J.J. Redick jokes he’s getting so many technicals because he’s grouchy

J.J. Redick has racked up a lot of technical fouls this exhibition season.

He has a good excuse, he says.

“I’m a little grouchy,” Redick said. “I had to explain to both referees, ‘Hey man, I’ve got a newborn at home.’”

Redick and his wife became parents in August to a baby boy named Knox. Since then, the good-natured shooting guard from Tennessee has amassed three technical fouls in the team’s last two games and was ejected against the Phoenix Suns.

Don’t get between a man and his sleep, especially one who needs 10 hours. Redick said that before his son was born, he would go to bed every night at 10 p.m. and wake up at 8 a.m.

“I’m 30 in human years, but I’m 60 in dog years,” Redick said. “I’m an old soul.”

Times have changed for Redick, who says he’s been getting only six to eight hours of sleep.

Redick said that he and his wife are using a method of feeding called the “dream method” in which they put a bottle in their son’s mouth every three to four hours so he can feed without waking up.

It’s working. Kind of.

“Instead of him being fussy, I’m fussy,” Redick said.

Redick, however, has one thing that’s making his life easier: his health.

Last season, injuries limited Redick to 35 games. He says he has a “clean bill of health,” and he averaged 12.7 points this preseason.

“Thinking back to where I was last year, I think I played in 1 1/2 preseason games, and missed three weeks of practice. It seemed like I couldn’t stay healthy last year, and it started right after the first week of the season when I strained my quad. I’m happy I got through this preseason healthy.”

Now, if he could only be well-rested.

Clippers’ Coach Doc Rivers has a piece of advice.

“Have babies in the summer,” Rivers said with a laugh. “I accomplished that, all four of mine.”

Twitter: @melissarohlin