National Basketball Association

JJ Redick attributes technicals to new baby, adjusting to less sleep

Published Oct. 27, 2014 3:42 p.m. ET

foxsports

Clippers guard J.J. Redick was whistled for three technical fouls over the final two preseason games. He attributes those to a new baby, and a sleep schedule that is out of whack.

"I think it has a little to do with sleep. I'm just a little grouchy," Redick said Monday. "I had to explain to both referees, 'Hey, man, I have a newborn at home. I've been doing 'the dream feed.' I don't know if you all are familiar with the dream feed?"

Reporters weren't, so Redick took the opportunity for an impromptu session on his son Knox's feeding and sleeping schedule.

"Before your kid gets up -- and he sleeps in 3-4 hour segments -- you just put a bottle in his mouth," Redick said of the method he and his wife use. "In 10-20 minutes, he'll take the bottle down. And then he just sleeps for another 3-4 hours. So he doesn't actually get up."

One reporter joked it sounded like force-feeding, but Redick defended the method.

"Essentially you cut out those 30 minutes of crankiness and re-swaddling and patting on the back," Redick said while motioning the movements. "It's a very calm, pleasant experience."

Blake Griffin even joked in the preseason that he's losing sleep over those Redick technicals.

Redick, who played just 35 games last year because of several injuries, said he's feeling good and knocked on the wall at the Clippers training facility for good luck.

He's healthy, he's just not sleeping like he once did.

Watch JJ Redick explain lack of sleep and baby feeding schedule. @laclippers @foxsportswest https://t.co/j7gukcugPq
— Jill Painter Lopez (@jillpainter) October 27, 2014

"Most nights I get between 6-8 (hours)," Redick said. "It's your circadian rhythms that sometimes get interrupted. My last, probably, six years of my life, (I'd be) in bed at 10, wake up at 8 a.m. I'm used to 10 hours of sleep uninterrupted, so it's been an adjustment."

A reporter scoffed at 10 hours.

"I'm old," Redick said. "I'm 30 but 60 in dogs years? No," Redick said. "I'm an old soul."

Clippers coach Doc Rivers joked that he planned the timing of his children well so that lack of sleep wasn't a factor in his playing career.

"If I could advise all players, have a baby in the summer," Rivers joked. "I accomplished that, all four of mine (having them) during the offseason. Things were smooth. (It was) great timing and you can get on with the season."