Heading into Game 5 of the first-round playoff series, Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick reflected on his team’s mindset after a devastating Game 4 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Redick acknowledged that the Lakers are “on edge,” but he emphasized that this is a necessary mindset, given the high stakes of the situation.
“I would describe us as on edge, as we should be,” Redick said.
The Lakers now find themselves in a must-win scenario after falling behind 3-1 in the series following a heartbreaking 116-113 defeat on Sunday. Despite a strong performance from Luka Doncic, who led Los Angeles with 38 points, the Lakers couldn’t hold onto a double-digit lead late in the game.
Redick pointed to several key factors that contributed to the loss, including self-inflicted wounds and missed opportunities on offense. “I think there’s a lot of stuff that we did defensively that is preventable. And in both games up there, I thought there were a lot of self-inflicted wounds,” he explained.
Looking back at the team’s fourth-quarter struggles, Redick noted the trend of missed shots and poor execution. “I think there’s been a lot of times where we’ve gotten some good looks. And I think in Game 4 in particular, when we didn’t turn the ball over, we had some good looks. And I think early, I think three of the first four possessions were sort of what I would call wasted possessions,” he said.
Despite their struggles, Redick doesn’t believe fatigue has been a factor for his players. “No. And you know what, looking back now, what have we scored? 19, 20, 13 in the fourth quarter? You know, it’s a trend more so than that. I mean, our two best players missed layups at the rim. I don’t think they missed layups because they were tired.”
Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, who exploded for 43 points in Game 4, has been a major challenge for the Lakers defense. Redick highlighted the need for discipline in defending Edwards. “I think you just have to be really disciplined with what we’re trying to do. When we’ve allowed him to play in his left hand, he’s been pretty damn good,” Redick noted.
As the series shifts back to Los Angeles for Game 5, Redick’s message to his team is clear: focus solely on winning the next game. “Our focus is on Game 5. We have to win Game 5, and that’s been conveyed by coaches and players. Tomorrow is a Game 7 for us,” Redick said.
