Even with their backs against the wall in a 3-0 series deficit against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick is standing by his team. While it's all but certain the Lakers will bow out of the Western Conference semifinals—whether in a clean sweep or after stealing a game or two—Redick believes this squad has already achieved something meaningful.

Fans are already turning their attention to the offseason, wondering how the Lakers can retool into a true championship contender. But assessing whether this team reached its full potential is tricky, especially given the injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves that derailed their momentum. Despite those setbacks, Redick remains firm in his assessment.

After a tough 131-108 loss in Game 3, Redick was asked if being down 3-0 changed his opinion of the group. His answer? Not at all. He broke it down simply: "Coaching is about two things: maximizing the group, and making sure people enjoy coming to work. When you set out on any season, that's your goal."

He acknowledged that the second part is harder to measure—every player faces personal adversity, whether it's playing time or role adjustments. "That second question probably changes by the day," he added. But on the first point, Redick was emphatic: "Can you maximize the group? I think we've done that this year. That's not a credit to the staff—it's a credit to everybody in the building."

Despite the lopsided series score, Redick pointed out that the Lakers were competitive in three of those games deep into the second half. "There's a reason they're the world champions," he said of the Thunder. "There's a reason they're the deepest team in basketball. That's why they win."

The Lakers opened the season with a blistering 15-4 start, even while playing their first 14 games without LeBron James, who was sidelined with sciatica. But their form dipped in the months that followed, leaving them fighting for survival now. Still, Redick isn't waving the white flag. "I wish we weren't in this hole. We're going to try to be better, and we're going to try to win the game tomorrow and extend the series."

Whether or not the Lakers can mount a historic comeback, one thing is clear: from the sideline to the locker room, they believe they've already gotten the best out of what they had. For a team that's battled injuries and inconsistency, that might be the foundation for something bigger next season.