The Los Angeles Lakers clinched home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs Friday night, routing the Phoenix Suns 101-73 at Crypto.com Arena behind 28 points and 12 assists from LeBron James. But it was head coach JJ Redick’s post-game press conference that offered the most compelling portrait of this unlikely Lakers season.
Asked about a defense that held Phoenix to just 25 second-half points — nine in the fourth quarter alone — Redick credited both execution and physicality. “I thought the whole game our defense was really physical. Outside of a couple mishaps I thought we did a great job executing our coverages because they do so many different things — whether it’s stack, the backside action, all the off-ball stuff,” Redick said.
He also flagged an adjustment that proved decisive: “I told the team at halftime the one thing that wasn’t good in the first half was their offensive rebounds — they have the highest crash rate in the NBA. I thought we were much better with our physical box outs in the second half.”
With Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron all missing significant stretches, clinching home court in the West felt improbable just weeks ago. Redick didn’t shy away from the weight of what this group has pulled off. “Let’s not discredit what this group did for the regular season regardless of what happens in the playoffs. To clinch home court and win 52 games, possibly 53, and deal with the amount of adversity we had — not just with injuries but with the loudness that just surrounds this team because it’s the Lakers — it’s a credit to our players and our staff for just persevering and keeping our head down,” he said.
James, 41, averaged just 15.5 points in the two weeks before April 2nd. He has averaged 28 since. On whether the team needs him to sustain that level heading into the postseason, Redick was unequivocal. “We’re going to need him to facilitate. We’re going to need him to score. We’re going to need him to defend and rebound. I think he recognizes the task at hand and he’s very locked in,” Redick said.
Marcus Smart returned from a nine-game absence on Friday and immediately made his presence felt, finishing with six points and seven assists. Redick described one play as the night in microcosm. “He was kind of like a wrecking ball tonight. There was a mess up on our coverage on a pick and roll, so he ended up going under and meeting the offensive player on the other side and just knocked the ball away. He’s just out there creating havoc — he’s an elite defender, he’s got great anticipation, he recognizes patterns, and he’s super physical,” Redick said.
When asked whether the emotional side of the game is an underrated factor in basketball success, Redick gave his most revealing answer of the night. “It’s all it is. The talent and skill matter but it’s all the nature of human beings and participating in a group and working together. Emotional regulation, mental toughness — that’s what this is at this level. It’s why some players can’t get beyond their rookie contract. I played with a lot of guys that were McDonald’s All-Americans. Not a lot of them made the NBA,” he said.
Pressed on how proud he was of his group navigating a brutal late-season injury stretch, Redick closed with a line that reframed the entire season in a single breath. “I know none of you guys had us in the top four to start the season. Like that’s just the reality. Most people had us as a play-in team or even worse. And I think our group has managed that well,” Redick said.
The Lakers host Utah on Sunday to close the regular season, with a chance to leapfrog Denver for the third seed if the Nuggets drop their finale — a tiebreaker advantage LA already holds.
