The atmosphere at the Lakers’ practice on Sunday was not one of panic, but of focused, quiet desperation. Facing the steepest climb in professional sports, head coach JJ Redick spent the session steering his team away from the looming shadow of elimination and back toward the basics of their identity.
The Los Angeles Lakers enter Monday night’s Game 4 at Crypto.com Arena trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder 3-0 in the Western Conference semifinals. In the history of the NBA, the deficit is essentially a death sentence; no team has ever recovered from a 3-0 hole to win a series, leaving the league with a staggering 161-0 record in such scenarios.
For Redick, the solution isn’t found in a desperate tactical overhaul or a sudden burst of inspiration, but in a mantra established months ago. During Sunday’s practice—which consisted of a streamlined offensive review and defensive drilling—Redick reminded his players of the extremely first slide presented during training camp: “Win the day.”
“Today was a quick offensive review and then just going over some stuff defensively,” Redick said. “Got to win today and we got to win tomorrow. We know what we’re facing being down 3-0. So it’s just more of a mindset check than anything else.”
The Psychology of the 3-0 Deficit
The numbers surrounding this series are unforgiving. The Lakers haven’t just been losing; they have been dismantled, dropping the first three games by an average of 19.6 points per game. When asked about the mood in the locker room and what gives him hope, Redick’s answers were brief and resolute. He described his players as “good” and cited “affirmation” as the driving force behind their refusal to quit.
That affirmation is partially rooted in the team’s own recent history. Rui Hachimura pointed back to the first-round series against the Houston Rockets, where the Lakers held a commanding 3-0 lead. While the Lakers eventually closed that series out, the Rockets managed to claw back to a 3-2 deficit before the end.
“It’s crazy, but I think that’s the mentality we need,” Hachimura said. “I think it’s one at a time. I think especially with this type of team, you can’t really make mistakes… We have to keep the same energy the whole game. That’s the only way we can win.”
Hachimura has emerged as a rare bright spot in the series, playing on what Redick described as a “heater” from beyond the arc. Hachimura is currently averaging 18.3 points per game, shooting a blistering 57.1% from three-point range and 54.1% from the floor overall.
Tactical Successes and the Third-Quarter Collapse
The Lakers have found a way to disrupt the Thunder’s primary engine. By assigning Marcus Smart to shadow Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and employing aggressive double-teams, Los Angeles has successfully neutered the reigning NBA MVP. The impact is evident in the box score: Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring has plummeted from a regular-season average of 31.1 points to 21.0 in this series.
However, the defensive success against the Thunder’s star has been negated by a catastrophic failure in the third quarter. The Lakers have been outscored 92-61 in the third period across the first three games, a stretch where the series has effectively been decided in every contest.
Hachimura acknowledged the disparity, noting that while the team’s offensive looks have improved—claiming the team had its best offensive performance of the playoffs in Game 3—the defensive energy vanishes after halftime. “I don’t know [if] we got burned out or we got tired, whatever,” Hachimura said. “Our focus is like how we play in the first half we have to do in the whole game.”
To illustrate the impact of the Lakers’ defensive strategy on the Thunder’s lead guard, the following table compares Gilgeous-Alexander’s regular-season dominance against his current series production:
| Metric | Regular Season | Series Average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 31.1 | 21.0 | -10.1 |
| Field Goal % | 55.3% | 45.8% | -9.5% |
| Assists Per Game | 6.6 | 5.7 | -0.9 |
| Turnovers Per Game | Varies | 4.0 | Increased |
The Thunder’s Diversified Attack
While the Lakers have successfully limited Gilgeous-Alexander, they have struggled to contain the Thunder’s supporting cast. Chet Holmgren has been a persistent problem in the paint, averaging a double-double with 21.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Ajay Mitchell has stepped up as a secondary scoring threat, contributing 20.7 points and 6.6 assists per game.
This versatility is why the Lakers find themselves on the brink of elimination. The Thunder are not relying on a single point of failure, forcing Los Angeles to defend the entire court with a level of consistency they have yet to maintain for four quarters.
For Redick, the pressure is an expected part of the franchise’s DNA. “Being on the Lakers, you feel like your back’s against the wall every game,” he said, suggesting that a season of adversity has prepared the team for this specific crisis.
The Lakers must now execute a near-perfect game on Monday night to keep their season alive. Any slip in the third quarter or a failure to contain Holmgren and Mitchell could result in a sweep. Official updates and game-time rosters can be found via the Los Angeles Lakers official site and the Oklahoma City Thunder team page.
The next confirmed checkpoint is the tip-off for Game 4 on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena, which will determine if the Lakers become the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-0 deficit or if their season ends in Los Angeles.
Do you think the Lakers can defy history, or is the 3-0 lead insurmountable? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
