Ahead of a critical playoff game on the road, Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick spoke to the media on how he prepared his team to battle in a hostile playoff environment. According to Redick, there’s something to relish about a playoff game in enemy territory because it means you can watch the opposing fans’ disappointment.
“Just the feeling you get of people hating you and yelling at you and getting the opportunity to silence them, but also kind of ruin their day,” said Redick in a pre-game chat with the media. “They pay all that money, they wore their T-shirt, grabbed their towel… There’s just something awesome about winning on the road in the playoffs. You got to really embrace it. And if you embrace it, whatever dopamine hit you could want in your life, you get it.”
NBA playoff games are known to get pretty intense, and the Lakers are experiencing some of the worst of it in the very first round. In a 1-1 stalemate against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the scene has been brutal, and the whole team is expecting a very toxic crowd on the road at the Target Center, where the fans have been waiting for over 35 years for their first NBA championship.
After Anthony Edwards took them to the West Finals last year, the Timberwolves began this campaign with championship expectations, but things took a turn when they traded Karl-Anthony Towns mid-season. After such a risky trade, tension is high in Minnesota, and you can bet the arena will be packed full of people ready to give the Lakers an earful.
As a 15-year NBA veteran, JJ Redick knows a thing or two about winning on the road. With career averages of 12.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, Redick was always a steady hand for his teams, and he was never afraid of the moment.
As a coach, it’s his job to share that confidence with his team, but that’s much easier said than done. In Game 1, the Timberwolves stole home-court advantage and embarrassed the Lakers on their home court. If not for a solid performance in Game 2, the Lakers would be in danger of a first-round elimination.
As for young star Luka Doncic, he’s still looking to set things right after his trade from the Mavericks, and all the pressure is on him to live up to expectations. Fortunately, JJ Redick says he’s still up for the task.
“He’s fearless, and you have to be fearless to win on the road in the playoffs.”
Ahead of a critical Game 3, the Lakers will need everything to go their way to win the game, but Redick believes they have everything they need to get it done. With full strength and after much preparation, they have a lot to feel good about going into Friday’s contest, but it won’t be easy to face an arena full of rowdy and passionate fans eager to see them lose.
The goal for the Lakers is to get at least one of these next two games so they can retake home-court advantage and put the pressure on Minnesota back in Los Angeles for Game 5. Only time will tell how it turns out in this series, but you can bet that the Lakers will take special pleasure in every win that they get at the Target Center.
