JJ

The Lakers had hopes for him — that he could be the kind of player critical to the culture JJ Redick and his coaching staff wanted to emulate by doing all the little things, by putting the team first and by making life hell for the other team whenever he took the court with his relentless effort.

On Saturday the Lakers rookie head coach had been publicly challenged after the opening loss by none other than Magic Johnson, who tweeted, “Coach JJ Redick did a great job all season but he didn’t do a good job for Game 1. The Lakers stood around on offense, played too much one-on-one basketball, and he didn’t make any necessary adjustments.”

“We were physical,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick, who pleaded for this type of play after the Game 1 beatdown.

After coach JJ Redick challenged his team to meet Minnesota’s intensity and physicality, the teams ripped and reached and held and hammered while they played like each possession would determine who won and lost.

Former NFL player JJ Watt is a minority stakeholder in the club.