![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bn-plus.png\")
<\/p>\n
Like what we are doing? You can express your gratitude here.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
JJ Redick has emphasized rebounding and boxing out ahead of the Lakers’ challenging first-round matchup against the highly physical Rockets group.<\/p>\n
The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves as the huge underdogs heading to Saturday’s opening-round matchup of the NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets.<\/p>\n
\t\tLos Angeles Lakers \/ Schedule<\/p>\n
With Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) sidelined indefinitely due to their respective injuries, the Lakers have no choice but to put everything on the line and outwork a much superior and talented Houston team bannered by Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.<\/p>\n
As far as this concern, JJ Redick made a key emphasis on box-out drills and rebounding in the team’s first practice before the first-round series on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started practice with boxing out today,\u201d Redick said. \u201cYou got to put it in their minds. That\u2019s literally the only thing we said about Houston today. Today was about us. Having a practice, getting sharp with our stuff.<\/p>\n
“Tomorrow we’ll introduce personnel. Thursday, we’ll do our scout like we would. Friday, we’ll be in reinforcement of that scout. Saturday we’ll be good to go. The only thing we did today was box out.”<\/p>\n
The Rockets have dominated the entire NBA this past regular season in the rebounding department.<\/p>\n
Across all 30 teams, they have established a league-leading 48.1 boards average per game. They are also the No. 1 team in the offensive glass with 15.0.<\/p>\n
The Lakers, on the other hand, are one of the worst rebounding teams. They ranked 27th with only 41.0 rebounds.<\/p>\n
Houston is about to impose their towering frontcourt of Sengun and backup big man Clint Capela. Beyond Thompson, the Rockets also feature tons of hustle guys from Tari Eason, Josh Okogie, Dorian Finney-Smith and Aaron Holiday.<\/p>\n
By controlling the rebounding area, the Lakers can simply control the entire series and subsequently give themselves a greater chance to prevail in the looming seven-game series.<\/p>\n
“Taking care of the basketball and boxing out, that’s the series,” Redick said. “Scheme, personnel, obviously important, but if we don’t take care of the ball and we don’t box out, we’re not going to win the series.”<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Like what we are doing? You can express your gratitude here.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n