JJ Redick seeks early officiating edge as Lakers brace for Thunder
jj-redick-officiating-comments-ahead-of-lakers-thunder-series
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick is already addressing game officials as his team prepares for its playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Speaking with reporters after Thursday’s practice at Crypto.com Arena, Redick repeated a long-standing perception that Oklahoma City defends aggressively without piling up fouls. “They don’t foul, so the whistles aren’t gonna be there. You accept that going in. They don’t foul,” he said.
The numbers support his point. The Thunder finished the season with the NBA’s best defensive rating while averaging just 19 fouls per game, seventh fewest in the league. Perimeter stoppers Lu Dort, Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso headline a roster that pressures opponents yet rarely sends them to the line.
Redick acknowledged Oklahoma City’s all-around disruptive style. “You’re talking about a team that is top five in every category that’s disruptive-based—steals, blocks, turnovers forced, all that stuff. And 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.”
The coach’s remarks echo tactics once employed by Phil Jackson, who often highlighted officiating trends before and during playoff matchups in hopes of influencing calls.
‘One of the greatest teams ever’
Redick also offered lofty praise for the Thunder’s historical standing, citing a statistic discussed in the Lakers’ morning meeting. Only the 1995-96 and 1996-97 Chicago Bulls and the 2015-17 Golden State Warriors have matched Oklahoma City’s feat of posting double-digit positive net ratings in consecutive seasons. “You’re literally talking about two of the greatest teams of all time,” Redick said. “The Thunder is one of the greatest teams ever in NBA history. That’s just the reality. They’re that good.”
With Game 1 looming, Redick’s comments serve both as respect for the opponent and a subtle reminder to officials of how tightly the series could be called.
Source: LakersNation.com
