Redick Praises Thunder Before Series — Where To Watch Lakers Vs Oklahoma City Thunder
JJ Redick put the matchup front and center before the Lakers’ playoff series, calling Oklahoma City one of the greatest teams ever while the team prepares for where to watch lakers vs oklahoma city thunder. He also said the Thunder are the best team in basketball this year, leaving Los Angeles with a clear read on the size of the task.
Redick's Thunder comparison
“I said to a bunch of people yesterday off site talking about this series, to me, the Thunder is one of the greatest teams ever in NBA history. It’s just the reality. They’re that good,” Redick said in El Segundo, Calif. He tied Oklahoma City’s net-rating run to the 1995-96 Bulls, the 1996-97 Bulls and the 2016-17 Warriors, using that company to set the bar for the series.
That comparison is backed by the numbers he cited. The Thunder finished with 1,555 personal fouls, the seventh-fewest in the NBA this season, while the Lakers were called for 1,517, the third-fewest. Even with that similarity, Redick said Oklahoma City’s defensive pressure sits at a higher baseline than what Los Angeles saw from Houston.
Oklahoma City's defensive edge
Redick described the Thunder defense as disruptive in virtually every area. “The reality of their defense is that whatever moments we felt Houston pressuring, like the maximum amount of pressure they put on us, that’s OKC’s baseline. That’s their core,” he said.
He added that they are “top five in every category that’s disruptive-base: Steals, blocks, turnovers forced, all that stuff.” He also said, “They don’t foul. They somehow do all of that without fouling, which is one of the most remarkable things I think in NBA history.”
That combination leaves the Lakers staring at a defense built to create possessions without giving many away. The Thunder won it all last year, and Redick said they have been the best team in basketball all season.
Lakers' practice-day issue
Los Angeles had everyone available at practice Sunday except Luka Dončić, and the team gave no update on his status. That leaves one major roster question hanging as the series opens against a group that has already put together a year Redick compared with some of the sport’s greats.
Austin Reaves said the Lakers should not walk into the series scared. “You know you can’t go in scared. You have an opportunity to go play basketball. So we’ll have fun,” he said, while Jake LaRavia said the plan starts with “just being the more physical team” and making Shai Gilgeous-Alexander uncomfortable.
Reaves said Gilgeous-Alexander can score in three levels and get to the free throw line, and LaRavia said the Thunder have incredible depth. Those are the stress points Los Angeles has to manage against a defending champion that arrives with elite defense, depth and the heavier underdog label attached to the Lakers.
