Let’s be real—digging into the regular-season matchups between JJ Redick’s Lakers and Wolves won’t give you the full picture. Sure, they split the series 2-2, and yeah, three of those games were close. But honestly? The context was all over the place. Luka Doncic only played once. And that same night, Minnesota didn’t even have Rudy Gobert or Julius Randle on the floor. So, if you’re trying to analyze that film like it’s playoff gospel, good luck.

If you’ve watched the Wolves this season, you already know—they don’t mess around on defense. This squad locks in. Their defensive rating? 110.8. That’s sixth-best in the entire league. And yeah, that number didn’t happen by accident. Minnesota loves to switch everything and suffocate ball handlers. It’s like trying to drive through L.A. traffic at rush hour—clogged, frustrating, and going nowhere fast.

So what is Redick’s plan? First, the Lakers took a brief pause from the grind of the postseason prep to come together for a team watch party on Tuesday night, tuning in to the Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies play-in game. Speaking to reporters, Reaves revealed that Redick, recently brought into the Lakers’ coaching staff, took a moment during the event to address the team with some heartfelt words.

“Sure, JJ turned into a motivational speaker, and it was, it was fun,” Reaves said. “I asked him how many time he rehearsed it, and he said zero. He was speaking from the heart. So, uh, it was good, you know, it’s obviously always fun when you get together as a group, and you have time to kind of kick back, relax, and you know, just hang out as friends and family. And just, I don’t know, have a good time.”

When asked if any particular message from Redick’s speech stood out, Reaves smiled and redirected the question.

“You all can ask him,” he said.

Now that the fun was over, the Lakers were locking in—and that means figuring out how to slow down Anthony Edwards. So, how are the Lakers prepping for that kind of firepower? At Wednesday’s practice, the staff got a little inventive. They tapped Shake Milton and Bronny James to step into Edwards‘ shoes—trying to match his energy, tempo, and those pull-up bombs from deep. It’s not just about practice reps. It’s about recreating what Edwards does to teams—make them panic with every drive and long ball.

If you’ve watched Edwards cook this season, you already know—he’s not just hooping, he’s torching defenses. He’s putting up a career-high 27.6 points a night and firing off over 10 threes per game.

As the Lakers gear up to host Minnesota for Games 1 and 2 at Crypto.com Arena, Reaves’ growth might be the most underrated storyline flying under the radar.

JJ Redick makes his feelings on Austin Reaves clear

Austin Reaves has been quietly leveling up this season, and honestly, it’s been one of the Lakers’ most clutch developments.

With JJ Redick stepping in as head coach, Reaves found more than just a rhythm—he found his voice. He averaged a career-best 20.2 points a night, but the bigger shift? He’s become one of the most vocal guys on the floor. That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident.

Redick’s been on board from the jump. “Austin Reaves is becoming a more vocal leader: He’s awesome to coach,” he told LoJo Media. The belief was there back in October too, when JJ teased a bigger role for Reaves. “We’re going to try to give him a little bit more on the menu,” Redick said, eyeing more versatility and control for the 26-year-old.

What’s wild is that when a Luka Doncic trade buzzed around, the Lakers didn’t even consider including Reaves. That’s how locked in they are on his value. Alongside LeBron, and Doncic, he completes a trio of playmakers who don’t just hoop—they think the game.

Reaves has weathered the usual chaos in L.A.—role changes, lineup shuffles, the works. But he’s remained steady through it all. It’s easy to overlook that kind of consistency, but come playoff time? That reliability becomes gold. If you’re wondering who the X-factor is for the Lakers in this series, don’t sleep on Reaves.