Lakers refusing to quit down 3-0 heading into Game

In their darkest playoff hour, Lakers coach JJ Redick suggested his gamers during observe Sunday to take the same mental strategy for the win-or-go-home Game 4 that they’ve used since the first day of training camp.

The Lakers path the Oklahoma City Thunder 3-0 in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal collection. The Lakers must beat the Thunder at Crypto.com Arena on Monday evening or their season is over.

“Our first slide that we put up in training camp was [to] win the day,” Redick said. “Today was a quick offensive review and then just going over some stuff defensively. Got to win today and we got to win tomorrow. We know what we’re facing being down 3-0. So it’s just more of a mindset check than anything else.”

No NBA workforce has ever come back to win a collection when trailing 3-0, with those groups holding a 161-0 document.

Those are the long odds the Lakers face.

Redick was requested what his workforce’s temper was like at observe.

“These guys are good,” he said.

Redick then was requested what his squad has shown him that provides him hope the Lakers can still win.

“Affirmation,” he responded.

Even after shedding three video games by an average of 19.6 factors per sport, the Lakers still cling to some hope.

Rui Hachimura has been on what Redick called a “heater” from three-point vary. He has made 57.1% of his threes and has shot 54.1% from the ground in the collection, averaging 18.3 factors per sport.

Hachimura thought back to the Lakers’ first-round collection against the Houston Rockets and how they’d a commanding 3-0 lead. But the Rockets fought back to make the collection 3-2 before the Lakers closed out the collection.

“It’s crazy, but I think that’s the mentality we need,” Hachimura said. “I think it’s one at a time. I think especially with this type of team, you can’t really make mistakes. … We have to keep the same energy the whole game. That’s the only way we can win. So, we know what we do.”

What they need to do is play better in the third quarter. The Lakers have been outscored 92-61 in the third quarter by the Thunder.

“I feel like every game we’re getting closer,” Hachimura said. “Especially last night … apparently we had the best offensive game of the series, even the playoffs. I think we had really good looks, great looks. But I think defensively we, especially in the third quarter, we kind of slowed down. I don’t know [if] we got burned out or we got tired, whatever.

“So, I think our focus is like how we play in the first half we have to do in the whole game. … That’s going to be our goal.”

The Lakers have managed to slow down Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander by having Marcus Smart guard him and placing fixed double groups on the reigning NBA most beneficial participant.

Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 21.0 factors per sport in the collection, far below the 31.1 factors he averaged during the common season. He’s averaging 5.7 assists per sport, which is below his 6.6 during the common season, and he’s capturing 45.8%, which is below his 55.3% for the season. He’s averaging 4 turnovers in the collection as properly.

But Chet Holmgren, who is averaging a double-double in the collection at 21.3 factors per sport and 10.0 rebounds, has been a handful for the Lakers. Ajay Mitchell is averaging 20.7 factors per sport and 6.6 assists.

That’s why the Lakers are on the verge of seeing their season end. The Lakers have confronted adversity all season, but Game 4 would be the final take a look at.

“Being on the Lakers, you feel like your back’s against the wall every game,” Redick said. “So I think the whole season has prepared us to be in a position where we’re in the second round of the Western Conference and being in the mix with a great basketball team.”