JJ Redick Drops Line That Says It All About Lakers Ahead of Playoffs
The Los Angeles Lakers are set to head into the playoffs hobbled with notable injuries to their backcourt of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
This has raised doubts about the Lakers’ championship hopes, making them a prime target for a favorable first-round matchup.
Before Friday’s home win over the Phoenix Suns, head coach JJ Redick voiced his belief that teams are gunning to play them in the playoffs.
“I’m sure everybody wants to play us,” Redick said via ESPN. “Let’s get that out there, like, everybody wants to play us.”
The absence of their talented backcourt duo significantly reduces the fear other teams have when playing against them. Doncic is working his way back from a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, while Reaves is out with a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury.
Los Angeles still has LeBron James in the fold, but his play alone isn’t nearly enough to garner fear from opposing teams. Since the injuries to their backcourt, James has been playing at an elite level, averaging 28 points, 12.7 assists, and 7.7 rebounds while shooting 60 percent from the floor and 46.2 percent from beyond the arc over the last three games.
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The 41-year-old clearly has enough left in the tank to excel in the No.1 scoring option and playmaker role, but it more than likely isn’t enough to guide the Lakers to a deep run in the playoffs.
That may be the case, but James will need to keep playing at this high level to give his team a chance to advance and potentially have Doncic and Reaves back leading the charge in the postseason.
