice sessions, aiming to prepare thoroughly. “We concentrated on that in our training, and I’ll introduce their personnel later in the week before we dive deeper,” he added.

Lakers players welcomed this renewed emphasis on defensive rebounding. Jake LaRavia shared, “It’s great to integrate drills like this. During the season, you sometimes neglect fundamentals, so revisiting them is beneficial.” Jackson Hayes also echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the Rockets’ reputation as a formidable offensive rebounding team and reaffirming their preparedness.

In the regular season, the Lakers managed to edge out the Rockets in their series 2-1, even with a considerably altered lineup. However, they will miss key players like Luka Doncic due to a hamstring injury and Austin Reeves because of an oblique strain. Redick confirmed that Doncic’s absence would be “indefinite” as playoffs approach.

In the previous matchup in Los Angeles, the Rockets posted a season-high offensive rebound rate of 56.5%, benefiting from Steven Adams’ presence before his season-ending injury. However, in the Lakers’ two victories in Houston, the Rockets’ offensive rebounding still hovered around 47.6% and 36.2%, which proved more manageable.

“They’re coming in to try to overwhelm us,” Marcus Smart said. “If we let that happen, we’re in for trouble. We might not be the fastest or the strongest team, but we need to play with heart.”