Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said his team will not give up despite falling into a 0-3 hole in the Western Conference semifinals [1].
The deficit places the Lakers in a historically difficult position, as few teams in NBA history have recovered from three consecutive losses in a single series. Redick's response focuses on a need for immediate tactical adjustments to avoid elimination.
The comments followed Game 3 on Saturday, May 12, 2024, at Crypto.com Arena [2]. The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Lakers with a final score of 131-108 [3]. Redick said there was a gap in performance between the two teams during the contest.
"They've kicked our ass," Redick said. "They’re playing a very physical brand of basketball and we got blown out" [4].
Redick said the defensive end is the primary area requiring improvement to stop the Thunder from securing easy scoring opportunities [5]. He said the team must find a way to regain momentum to stay competitive in the series.
Despite the dominant performance by Oklahoma City, Redick said the Lakers are still in the fight. He said the team has to figure out a way to get back into the series and refused to concede the postseason run [6].
"We’re not giving up," Redick said. "We’re still in this and we have to figure out a way to get back in this series" [6].
Redick said the team must get better on the defensive end and stop the opposition from getting easy looks [5].
“"They've kicked our ass."”
A 0-3 deficit in an NBA playoff series is nearly insurmountable, creating immense pressure on the coaching staff to implement drastic changes. Redick's blunt acknowledgment of the Thunder's physical dominance suggests a shift in strategy is necessary to prevent a sweep, focusing specifically on defensive rotations and physicality to counter Oklahoma City's offense.
