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24 Seconds With J.J. Redick - 4/27/16

Rowan Kavner Digital Content Coordinator

This weekly series from Clippers.com features a Q&A with Clippers players, coaches, alumni or those tied somehow to the Clippers’ organization. The next edition features shooting guard J.J. Redick.  

LOS ANGELES – J.J. Redick’s not one to sugarcoat.

The Clippers’ starting shooting guard typically speaks his mind, and he knows the Clippers have their backs against the walls perhaps more than ever after being dealt back-to-back harsh blows in a matter of minutes, losing both Chris Paul (hand) and Blake Griffin (quad).

“You feel bad for Chris, and you feel bad for Blake,” Redick said. “I don’t think anybody feels bad for our team, though. We’re still in the middle of a playoff series, so we still have work to do.”

Redick himself has been dealing with a sore left heel that isn’t going away anytime soon, but despite all of the injuries, he knows the Clippers still have a chance to put the Trail Blazers away by winning two of the next three games as the tied-up series goes back home to Los Angeles.

He talked Tuesday about the Clippers’ mindset, his health and constantly fighting through postseason obstacles entering Game 5.

How much has the heel affected your shot?

J.J.: “I’d like to say it wasn’t, but it’s definitely in the back of your mind. It’s just something I have to continue to work through and figure out a way to make shots.”

What was the plane ride like heading back from Portland?

J.J.: “It felt more like a plane ride after a loss than it did a plane ride after the end of the season. So, that’s a good thing. Guys are still engaged.”

Is there a collective “we have to get through this” type of mentality?

J.J.: “You don’t have a choice. You can’t feel sorry for yourself and you can’t let go of the rope right now. We have three games to win two, so we’ve got to figure out a way to do it.”

Doc Rivers said it’s his job to get everyone to believe. Can you sense that buy-in from everyone?

J.J.: “For sure. Our job collectively, players and coaches, is to figure out a way to play that we can put ourselves in a position to win. I think we’re all going to be positive, I think we’re all going to believe we can win – I know I do. But I think we all have to figure out a way, collectively, to win.”