Login
‘You Have to Kill Them’: JJ Redick Challenges Lakers for Game 5 Against Rockets
The Los Angeles Lakers dropped Game 4 to the Houston Rockets on Sunday, spoiling their chances at a series sweep.
Now up 3-1, the Lakers need to focus on their mindset, coach JJ Redick says, and that means extinguishing the Rockets’ survival instinct.
“Well, you have to kill them,” Redick said Tuesday. “It’s difficult to kill someone … Survival instinct says ‘I want to stay alive.’ And so you’ve got to be able to kill them.”
Rockets were hard to kill in Game 4
On Sunday, the Lakers had a chance to sweep, but they ended up losing by 19 points.
Deandre Ayton and Adou Thiero were ejected, and Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard were fined for criticizing the referees after the game.
In Game 5, though, the injured Austin Reaves might be making his return, while Rockets star Kevin Durant will remain sidelined.
The Lakers’ other top scorer, Luka Doncic, will remain out, however.
It’s unclear when Doncic will return, but the Lakers will likely need his services soon to either close out the Rockets or for the next round.
The winner of this series advances to face the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Game 5 is expected to be physical
While the Lakers’ mindset was off on Sunday, so too was their physicality, something Rockets star Alperen Sengun said they’ve noticed works against the older Lakers.
“I know they’re going to hit,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “Well, we’re hitting them too … We’re younger. We heal faster than them, probably.”
At Crypto.com Arena at 7 p.m., we’ll find out if a killer mentality can overcome youthful physicality.
The post ‘You Have to Kill Them’: JJ Redick Challenges Lakers for Game 5 Against Rockets appeared first on LA Sports Report.
