JJ Redick’s defiant message amid Lakers injuries

LOS ANGELES – The undermanned Los Angeles Lakers put up a fight as long as they could, but ultimately the reality of the situation took over as they fell to the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder, 123-87. It was a valiant effort from the Lakers’ reserves but the talent disparity was too great to overcome. However, for Lakers head coach JJ Redick, this game, and the remaining three, are going to serve as an audition for the NBA playoffs.

The Lakers are facing the prospect of not having either Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves available for their opening-round playoff series due to injury. Marcus Smart is still sidelined with an ankle injury, but Redick acknowledged he was trending in a positive direction. But the main question the Lakers face is who will step up and be a part of the rotation in the playoffs.

Tuesday’s loss to the Thunder served as step one of that audition with a few guys making the case for extended playing time. Redick has his eye out for whoever wants to buy-in completely and make the most of their opportunity.

“We’ve got to find nine guys that are all in on us fighting and willing … whatever you got to do to go out and fight and be all in on the team,” Redick said after the Thunder loss. “We’ll find the nine guys. It’s a great opportunity for us over the next three days to find those guys.”

One of those players who could see an increase in playing time is rookie wing Adou Thiero. Thiero came off the bench to finish with 10 points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal in 21 minutes. His energy in the first quarter changed the game. He was aggressive in drawing contact at the basket and he was all over the court defensively.

Redick admitted that Thiero is currently on a minutes restriction following a knee issue, but that the promise he’s shown has been encouraging.

“He’s had an up and down stretch in the G League. The biggest thing for him, we know he’s an NBA athlete, I believe he’ll eventually work his way to being an NBA player, but there’s a lot of things he’s got to work on,” Redick said. “The starting point for him has got to be playing hard, ‘Banshee’ mentality, all of those things … for him to be an NBA rotation player, it’s got to be every single possession and that’s what we’re building for.

“Obviously the skill work, he’s had a lot of trouble finishing this year, but we’re confident with his athleticism, he’ll build his counters when he can’t dunk it. And he’s going to end up being a really good player.”

The Lakers have three games remaining on their regular season schedule. Following the Thunder loss, they fell into a tie with the Houston Rockets for the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference standings. The Lakers do hold the tie-breaker, however.

With the home stretch approaching and the NBA playoffs right around the corner, Redick is looking forward to seeing who is going to meet the challenge at hand.

“It was an opportunity for a bunch of guys to play a lot of minutes. Those spots are open,” Redick said. “Similar to what we’ve done when we’re healthy at the five, we’ll play the five that is all in that day. We’ll figure out who that is.”