JJ Redick on short-handed Lakers: ‘Everybody wants to play us’

Los Angeles– lakers Coach JJ Redick doesn’t know what seed his team will earn in the Western Conference playoff standings, with Nos. 3-5 all in play heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

but he knows it luka doncic Sidelined with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain Austin Reeves Out with a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury, no one will be afraid of his team.

In fact, Redick believes other teams in the West that have yet to be seeded would prefer LA as their first-round opponent.

“I’m sure everyone wants to play with us,” Redick said before the Lakers game. 101-73 win on home ground Above phoenix sun On Friday. “Let’s get it out, like, everyone wants to play with us.”

The Lakers (52-29) are No. 4 in the West – one game behind No. 3 denver nuggets (53-28).

Lakers hold tiebreaker over Denver and Houston Rockets (51–30) based on winning their season series against both teams. minnesotaThe No. 6 seed defeated the 5th-seeded Rockets, 136-132Friday in Houston.

Denver beats the No. 1 team in the West oklahoma city thunderon friday, 127-107.

Although OKC has secured the No. 1 pick and rested 10 of its players, Denver also has seven players out – including Nikola Jokic, jamal mare And Aaron Gordon – on Friday, although the Nuggets’ seeding is still undecided.

Without naming any teams, Redick seemed to hint at Denver’s lineup decision.

“[Teams] Are in a position where they can even start to anticipate potential second-round matchups,” Redick said. “We see some of those teams basically rest their entire lineup, so they – we can’t be worried about all that much.

“Again, I’ll say the same thing I said to the team yesterday, what I said to you guys after the game, we’ve got to find the formula and the belief for this group to be successful. And so, that’s our focus for tonight, and that’s our focus on Sunday as well.”

LA ends its schedule at home utah jazz (22-59).