The Los Angeles Lakers were supposed to play the Charlotte Hornets at the Crypto.com arena on Thursday but with wildfires raging across Los Angeles, the NBA decided to postpone the game for a later date. In a chat with the media this Friday, Lakers head coach JJ Redick spoke on what’s to come for his team and explained why it’s important for them to continue with the season amid the ongoing crisis back home.
“Being here for me was great because it gave me something to look forward to. Being around the guys and coaching, I told them this. We’re prepared for whatever tomorrow, and obviously, we’re gonna work with the NBA, the Spurs, and the city and do what’s right,” said Reddick via Jovan Buha. “I want to play tomorrow. I want to coach tomorrow. I want these guys to play tomorrow. And if we can play, we’ll play. I do believe that for everybody who this has impacted, there is a grieving process there is a healing process and I can only speak for myself but part of my healing and grieving process is being here with these guys and coaching basketball.”
Much of Southern California has been torched by a series of nasty wildfires that have taken several lives and cost billions in damages. The disaster is being called one of the worst and most costly in United States history, with the aftermath being likened to a war scene by some witnesses.
Throughout the NBA, several prominent figures have been directly impacted by the tragedy, including Russell Westbrook, Steve Kerr, and even JJ Redick himself. Earlier this week Redick admitted that his old childhood home burned down in the Pacific Palisades Fire.
The situation in Los Angeles is so dire, that the NBA postponed the Lakers game on Thursday and could push back the game scheduled tomorrow against the San Antonio Spurs at the Crypto.com arena. JJ Redick and his team want to play and it makes sense why.
For Reddick and many other athletes/coaches, the game is a way to distract from the chaos happening in the world outside. On the court, JJ has relief from the destruction and can contribute in a meaningful way that helps bring the city together.
It remains to be seen when the Lakers will return to action, but they are eager to get back to action and get the season back on track. At 20-16, the Lakers have shown some flashes of greatness here and there but they still have a long way to go before they’re ready to challenge the Western juggernauts like the Thunder, Rockets, and Grizzlies.
For the Lakers to help their fans through this crisis, they must give them something to cheer for this season. Fortunately, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis playing like one of the top duos in basketball, the Lakers have a chance against any opponent and they cannot be counted out in the NBA title race. But first, they must take care of business against some inferior foes.
The original schedule had the Lakers playing a back-to-back set against the Spurs on January 11th and January 13th at the Crypto.com arena. After that, they were slated to play the Miami Heat on Wednesday, January 15th at 10:00 PM EST. Whether all or none of those games are played remains to be seen, but the Lakers will be ready for whatever comes next.
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