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

[bb22]

If Minny’s role players show up like they did against Denver last year, they can win it.
Also, with the exception of a few games, LeBron has not been outstanding since his injury. If he’s not putting pressure on the Wolves and playing aggressive, Lakers are in trouble regardless of Luka’s numbers.

[guest81]

Who does the Lakers have that can check ant?

[Los_29]

This is going to be a great series. West is completely wild this year. Can’t count Minnesota out. They are a great team with a bit more size than LA. But LA has Luka and LeBron.

[CodeBreaker]

Lakers in 5. Luka owns Antman

[Wolfgang630]

Lebron is gonna break down. This series he should be fine, but if they make it to round 2 he’ll only get worse.

[Mr Puddles]

I think the physicality of the Wolves is going to pose a bigger problem for the Lakers than most anticipate.

While playoff Luka is a different animal than basically any other player in the league aside from playoff Jokic, I'm not sure if it will be enough to counter the Wolves' physicality. I think the wolves will dominate the glass and out battle the Lakers in 6.

[shrink]

If Ant Edwards guards Reaves and takes it upon himself to slow him down, could be an interesting series, assuming McDaniels guards Luka.

McDaniels is the best defender on the team (not named Gobert), but he’s not that good at guarding Luka. He’s too light, and he’s too foul prone.

The Wolves three best perimeter defenders do it three different ways. McDaniels using length, Nickiel Alexander-Walker is one of the best in the NBA the last two years at navigating picks, and Jaylin Clark does it with force (think Lu Dort). Ant can be a tremendous one-on-one defender with his athleticism and solid frame, but his energy will be needed on the offensive side (where the Lakers will struggle to find anyone to defend him).

I imagine they use Randle to lean on LeBron, they may use Clark on Luka, and let McDaniels and Gobert roam.

I know Luka changed things, but this season, MIN was #6 DRTG and #8 ORTG. LAL was #17 and #11. It could be a good series.

[jehosafats]

I think the physicality of the Wolves is going to pose a bigger problem for the Lakers than most anticipate.

While playoff Luka is a different animal than basically any other player in the league aside from playoff Jokic, I'm not sure if it will be enough to counter the Wolves' physicality. I think the wolves will dominate the glass and out battle the Lakers in 6.

[rockmanslim]

Watch on YouTube

[Mrakar]

Lakers got the best matchup for the. Luka will play Gobert of the floor, and Lakers will double team Ant and make Randle beat them. Randle isnt beating anyone...

[LikeABosh]

I say Lakers in a tough 6

[Calinks]

I think a huge reason Luka destroyed Minnesota last playoffs was because he had those amazing lob threats who were killing them. Lakers don't have that and I think it will allow Minnesota to contain Luka better. He's still going to go off but that's a big dimension taken away.

[doogie_hauser]

Wolves in 5

[baller16]

Who does the Lakers have that can check ant?

Vando/DFS

Ant is terrible at handling double teams and Randle isn't a legit 2nd option. Also who can stop Luka & Lebron? Minny is overmatched here

[Slim Tubby]

I'm guessing that everyone besides Lakers fans and Adam Silver will be rooting for the Wolves.

I think this series goes 6 or 7 games and the eventual winner hails from a state that actually has lakes...and wolves.

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[nzahir]

Who does the Lakers have that can check ant?

Vando/DFS

Ant is terrible at handling double teams and Randle isn't a legit 2nd option. Also who can stop Luka & Lebron? Minny is overmatched here

Basically my thoughts

We can send help vs Ant and make others beat us

You want to double Luka and let Lebron and AR beat you now?

Tough spot for most teams

Wolves defenders are too thin and short for Luka and Lebron

[jym85]

I'm guessing that everyone besides Lakers fans and Adam Silver will be rooting for the Wolves.

I think this series goes 6 or 7 games and the eventual winner hails from a state that actually has lakes...and wolves.

Sent from my N152DL using RealGM mobile app

Guess the Lakers will have plenty of Mavs fans tagging along too

[Bob8]

I think a huge reason Luka destroyed Minnesota last playoffs was because he had those amazing lob threats who were killing them. Lakers don't have that and I think it will allow Minnesota to contain Luka better. He's still going to go off but that's a big dimension taken away.

There's one huge difference with Luka, he's in much better condition and without injury this year. Luka in last few games looked like last season December/January Luka, a period with 60 points triple double and 73 points. He had great series against Wolves, especially in clutch moments but he wasn't monster he can be.

Haynes can be a lob threat, but more importantly small ball lineups give fantastic spacing for Luka, it's like spacing Luka was playing with KP and he had the most drives in Nba in that period. And look how Lakers 3-pts shooting was transformed with Luka's arrival. They're totally different team now. Yes Luka is great with lobs, but he likes great spacing even more.

JJ will prepare something to contain Ant, like he does for every star, someone else will need to beat Mavs and Wolves are not exactly the best team to do it. Clippers would be the most difficult to defend against.

I hope LeBron's groin is ok, Lakers can survive without him in offensive side but not in D.

One last thing, Lakers have fantastic record at home and against West.

[dakomish23]

Lakers in 7. MIN has a true superstar & the size that can give LAL big fits. Just giving this to LAL b/c LeBron & Luka should be able to pull it out

[picc]

I feel like Julius Randle guarding Lebron is a catastrophic situation for Min. One of the lowest IQ players guarding one of the highest IQ players.