The Los Angeles Lakers are shifting gears from the regular season to the playoff grind, and new head coach JJ Redick is already zeroing in on the critical adjustments needed for their first-round battle with the Houston Rockets. Following a day off after their season finale win over Utah, the team returned to practice Tuesday with a clear focus on the challenges ahead.

Redick confirmed that key guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves remain out indefinitely with injuries, placing a significant burden on LeBron James to orchestrate the offense. However, Redick emphasized the need for a diversified attack. "We'll look to mix in different actions depending on their lineups and their coverages," he stated, signaling a strategic approach to avoid over-reliance on LeBron against a set Houston defense.

Learning from last year's disappointing Game 1 loss to Minnesota, where the Lakers were unprepared for playoff physicality, Redick was pleased with the team's focused, business-like practice. The coaching staff utilized tracking data to ensure players hit specific thresholds in load and intensity, a modern approach to playoff preparation.

The coach pinpointed one non-negotiable key to the series: controlling the glass. The Rockets led the NBA in total and offensive rebounding during the regular season, making them a relentless threat for second-chance points. Redick left no room for ambiguity on its importance, stating bluntly, "Taking care of the basketball and boxing out, that's the series... if we don't take care of the ball and we don't box out, we're not going to win."

The Lakers' playoff journey begins this Saturday at 5:30 p.m. PT at Crypto.com Arena, where their commitment to Redick's fundamentals will be immediately tested against a physically dominant Rockets squad.