Lakers head coach JJ Redick shared his thoughts after the 95-117 Game 1 loss to the Timberwolves, stating that while the team entered with the right mentality, they weren’t physically prepared to match Minnesota’s intensity.
The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a 95-117 defeat in their playoff opener at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick shared his thoughts after a disappointing Game 1, emphasizing the need for more physicality against one of the top teams in the league.
"They're one of the best teams in basketball," Redick stated in the postgame press conference.
| Player of the Game | |
|
EFF
35
|
| Jaden McDaniels | |
| Points | 25 |
| Accuracy | 11-13 |
| Rebounds | 9 |
| Assists | 2 |
"I think it’s not to say our guys weren't ready to withstand a playoff-level basketball game. We were mentally ready."
"I thought our spirit was right, I thought even when they made runs, our huddles were great, the communication was great. I'm not sure physically we were ready, if that makes sense," he explained when discussing the loss to the Timberwolves.
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with a 37-point performance but recorded only one assist by the end of the game.
Redick attributed that to Minnesota’s defensive schemes and their switch-all defense.
"A lot of it was just the coverage scheme they had. Not really playing Gobert his normal minutes, and then some late reds, some late veers with him when he was in coverage," Redick said.
"Then they had their one-through-five switching. So just in terms of, like, the two on the basketball, the blitzes, the four-on-threes, just not there. I think that was expected on our side. But again, you know, we’ll look at the film and see what we can do better," he added.
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