When the Lakers led Houston 3-0 within the first spherical, JJ Redick was requested why it was so exhausting to shut out a playoff sequence.
He mentioned (sounding like Dexter):
💬 “Nicely, you must kill them. It’s troublesome to kill somebody. You’ve received to … once more, survival instincts says, ‘I wish to keep alive.’ And so, you bought to have the ability to kill them.”
On the other finish of that 3-0 deficit, the Lakers performed like a group that wasn’t prepared to shut its eyes. They fought via turnover issues. They sustained a six-plus-minute scoring drought. They took haymakers from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell.
And so they lived. And lived. And lived. Austin Reaves. LeBron James. Marcus Sensible. Jaxson Hayes. Rui Hachimura. All made performs. All put the Lakers in place…till there was no extra air. James’ missed runner would’ve given the Lakers the lead. Austin Reaves missed 3-pointer would’ve tied the sport.
Two pictures that didn’t fall within the closing minutes, the distinction between playoff life and playoff demise.