Lakers Head Coach JJ Redick Shares Thoughts on Timberwolves Matchup and Playoff Strategy
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick opened up about his team’s mindset and approach as they gear up to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs.
“They’re a very tough opponent,” Redick admitted. “They’ve been playing as well as anyone recently. They’re one of the few teams ranked in the top 10 for both offense and defense, so they bring a lot of challenges.”
He also emphasized that while the teams haven’t met at full strength yet this season, familiarity on both sides will play a role. “We generally know their roles, and they know ours. So not having full-strength footage isn’t a huge issue.”
Redick explained that the Lakers will begin drilling down on Timberwolves-specific strategies starting Wednesday. Instead of overwhelming the team with information, he’s chosen a gradual, “slow drip” method to give the coaching staff more time to tailor their game plan.
The Lakers’ season has been anything but predictable. With ups and downs in performance and a major roster shakeup, they managed to steady the ship under Redick’s leadership and clinched the third seed in the Western Conference.
A 50-win season is an impressive achievement for any coach, let alone a first-year one, and LeBron James made sure to give Redick his due credit.
However, the upcoming series against Minnesota won’t be easy. The two teams split their regular-season meetings 2-2, but that record may not reflect the current state of the Lakers—especially since the arrival of Luka Dončić following the blockbuster trade involving Anthony Davis.
Since joining the Lakers, Dončić has only faced the Timberwolves once, a February 27th game where he tallied 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists. LeBron led the charge that night with 33 points in a 111-102 win.
Across all his appearances against Minnesota this season—including his time with the Mavericks—Dončić has played three times (excluding one missed due to injury). His performances include a win with 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists, and a narrow loss where he sustained a calf injury.
Since joining L.A., Dončić is averaging 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists, making him a key factor in the Lakers’ playoff hopes. All signs point to him being the “X factor” in this high-stakes series against the Timberwolves.
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