Originally published by LakersNation.com
JJ Redick has had trouble getting the Los Angeles Lakers to play a full 48-minute game with high intensity and effort on both sides of the basketball during the 2025-26 season.
The Lakers have shown glimpses of what their ceiling can look like when they’re locked in, but far too often they lose focus or let things like officiating throw them off their games. Against a title contender like the New York Knicks, who entered their recent matchup third in the Eastern Conference, Los Angeles had to bring its best to overcome their fellow big market team.
Fortunately, the Lakers played one of their most spirited games to date as they competed on every possession and seemed to wear down the Knicks as the afternoon went on. Los Angeles won the game 110-97 behind strong offensive showings from Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, but more importantly the team as a whole strung together numerous possession that Redick and the coaching staff will likely enjoy watching back in the film room.
Following the victory, Redick highlighted the Lakers making multiple efforts as the key to their win.
“The key to the game and, you know, we always have three keys defensively and three keys offensively. Really tonight, there was one key, and that was multiple efforts,” Redick said.
“I thought we did that throughout the game, not just in spurts. The run where they got back into it, two things happened. It wasn’t [Jalen] Brunson hitting tough twos, it was the back-to-back transition threes that we gave up. And then on the offensive end, we had a stretch where we just couldn’t make a shot. I mean, we were generating wide open catch-and-shoot threes from good shooters and just couldn’t knock them down. But you go down the stretch, I think we had three or four possessions where we end up with either deflection or steals. All of that was on multiple efforts. We were able to sustain that for all four quarters.”
Redick also expressed that he believes his group is trending in the right direction on both ends of the floor, not focusing too much on the highs and lows of a long season.
“Yeah, again, I’m not in a position where I can overreact. I let you guys do that,” he said. “Fans, rightfully so, should always overreact. It’s what makes fandom so awesome. I know as a kid growing up as a Duke fan, I cried after every single Duke game. I cried after every Duke game they lost. Like, I was an overreactor. You know, my job is not to overreact. We’re 15-9 in our last 24. We’re a top 10 offense and a top 15 defense. That’s what we wanted coming into this season with this group, and that’s where our group is right now.”
Redick knows there’s no time left in the regular season to kick it into high gear as there are only 18 games left, so this win against the Knicks is a major step in the right direction. Los Angeles has struggled to keep pace with the best teams in the league, but against New York they proved that they have a puncher’s chance so long as they remained disciplined.
The upcoming schedule doesn’t get any easier, so Redick and the staff have to continue to push the purple and gold until they get to the finish line.
JJ Redick says upcoming schedule gives Lakers a chance to prove themselves against quality competition
The Lakers are in a full-on sprint toward the end of the regular season, but along the way they will face off against several playoff teams. JJ Redick will have to get creative with how he manages the home stretch but called the upcoming schedule a chance for his team to prove themselves against quality competition.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
JJ Redick has had trouble getting the Los Angeles Lakers to play a full 48-minute game with high intensity and effort on both sides of the basketball during the 2025-26 season.
The Lakers have shown glimpses of what their ceiling can look like when they’re locked in, but far too often they lose focus or let things like officiating throw them off their games. Against a title contender like the New York Knicks, who entered their recent matchup third in the Eastern Conference, Los Angeles had to bring its best to overcome their fellow big market team.
Fortunately, the Lakers played one of their most spirited games to date as they competed on every possession and seemed to wear down the Knicks as the afternoon went on. Los Angeles won the game 110-97 behind strong offensive showings from Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, but more importantly the team as a whole strung together numerous possession that Redick and the coaching staff will likely enjoy watching back in the film room.
Following the victory, Redick highlighted the Lakers making multiple efforts as the key to their win.
“The key to the game and, you know, we always have three keys defensively and three keys offensively. Really tonight, there was one key, and that was multiple efforts,” Redick said.
“I thought we did that throughout the game, not just in spurts. The run where they got back into it, two things happened. It wasn’t [Jalen] Brunson hitting tough twos, it was the back-to-back transition threes that we gave up. And then on the offensive end, we had a stretch where we just couldn’t make a shot. I mean, we were generating wide open catch-and-shoot threes from good shooters and just couldn’t knock them down. But you go down the stretch, I think we had three or four possessions where we end up with either deflection or steals. All of that was on multiple efforts. We were able to sustain that for all four quarters.”
Redick also expressed that he believes his group is trending in the right direction on both ends of the floor, not focusing too much on the highs and lows of a long season.
“Yeah, again, I’m not in a position where I can overreact. I let you guys do that,” he said. “Fans, rightfully so, should always overreact. It’s what makes fandom so awesome. I know as a kid growing up as a Duke fan, I cried after every single Duke game. I cried after every Duke game they lost. Like, I was an overreactor. You know, my job is not to overreact. We’re 15-9 in our last 24. We’re a top 10 offense and a top 15 defense. That’s what we wanted coming into this season with this group, and that’s where our group is right now.”
Redick knows there’s no time left in the regular season to kick it into high gear as there are only 18 games left, so this win against the Knicks is a major step in the right direction. Los Angeles has struggled to keep pace with the best teams in the league, but against New York they proved that they have a puncher’s chance so long as they remained disciplined.
The upcoming schedule doesn’t get any easier, so Redick and the staff have to continue to push the purple and gold until they get to the finish line.
JJ Redick says upcoming schedule gives Lakers a chance to prove themselves against quality competition
The Lakers are in a full-on sprint toward the end of the regular season, but along the way they will face off against several playoff teams. JJ Redick will have to get creative with how he manages the home stretch but called the upcoming schedule a chance for his team to prove themselves against quality competition.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
