Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said on May 4 that the Oklahoma City Thunder are able to play strong defense without committing many fouls, as his team prepares to face them in an upcoming series.
Redick’s comments highlight the challenge the Lakers expect from a Thunder team known for its disciplined and physical style of play. The remarks come as both teams get ready for a highly anticipated matchup.
“They don’t foul, so the whistles aren’t gonna be there. You accept that going in. They don’t foul,” Redick said after practice on Thursday. He pointed out that despite having one of the league’s best defenses this season, the Thunder committed only about 19 fouls per game, ranking seventh-lowest in that category. Players like Lu Dort, Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso have built reputations as physical defenders who can frustrate opponents while staying within the rules.
Redick also commented on how rare it is for a team to be disruptive defensively without being penalized often by referees. “You’re talking about a team that is top five in every category that’s disruptive based,” he said. “Steals, blocks, turnovers forced, all that stuff. And they don’t foul. They somehow do all of that without fouling, which is one of the most remarkable things, I think, in NBA history.” He compared this approach to tactics used by former Lakers coach Phil Jackson who would sometimes address officiating before or during playoff series.
In addition to discussing their defensive prowess, Redick praised Oklahoma City’s place among basketball’s elite teams: “We saw a stat in our morning meeting this morning of teams that have had back-to-back, or even more than that 10 or more better net ratings in consecutive seasons. You’re talking about the 95-96 Bulls, the 96-97 Bulls and then the 15-17 Warriors.” He continued: “The Thunder is one of the greatest teams ever in NBA history… They’re that good. I think our guys recognize that and respect that and we know what kind of task we have in front of us.”
