Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said on May 4 that the Oklahoma City Thunder are known for defending aggressively without committing many fouls as his team prepares to face them. Redick spoke after practice, highlighting the challenge his players will face in the upcoming series.
The topic is important because how teams defend and how referees call games can impact playoff outcomes. The Thunder have developed a reputation for physical defense while avoiding foul trouble, which could influence the flow of the games.
“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, Oklahoma City committed only about 19 fouls per game, ranking seventh-lowest in the NBA. Players like Lu Dort, Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso are known for their tough defense that frustrates opponents but rarely results in personal fouls.
Redick also acknowledged how disruptive Oklahoma City’s defense can be across multiple statistical categories: “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 strategies used by previous Lakers coaches such as Phil Jackson who would sometimes make comments before or during playoff series to influence officiating decisions.
Looking ahead to their matchup with Oklahoma City, Redick praised their achievements: “We saw a stat in our morning meeting this morning of teams that have had back-to-back…10 or more better net ratings in consecutive seasons. You’re talking about the 95-96 Bulls…and then the 15-17 Warriors,” he said. “You’re literally talking about two of the greatest teams of all-time…‘The Thunder is one of the greatest teams ever in NBA history.’ That’s just the reality.”
Redick concluded by saying his team recognizes and respects what lies ahead against such a strong opponent.