2025 NBA PLAYOFFS West First Round: #3 LA Lakers vs #6 Minnesota Timberwolves (Series tied 1-1)

[Upperclass]

I would be quite surprised if the Timberwolves lost another game in this series. They shoot horribly from the field and still come within single digit of winning the game ,despite of being down as much as 20+ points. We really expect the Timberwolves to shoot 20% from the 3pt line and 38% from the field every game? Don't think so. I also don't see Luka have a 16 point quarter explosion every game. I also don't the Timberwolves getting outrebound again in the series. Change just one of these facts and last night would've been a Timberwolves win.

They wont win another game in the series. It's clear how to take their role players out of the game and Ant cant match Luka point for point.

[thinktank]

OKC wins top seed but Lakers get more rest between games.

It’s **** like that that shows you NBA is rigged.

You’re losing it. You know like 8 teams had two days rest between game one and 2 right? Not just the Lakers

Here’s what I got so far just so we can keep track:

-Lakers win and it’s rigged for the Lakers
-Lakers lose and it’s rigged for the Lakers, Minny just overcame the rigging
-Lakers shoot less FTs but it’s still rigged for the Lakers because it can be effected in other ways
-Our players don’t foul out all year, they didn’t this game but they might have!
-Lakers didn’t get the benefit of the whistle, but they have in the past. Rigged still
-Lakers get two days off and it’s rigged for the Lakers even though 8 other teams got the same rest

I forgot how annoying playoff time gets. People lose all sense of logic I swear

His team wins G1. Poster proceeds to get cocky. His team loses G2. Poster proceeds to blame any external factor that allows him to keep thinking he is still right at the core. G3, rinse and repeat.

PO's, where the fun happens!

Quote me where I blamed the refs for our loss. I didn’t.

All I’m asking for is ref the game like the other playoff games. 46 fouls is ridiculous. Refs inserted themselves deeply into the game.

[Bob8]

Even all the post game pods said he was too preoccupied with trying to highlight show Gobert. He took himself and the Lakers out of rhythm. This has nothing to do with close
B/c he was bricking up a storm when it MIN got it under double digits.

I believe we're a bit exaggerating Wolves comeback, it was 16 points at the start of Q4, and a steal was if I remember right in Q2.

My focus wasn't about the steal but about his desperation to just show up Gobert. I get it, it's guaranteed highlight material. But I think he lost focus after that. And it wasn't just me who felt that way. Simmons / Lowe mentioned it. THC mentioned it. He spent all his time trying to hunt Gobert - who BTW held LAL to 5-17.

Or maybe his 3-pointer just didn't fall, he was 0/6 after starting with 2/2, which is probably correlated with doing a lot on both ends and playing 40+ minutes. Bottom line is that Luka and Lakers did enough in first half to afford worse second half.

[Bob8]

I would be quite surprised if the Timberwolves lost another game in this series. They shoot horribly from the field and still come within single digit of winning the game ,despite of being down as much as 20+ points. We really expect the Timberwolves to shoot 20% from the 3pt line and 38% from the field every game? Don't think so. I also don't see Luka have a 16 point quarter explosion every game. I also don't the Timberwolves getting outrebound again in the series. Change just one of these facts and last night would've been a Timberwolves win.

They wont win another game in the series. It's clear how to take their role players out of the game and Ant cant match Luka point for point.

Can he? Luka is averaging 10 points more with 67 TS%, Ant has 50 TS%. That's a huge difference. Luka is averaging more rebounds and assists too. Luka few levels better than Ant. Ant might have bigger dick.

Comparison between Ant and LeBron is far closer.

[In-N-Out 247]

You’re losing it. You know like 8 teams had two days rest between game one and 2 right? Not just the Lakers

Here’s what I got so far just so we can keep track:

-Lakers win and it’s rigged for the Lakers
-Lakers lose and it’s rigged for the Lakers, Minny just overcame the rigging
-Lakers shoot less FTs but it’s still rigged for the Lakers because it can be effected in other ways
-Our players don’t foul out all year, they didn’t this game but they might have!
-Lakers didn’t get the benefit of the whistle, but they have in the past. Rigged still
-Lakers get two days off and it’s rigged for the Lakers even though 8 other teams got the same rest

I forgot how annoying playoff time gets. People lose all sense of logic I swear

His team wins G1. Poster proceeds to get cocky. His team loses G2. Poster proceeds to blame any external factor that allows him to keep thinking he is still right at the core. G3, rinse and repeat.

PO's, where the fun happens!

Quote me where I blamed the refs for our loss. I didn’t.

All I’m asking for is ref the game like the other playoff games. 46 fouls is ridiculous. Refs inserted themselves deeply into the game.

That was a very physical game. Honestly they could've probably called more fouls. Those 46 fouls were legit earned.

[thinktank]

His team wins G1. Poster proceeds to get cocky. His team loses G2. Poster proceeds to blame any external factor that allows him to keep thinking he is still right at the core. G3, rinse and repeat.

PO's, where the fun happens!

Quote me where I blamed the refs for our loss. I didn’t.

All I’m asking for is ref the game like the other playoff games. 46 fouls is ridiculous. Refs inserted themselves deeply into the game.

That was a very physical game. Honestly they could've probably called more fouls. Those 46 fouls were legit earned.

Ok that settles it! The Laker fans have spoken! Now get that beauty rest!

[tamaraw08]

I would be quite surprised if the Timberwolves lost another game in this series. They shoot horribly from the field and still come within single digit of winning the game ,despite of being down as much as 20+ points. We really expect the Timberwolves to shoot 20% from the 3pt line and 38% from the field every game? Don't think so. I also don't see Luka have a 16 point quarter explosion every game. I also don't the Timberwolves getting outrebound again in the series. Change just one of these facts and last night would've been a Timberwolves win.

It's funny after game 1, Lakers haters and TWolves fans laughed because Lakers played horrible none existent perimeter defense. Last night, they improved their perimeter defense and it's just TWolves missing shots.
Im not saying TWolves will continue to shoot 20% from 3 but Lebron and Reaves are also missing shots, there's a fair chance they hit some shots too.

[dakomish23]

I believe we're a bit exaggerating Wolves comeback, it was 16 points at the start of Q4, and a steal was if I remember right in Q2.

My focus wasn't about the steal but about his desperation to just show up Gobert. I get it, it's guaranteed highlight material. But I think he lost focus after that. And it wasn't just me who felt that way. Simmons / Lowe mentioned it. THC mentioned it. He spent all his time trying to hunt Gobert - who BTW held LAL to 5-17.

Or maybe his 3-pointer just didn't fall, he was 0/6 after starting with 2/2, which is probably correlated with doing a lot on both ends and playing 40+ minutes. Bottom line is that Luka and Lakers did enough in first half to afford worse second half.

Or maybe he took what was a great start, got wrapped up in nonsense, got out of rhythm,couldn't regain his mojo & why he missed shots. You know, like players have been telling us does happen.

[tamaraw08]

OKC wins top seed but Lakers get more rest between games.

It’s **** like that that shows you NBA is rigged.

You’re losing it. You know like 8 teams had two days rest between game one and 2 right? Not just the Lakers

Here’s what I got so far just so we can keep track:

-Lakers win and it’s rigged for the Lakers
-Lakers lose and it’s rigged for the Lakers, Minny just overcame the rigging
-Lakers shoot less FTs but it’s still rigged for the Lakers because it can be effected in other ways
-Our players don’t foul out all year, they didn’t this game but they might have!
-Lakers didn’t get the benefit of the whistle, but they have in the past. Rigged still
-Lakers get two days off and it’s rigged for the Lakers even though 8 other teams got the same rest

I forgot how annoying playoff time gets. People lose all sense of logic I swear

You know the irony is that Lebron has the worst CAREER FG% AND 3PT% AFTER 2 and 3 days rest.

[druggas]

Do you Lakers fans realize how pathetic you look, when you complain that the refs aren’t making enough calls in YOUR favor?

Yikes. Take the win, but don’t be tools complaining that an unfair ref advantage you have over all other teams isn’t big enough.

To be fair, it looks like the pro Wolves crowd started the debate by complaining that the refs were favouring the Lakers in the game. What do you expect them to do, not push back against a narrative that was false for this game?

To be fair, complaints about how the refs favored the Lakers started long before the Timberwolves.

The Lakers get an unfair whistle. The Lakers get an unfair advantage signing free agents. Complaining that those are “conspiracy theories” or worse, other teams are getting advantages the Lakers are not, is tone deaf.

Gonna have me a good cry.

[Bob8]

My focus wasn't about the steal but about his desperation to just show up Gobert. I get it, it's guaranteed highlight material. But I think he lost focus after that. And it wasn't just me who felt that way. Simmons / Lowe mentioned it. THC mentioned it. He spent all his time trying to hunt Gobert - who BTW held LAL to 5-17.

Or maybe his 3-pointer just didn't fall, he was 0/6 after starting with 2/2, which is probably correlated with doing a lot on both ends and playing 40+ minutes. Bottom line is that Luka and Lakers did enough in first half to afford worse second half.

Or maybe he took what was a great start, got wrapped up in nonsense, got out of rhythm,couldn't regain his mojo & why he missed shots. You know, like players have been telling us does happen.

If that was Luka's problem, he would be one of the worst players in the league, especially in playoffs, because he's always in conflict with someone. In reality it's vice versa, he thrives in situations like that.

Is there any theories why Ant is playing poorly? Maybe being in conflict with fans and thinking too much about his ....

[Wolfgang630]

Windhorst said neither team has looked impressive through 2 games lol

[TheGOATWill]

Clips/Nuggets is haymakers from the time they turn the lights on in the arena. This series has the energy of the all star game 15 years ago. Like they're waiting for something to happen before they can actually play basketball.

[bb22]

The good news for MIN is you haven’t even sniffed the 3-4 monster Ant games we should get out of him each round. I think he’s going off in MIN. He’s just as good as anyone in this league - he just hasn’t figured out to impose that night in night out.

They are an incredible team when he’s efficient and not dominating the ball. Usually means the other guys are having a good game. I’m sure we’ll get a game where Ant and Luka are dominating the offense and going at it, but imo neither team wants it to come to that.

[MNRunLeft]

I would be quite surprised if the Timberwolves lost another game in this series. They shoot horribly from the field and still come within single digit of winning the game ,despite of being down as much as 20+ points. We really expect the Timberwolves to shoot 20% from the 3pt line and 38% from the field every game? Don't think so. I also don't see Luka have a 16 point quarter explosion every game. I also don't the Timberwolves getting outrebound again in the series. Change just one of these facts and last night would've been a Timberwolves win.

They wont win another game in the series. It's clear how to take their role players out of the game and Ant cant match Luka point for point.

Can he? Luka is averaging 10 points more with 67 TS%, Ant has 50 TS%. That's a huge difference. Luka is averaging more rebounds and assists too. Luka few levels better than Ant. Ant might have bigger dick.

Comparison between Ant and LeBron is far closer.

Now compare Ant and Luka's defense... Imagine comparing two players and completely ignoring half the game. Seems like the kind of logic that would claim Luka, Lebron and AR are one of the best big 3s in the history of the league.

[OriginalRed]

ANT really needs to show out in the coming games. Lukas been the best player in this series so far and if the the Wolves wanna win they need him to step up because when it comes to roleplayers, the Wolves have better ones so the winner will come down to their superstars.

[OriginalRed]

Biggest takeaway from the first two games is that neither of these teams can compete with okc. They better hope that Kawhi stays healthy and takes them out cause that’s their only chance

I agree. That OKC team looks like they have no shot of losing in the west. Well oiled machine right now

Eh i dont know. I really did not like how they looked againt you guys in those two regular season games. I know the Lakers shot crazy hot in the first one and the second one was ruined by that dumb Luka ejection but it looked to me like the Lakers didn't have much issues with OKC's defense, probably because they're not a big team like the Wolves are.

[ball_takes23]

Biggest takeaway from the first two games is that neither of these teams can compete with okc. They better hope that Kawhi stays healthy and takes them out cause that’s their only chance

I agree. That OKC team looks like they have no shot of losing in the west. Well oiled machine right now

Eh i dont know. I really did not like how they looked againt you guys in those two regular season games. I know the Lakers shot crazy hot in the first one and the second one was ruined by that dumb Luka ejection but it looked to me like the Lakers didn't have much issues with OKC's defense, probably because they're not a big team like the Wolves are.

i think OKCs defense will be playing at another intensity than they did in the RS matchup. they are averaging 10 steals per game so far in the playoffs

[LAvision]

OKC wins top seed but Lakers get more rest between games.

It’s **** like that that shows you NBA is rigged.

You’re losing it. You know like 8 teams had two days rest between game one and 2 right? Not just the Lakers

Here’s what I got so far just so we can keep track:

-Lakers win and it’s rigged for the Lakers
-Lakers lose and it’s rigged for the Lakers, Minny just overcame the rigging
-Lakers shoot less FTs but it’s still rigged for the Lakers because it can be effected in other ways
-Our players don’t foul out all year, they didn’t this game but they might have!
-Lakers didn’t get the benefit of the whistle, but they have in the past. Rigged still
-Lakers get two days off and it’s rigged for the Lakers even though 8 other teams got the same rest

I forgot how annoying playoff time gets. People lose all sense of logic I swear

Chef_kiss

[Archx]

They wont win another game in the series. It's clear how to take their role players out of the game and Ant cant match Luka point for point.

Can he? Luka is averaging 10 points more with 67 TS%, Ant has 50 TS%. That's a huge difference. Luka is averaging more rebounds and assists too. Luka few levels better than Ant. Ant might have bigger dick.

Comparison between Ant and LeBron is far closer.

Now compare Ant and Luka's defense... Imagine comparing two players and completely ignoring half the game. Seems like the kind of logic that would claim Luka, Lebron and AR are one of the best big 3s in the history of the league.

Not this **** about defense again. Wolves are shooting 40% against Luka on 15 attempts, Lakers 43% vs ANT.

Lakers DRTG 114.8 - Luka DRTG 109.7

Where is the problem? It's basically similar to what he was last year with Mavs during western conference matchups when Mavs won more games with great defense than offense.