Rowan Kavner Digital Content Coordinator
TORONTO – J.J. Redick wasn’t joking when he said he’s taking the Three-Point Contest more seriously this time around.
The preparation is physical, practicing every day leading up to the competition using racks and money balls, but it’s also somewhat mental.
“I want to put myself in a good position, so I analyzed a shot chart the other day and figured out where my best spot should be,” Redick said Friday, a day ahead of the contest. “I know where to put the money rack. It’ll be the same spot as last year, finishing with the money rack in the right corner.”
Redick doesn’t sound like a player heading for a casual event. He wants to win Saturday, and he said he’s going through his routine and preparing for the event the way he would for an actual game.
He didn’t arrive in Toronto until around 2 a.m. Wednesday night, yet before his media obligations the next day, he was already in the practice gym getting shots up Thursday at 10 a.m. Following his interviews and NBA Cares Day of Service on Friday morning, he was back in the gym again in the afternoon getting up shots for more than an hour.
Redick plans on getting more shots up Saturday morning before the event.
“I realized last year I grabbed the balls from the wrong side, so I feel like I’m already ahead of where I was last year,” Redick said. “I didn’t really have an issue with the timing last year, it was more just the rhythm. Depending which side of the rack you grab the ball from, your footwork’s a little different – not that shooting threes off a rack is an exact science or anything. Ultimately, the ball just needs to go through the net.”
That hasn’t been a problem for Redick this year.
He’s shooting a career-best 47.6 percent from long range and averaging a career-best 2.7 made 3-pointers per game, and his Saturday competitors know he’s capable of taking home the competition.
“I know J.J., and I know he’s trying to win that and really wants to win that,” said Toronto guard Kyle Lowry. “He’s one of the best shooters in the league, shooting almost 50 percent from three, so he’s got a good chance.”
Lowry and Redick will be in a field that includes reigning champion Stephen Curry, as well as Golden State’s Klay Thompson, Houston’s James Harden, Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton, Phoenix’s Devin Booker and Portland’s CJ McCollum following an injury to Miami’s Chris Bosh.
Redick said his dark horse pick for the competition is Booker, and he’s really interested to see how the 19-year-old rookie performs after shooting well the last couple months. He added that Curry and Thompson are both incredible shooters, and their ability to catch and shoot puts this competition “right in their wheelhouse.”
Even if it is a different motion than coming off a screen, the catch-and-shoot game is also where Redick thrives. Thompson said Redick had a great round last year, and he was just unlucky stepping on the line, adding that he’s “shooting the heck out of the ball this year.”
“I really appreciate how J.J.’s game’s evolved,” Thompson said. “He’s having the best year of his career. His off-ball movement is second to none.”
Unlike the regular season, Redick won’t be catching passes from Chris Paul as he pulls up for threes in this competition.
But his All-Star teammate will still be close by, watching intently.
“My stomach will be tight,” Paul said. “I’m going to be nervous for him. What makes J.J. such a great player is how competitive he is. He’s like me. We don’t just do anything for fun. We compete, so I’m excited for him.”
And a confident Redick is ready to get started.
When asked what three things he’s doing to relax during All-Star Weekend, the first two are watching “Making a Murderer” on Netflix and getting rest. The third can’t happen until the Three-Point Contest is finished.
“Hopefully Saturday after I win the 3-point contest, I’ll have a nice bottle of Pinot noir,” Redick said with a grin.”