JJ Redick already sounds like a coach managing expectations vs. OKC

Two days before the second-round series tips off in Oklahoma City, JJ Redick stood at a podium and effectively said the part that many coaches will not say. The Thunder are not just the favorite. They are, in his framing, on the short list of the greatest teams ever assembled.

Strange thing to hear from a head coach 24 hours from Game 1

"We saw a stat in our morning meeting, teams that have had back-to-back, 10 or more better net ratings in consecutive seasons, you're talking about the '95-'96 Bulls and '96-'97 Bulls and the '15-'17 Warriors. You're literally talking about two of the greatest teams of all time," Redick told reporters.

The numbers aren't encouraging for  Lakers fans.

Oklahoma City posted a +13.1 net rating with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the floor this season, comfortably clearing the +10 threshold Redick referenced. The Lakers come in at +1.5. The Thunder finished as the league's best team at +11.1. That's a gap, not a margin.

Redick didn't stop with the historical line either, going further when pressed.

"I said to a bunch of people yesterday off-site who were talking about this series to me. I said, yeah, the Thunder is one of the greatest teams ever in NBA history. That's just the reality. They're that good," he said.

JJ Redick on the Thunder: "We saw a stat in our morning meeting, teams that have had back-to-back, 10 or more better net ratings in consecutive seasons, you're talking about the '95-'96 Bulls and '96-'97 Bulls and the '15-'17 Warrriors. You're literally talking about two of the… pic.twitter.com/UGkJQWmxCn

We would agree that there is a reading in which this is just smart coaching. Lift the underdog status from the locker room, and dare your guys to play with house money.

He has been blunt by nature since he took the job, and there's no benefit to walking in pretending OKC is beatable on talent alone, maybe.

Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET in Oklahoma City. The Lakers will need a near-perfect game just to make it interesting.

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