As the NBA regular season nears its end, the Los Angeles Lakers, under head coach JJ Redick, are facing a challenging period. The team holds a 38-25 record but has struggled against opponents with winning records. Their performance against playoff-bound teams stands at 14-19, while they have found more success—24 wins and 6 losses—against teams with losing records.
The Lakers’ recent games highlight this trend. On Thursday, they lost to the Denver Nuggets after falling behind early but managed to keep the game close until the final moments. The following night, they defeated an Indiana Pacers squad that has dealt with injuries throughout the season.
With several matchups ahead in March against strong teams such as the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets again, Houston Rockets (twice), Detroit Pistons, and Cleveland Cavaliers, Redick sees these games as crucial tests for his roster.
“The good news for us is that we have a lot of opportunities over the next 10 games or whatever it is to win some of those games,” Redick said. “I do think that the game last night was important because that was a game that we’ve broken throughout the year, the games like that. And they made a number of runs that went to double digits and we just kept playing and had a chance, one-possession game with a minute to go. Again, I’m confident we’re gonna find it. How we’re gonna find it, that’s where you gotta figure it out on a daily basis sometimes.”
Redick acknowledges that this upcoming stretch may determine their playoff seeding and potentially preview first-round opponents. He maintains optimism about reaching 50 wins this season—a feat he previously achieved with the Lakers—which could put them in a stronger position entering postseason play.
Beyond results on the court, Redick commented on handling external pressure as part of leading one of basketball’s most scrutinized franchises. He remains unfazed by outside opinions: “Playing for the Lakers is not for everyone and that can even extend to coaching as the spotlight seemingly never turns off.” As he continues in his role as head coach, Redick appears focused on guiding his team through both challenges and expectations.
