From jersey swaps to putting the final touches on preparation before the playoffs begin, the Lakers 10 a.m. practice on Sunday provided an opportunity for a “reset.”
Lakers guard Austin Reaves drives the lane between Detroit Pistons guard Javonte Green and guard Kevin Huerter during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 23, 2026, in Detroit. “We ain’t a rap group,” Ayton said, referring to the trio who spoke to the media concurrently Sunday.
“We’re a dance group.” Reaves donned the practice jersey of Ayton. Ayton returned the favor by wearing Reaves’ stripes. Hayes carried the name and number of Dalton Knecht on his chest, a last-minute switch from originally swapping his jersey with Jarred Vanderbilt. Every player switched jerseys with a teammate on Sunday morning – the team’s first practice availability in more than two weeks – as the Lakers prepped, fine-tuned adjustments for the final eight-game stretch before the playoffs. Reaves, Hayes and Ayton fired off light-hearted and focused responses to a handful of questions across four-1/2 minutes. Ayton and Hayes denied being able to dunk on each other in practice, before the latter claimed that Reaves has dunked on both Lakers centers. “ dunked on both of us; I’m dead serious,” Hayes said before pointing at Reaves’ Ayton jersey. “He’s five right now. This is Deandre Ayton.”. Lakers coach JJ Redick said that the short break was an opportunity for a reset ahead of a back-to-back set against the Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. But a reset didn’t stop his team from insisting on arriving for an early practice in El Segundo on Sunday morning. “I think, based on all of them wanting to come in at 10 a.m. on a Sunday, I think is as much mental and spiritual and emotional,” Redick said. “We didn’t want to have these guys in here long today, but we got a lot done, watched some film and cleaned some stuff up.” Redick said that across the latest stretch, for which the Lakers have won 9 out of their last 10 games and 14 out of their previous 16 games, he hasn’t seen a consequential slippage in fatigue or focus. “Obviously when you’re missing one of your best defenders, one of the leaders on that side of the floor, you’re not going to be as good,” Reaves said. “It’s going to take a little time. But hopefully we get him back soon and continue to build what we’ve been building.”, but the Lakers coach said that without stellar offensive and defensive performances, they wouldn’t have been able to riddle off the victorious March that they’ve had. Hayes said he believes getting a full season with practically the same squad , unlike last season when Luka Doncic entered the fold in a historic swap, has positioned the Lakers to be better prepared for the playoffs this time around. “All of us have had time to grow and play with each other,” Hayes said. “ be able to hoop with each other for the past few months. So it’s been able to build the chemistry.”“We’re just kind of waiting for them to feel like they’re good enough to go,” Redick said. Luka Doncic, who will miss Monday’s game with a one-game suspension for having received his 16th technical foul of the season , is “disappointed” in himself in regards to missing a game. Doncic remains in line to pass 65 games, and be eligible for post-season awards such as MVP. “He wants to be there for his teammates,” Redick said. “He’s not a guy that takes games off. He can be banged up and he’s gonna play. He was like that when I was his teammate in Dallas.”Dodger Stadium debuts new food items and selfie spots this seasonWhat to know about the planned Saturday, March 28 ‘No Kings’ protests in Southern CaliforniaThings to do in the San Fernando Valley, LA area, March 26-April 3Philippe the Original ends a tradition while another century-old restaurant closes
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