2025 NBA PLAYOFFS West First Round: #3 LA Lakers vs #6 Minnesota Timberwolves (MIN leads 1-0)

[cupcakesnake]

I think at some point, Twolves will have to throw some early double team at Luka and it's still a question mark for me if Wolves can rotate well enough to be effective. Depending on Lakers adjustments, Twolves has more ceiling - a 40 pt game from Ant or double-double game from Gobert.

I'd would take a couple of adjustments to get to that point. Wolves wanted the Lakers to play 1-on-1, even if that meant Luka scoring a lot. We switched pick & rolls, even when it yielded a bad matchup (Gobert on Luka or Conley on Lebron), because we don't want to be put in rotation and get picked apart by Luka's passing. We love Lebron attacking Randle with the ball. We hate Lebron attacking Randle (or Ant last night) off the ball into space.

Lebron picking apart a 4-on-3 all game is scarier than Luka scoring 40, as long as Luka isn't also creating open 3s for teammates. AR getting to attack closeouts is scarier than AR attacking 1-on-1. We're playing a super vanilla scheme, trying to give the Lakers low-yield offense. What we're trying to avoid is the Lakers opening up a 3s and dunks machine.

Basically we'd rather let Luka score than send help and be put in rotation.

[TrueFan420]

Long series bud you’d be foolish to count your chickens before they hatch.

I find it funny that you’re telling someone it’s foolish to count their chickens before they hatch when they’re responding to a post where you’re doing exactly that.

Yeah and go read the first 2-3 pages of this thread. It is all Laker fans saying Lakers in 5.

Talk about counting your chickens before they hatch

I don’t mind a fan group believing they’ll win. Just think it’s funny they’re calling out the opposing fans for the same belief.

He could have simply said, well played. I still think we win out and I wouldn’t have batted an eye.

[jigga_man]

Back door sweep incoming.

A win is a win, but if I’m Minnesota, I treat this like a loss. Lakers really figured something out with Luka PnR and putting up nearly 40. That’s one of those somewhat small adjustments that can win a series

[OriginalRed]

Lebron always throws game 1 to make opponents comfortable and download their game plans. This is completely routine at this point, so I'm not sure why anyone is surprised. Lakers are going 4-1 in the next 5.

Not that I disagree with you that Lebron usually uses Game 1's as feel out game but that definitely wasn't the case against the Nuggets the last two years who were just flatly better then them.

[sunsbg]

I see Luka brought Mavs game 1 tradition with him to the LA. (Lose big but win the series). Not sure it was smart from ANT to taunt him already.

Nah, this looks more like Celtics rather than Suns series with Luka 30+pts but more TOs than assists. We'll see though I don't trust Wolves that much.

[DaPessimist]

If McDaniels keeps playing at an all-star caliber level, the Wolves are going to win this series. This guy has been flying under the radar all season, but he looks like he's ready to show the World he's arrived.

[sunsbg]

I just read through some of it dude, Bob, you’re hilarious. I wish you’d keep it up. Every post, you’re like “Actually LALwill steamroll the T Wolves, here’s why” for three paragraphs. Too funny just driving wolves fans bonkers

Vast majority of my posts were about Gobert being non factor and nobody stopping Luka. 100% correct, what I didn't expect is LeBron and AR couldn't create anything without Luka. If that continues Lakers can't win.

No worries, Bob. Who laughs last laughs best.

[baller16]

Honestly the Lakers don't look good because Lebron has played like trash since the groin injury. Post-allstar he was playing at an MVP level before he went down. They won't go far unless Lebron regains his form again cause AR is not a legit 2nd option

[bledredwine]

I'm rooting against the lakers but also for Bob, which makes no sense really.

[Wallace_Wallace]

I see Luka brought Mavs game 1 tradition with him to the LA. (Lose big but win the series). Not sure it was smart from ANT to taunt him already.

Nah, this looks more like Celtics rather than Suns series with Luka 30+pts but more TOs than assists. We'll see though I don't trust Wolves that much.

If Chris Paul didn’t turn 35 (or 36?) in that series, the Suns probably won’t choke.

Drive by Luka/AR, kick it to the nearest shooter is the game plan. If the Wolves went ice cold on wide open 3s the rest of the series, then they deserve to lose.

[Liam_Gallagher]

The Lakers are still going to win in 6. Absolutely no way McDaniels shoots like that again. Reid might catch fire, but whatever.

Anyone remember the 2020 playoffs? Lakers lost the first game in the first and second round, only the win the next four both times.

[jscott]

The Lakers are still going to win in 6. Absolutely no way McDaniels shoots like that again. Reid might catch fire, but whatever.

Anyone remember the 2020 playoffs? Lakers lost the first game in the first and second round, only the win the next four both times.

And how many players from the 2020 roster are still on the team?

[sunsbg]

I see Luka brought Mavs game 1 tradition with him to the LA. (Lose big but win the series). Not sure it was smart from ANT to taunt him already.

Nah, this looks more like Celtics rather than Suns series with Luka 30+pts but more TOs than assists. We'll see though I don't trust Wolves that much.

If Chris Paul didn’t turn 35 (or 36?) in that series, the Suns probably won’t choke.

Drive by Luka/AR, kick it to the nearest shooter is the game plan. If the Wolves went ice cold on wide open 3s the rest of the series, then they deserve to lose.

CP3 was great and Suns were dominating Mavs as usual then he turned 37. Father Time is undefeated even if your name is Lebron James.

[BigGargamel]

People really really got gassed on a team with three legit NBA players. The ESPN effect at it again. They are not a threat.

[Johnny Firpo]

Unless a team has a really poor shooting night, it always shoots as well as its opponents allow them. It is not some luck that they made 51% of their shots.

Nah, modern NBA sets create open shots. Obviously one team can decide to be ultra-agressive and run off three point shooters, but with today's ball handling skill, if you over commit, then they will just attack the paint on those closeouts very successfully. All this means that shooting luck will play a huge part in every game, and it is indeed very hard to beat teams in the playoffs that make 20 or more threes on 45+%. It's easy to say "you can defend it better", that's not really how it works in today's league.

I think you’re coming to the wrong conclusion here.

Three point percentage for wide open three’s is always going to be much higher than for contested threes. Laker role players are forced to overplay, to cover for the defensive weaknesses of their stars. Even if LAL had the length and athleticism to do that and rush out and contest threes, the Lakers don’t have any deterrence left for MIN to attack the close outs and drive to the rim, or drive and kick out to another open three point shooter.

Yes, 51% shooting is tough to beat, but only part of this is about MIN having a lucky night, it’s also based on LAL making MIN’s three’s easier than league average.

I don't think I'm coming to the wrong conclusion, because the league average is 36% on wide open threes. I really was just stating a fact that shooting luck played a huge part in this. I didn't really say it was all that, but it was certainly the most important factor (and it will be the most important factor when they will shoot around 30% from three in some games).

[thinktank]

Honestly the Lakers don't look good because Lebron has played like trash since the groin injury. Post-allstar he was playing at an MVP level before he went down. They won't go far unless Lebron regains his form again cause AR is not a legit 2nd option

His groin looked pretty good on that chase down block where his head was at the rim.

[trueballer7]

They lose by 30 next time.

[Loaf_of_bread]

This series is over. Can already see it in Luka's eyes/demeanor.. he knows it.

[TimberKat]

I'm rooting against the lakers but also for Bob, which makes no sense really.

That just means you like to see Lakers lose but Luka average 60 pts and 12 rebounds.

[thinktank]

Nah, modern NBA sets create open shots. Obviously one team can decide to be ultra-agressive and run off three point shooters, but with today's ball handling skill, if you over commit, then they will just attack the paint on those closeouts very successfully. All this means that shooting luck will play a huge part in every game, and it is indeed very hard to beat teams in the playoffs that make 20 or more threes on 45+%. It's easy to say "you can defend it better", that's not really how it works in today's league.

I think you’re coming to the wrong conclusion here.

Three point percentage for wide open three’s is always going to be much higher than for contested threes. Laker role players are forced to overplay, to cover for the defensive weaknesses of their stars. Even if LAL had the length and athleticism to do that and rush out and contest threes, the Lakers don’t have any deterrence left for MIN to attack the close outs and drive to the rim, or drive and kick out to another open three point shooter.

Yes, 51% shooting is tough to beat, but only part of this is about MIN having a lucky night, it’s also based on LAL making MIN’s three’s easier than league average.

I don't think I'm coming to the wrong conclusion, because the league average is 36% on wide open threes. I really was just stating a fact that shooting luck played a huge part in this. I didn't really say it was all that, but it was certainly the most important factor (and it will be the most important factor when they will shoot around 30% from three in some games).

They only shoot 30% once out of every four or five games.