Physicality to decide Lakers-Rockets series

Lakers coach JJ Redick publicly acknowledged feeling like his team wasn’t physically ready for the start of last year’s first round playoff series against the Timberwolves, which ended in a five-game defeat for the Lakers. And the role his preparations from the week leading into Game 1 of the matchup played into that.

Redick made it clear that won’t be the case again this year, with the Lakers playing against another physically imposing opponent in the Rockets to start the playoffs.

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets. NBAE via Getty Images

Physical preparedness incorporates trackable elements, including workloads, accelerations and jumps.

Advertisement

“We mapped this out 10-12 days ago,” Redick said. “We wanted to reach certain thresholds, and we did. We were tracking it in real time. We met those thresholds, and thought the guys had a very business-like, focused approach to practice.”

But there are also intangible components — the types that’ll show up against a team like the Rockets.

How do you handle the defensive pressure as a ball handler?

Will you have the focus and desire to box out later in the game — or series — when fatigue becomes an even greater factor?

It’s why when asked about the keys for the matchup against the Rockets, which tips off with Game 1 on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena, Redick quickly responded, “take care of the ball and box out.”

Advertisement

That’s easier said than done against a Rockets team that easily led the league in offensive rebounding percentage at 38.8%, the highest mark for an NBA team during a regular season since the 1996-97 season, which is as far back as the league’s official website statistical database goes.

Los Angeles Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes is fouled by Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant. AP

Stathead has this season’s Rockets as the best offensive rebounding team since the 2002-03 Warriors.

The Rockets also led the league in offensive rebounding percentage last year at 36.3%, which highlights how ingrained controlling the offensive boards is into their identity.

“That’s the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/physicality-decide-lakers-rockets-series-231952170.html

Author :

Publish date : 2026-04-14 23:19:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.