Lakers insider stresses JJ Redick deserves more credit for series win vs. Rockets

The Los Angeles Lakers are facing a tough task against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs. The Thunder have been nothing but dominant since the regular season, and they will stop at nothing to defend their title.

With Luka Doncic still out indefinitely due to a hamstring injury, the fourth-seeded Lakers will be at a big disadvantage against the top-seeded Thunder.

Los Angeles coach JJ Redick acknowledged the difficulty of facing the Thunder, calling them one of the greatest teams in league history. But as he has proven in the first round against the Houston Rockets, he can pull off a few surprises.

Lakers Nation’s Trevor Lane stressed that Redick deserves more credit for how he steered the Purple and Gold instead of discussing how the Rockets imploded.

“What about JJ Redick, whose team lost their two primary ball-handlers a week and a half prior to the start of the playoffs. He had to revamp his offense, his defense, all of his schemes, and yet got the Lakers on the floor to look like the more organized, more professional team than the Houston Rockets,” said Lane.

The Lakers pulled off a huge upset; it should be more about what the Lakers did right than the Rockets did wrong… pic.twitter.com/xDIWr0U4mm

— Trevor Lane (@TrevorLane) May 3, 2026

LeBron James has earned the majority of the praise, quite deservingly, for carrying the Lakers without Doncic and Austin Reaves, who dealt with an oblique injury in the first four games.

But as Lane pointed out, Redick, who is only in his second season with the Lakers, looked like a seasoned tactician with his adjustments against Houston. He demanded accountability from his players and emboldened them to perform beyond their usual roles.

Redick received a lot of backlash when the Lakers hired him last season. The concerns were valid, considering he had no previous experience calling the shots. But at this point, it has become increasingly clear that Redick knows what it takes to win.

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