Redick Says Teams Want Lakers Without Luka

JJ Redick said it plainly before the Lakers faced the Suns: “I'm sure everybody wants to play us, let's get that out there. Everybody wants to play us.” Luka Dončić is out with a Grade 2 hamstring strain suffered April 2 against Oklahoma City, while Austin Reaves has a Grade 2 left oblique injury and was expected to miss four to six weeks, per ESPN's Shams Charania. The Lakers are leaning harder on LeBron James with two major ball-handlers sidelined. They're currently lined up to face the Houston Rockets in the first round, and the final two games will decide home-court advantage. Redick said the team has to find “the formula and the belief” to win with this group.