Round 1: LAL

[Loaf_of_bread]

Anyone have thoughts on tempo? Not sure on this one. We are deeper, and can afford relying on our bench. Wouldn't mind seeing luka run up and down the court either lol. Rudy may not be a fan..

[TimberKat]

Anyone have thoughts on tempo? Not sure on this one. We are deeper, and can afford relying on our bench. Wouldn't mind seeing luka run up and down the court either lol. Rudy may not be a fan..

That is a very good point. However, I see us throw the ball away or take bad shots when try to play too fast. What about winning the time of possession. The more ball movement also means the defense has to move more. Keep pick and roll with whoever Luka is guarding. Basically have Gobert hit him 30 times a game

[Loaf_of_bread]

Lebron is getting older, and while he's an insane athlete, he's a pretty muscular guy. His stamina in an uptempo game can't be that great.

The 4 games we played this season were low scoring, but maybe a faster pace gives us an advantage. Hockey mode, 10 man rotation. TSJ going all crazy lol

[FrenchMinnyFan]

For me the key will be :

- Stay out of foul trouble, specially Jaden and NAW, with the Refs.
- Rudy have to dominate inside.
- Make Luka and LB work as hard as possible before clutch time.
- Share minutes smartly
- No Turn Over at clutch time.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

We are also more fresh than last year. ANT play less min, Rudy miss games as did Randle and DDV, Mike play few minutes last games after a huge March month on shooting ( 54% at 3), we are ready. Go Wolves!

[Loaf_of_bread]

For me the key will be :

- Stay out of foul trouble, specially Jaden and NAW, with the Refs.
- Rudy have to dominate inside.
- Make Luka and LB work as hard as possible before clutch time.
- Share minutes smartly
- No TO at clutch time.

TO, meaning turnovers or timeouts?

[FrenchMinnyFan]

For me the key will be :

- Stay out of foul trouble, specially Jaden and NAW, with the Refs.
- Rudy have to dominate inside.
- Make Luka and LB work as hard as possible before clutch time.
- Share minutes smartly
- No TO at clutch time.

TO, meaning turnovers or timeouts?

Could be both considering how Finch is not great for calling Time Out

[Loaf_of_bread]

Lmao

[Klomp]

It will be really interesting to see what LA's second unit looks like. I had to stretch to feel confident in 7 guys in their rotation. Beyond that, seeing Jordan Goodwin and Gabe Vincent in the rotation would be the equivalent of having Austin Rivers and Jordan McLaughlin in the rotation. Do they go back to the sideshow and "make history" with Bronny again?

[LSWF]

The confidence national talking heads have in the Lakers is unreal. Wolves might as well just forget about winning this series. "Great match up for the Lakers" says everyone. I don't care if we don't make a deep run, as long as we destroy the Lakers.

[theGreatRC]

Rudy & our bench are going to be crucial in this series...Luka & Bron can't play 48, obviously JJ is going to stagger Luka/Bron/Reaves all 48 but if you can win the minutes 2 out of the 3 are on the bench, this series could tip in our favor.

The 3 biggest questions for me this series is how will Ant handle the obvious double teaming/trapping he'll probably see all series..I was at the last Lakers game and Ant look annoyed/frustrated with Vando picking up 94 feet the entire time before he got ejected.

Second question is who guards Luka/Bron/Reaves

Third question is how can we win the front court matchup with the length of Jaden/Randle/Rudy.

I just don't don't want the refs to be a huge factor in this series and I honestly think we can win this

[Domejandro]

Hot take for defensive strategy.

Nickeil Alexander on Austin Reaves
Anthony Edwards on Luka Dončić
Jaden McDaniels on Rui Hachimura
Julius Randle on LeBron James
Rudy Gobert on Jaxson Hayes

Allows Jaden McDaniels to operate more aggressively off-ball and limit the value of screen actions, while reducing the chances of him picking up early fouls.

Truthfully, I would almost give Jaylen Clark the starting nod on Luka (no big loss if he gets into foul trouble early, can just pivot strategy; this means move Anthony Edwards down to guard Austin Reaves), but that’s extremely unlikely so not worth too much discussion.

[shrink]

Lakers early 4.5 favorites

Everybody likes to bet on the Lakers!

[winforlose]

Hot take for defensive strategy.

Nickeil Alexander on Austin Reaves
Anthony Edwards on Luka Dončić
Jaden McDaniels on Rui Hachimura
Julius Randle on LeBron James
Rudy Gobert on Jaxson Hayes

Allows Jaden McDaniels to operate more aggressively off-ball and limit the value of screen actions, while reducing the chances of him picking up early fouls.

Truthfully, I would almost give Jaylen Clark the starting nod on Luka (no big loss if he gets into foul trouble early, can just pivot strategy; this means move Anthony Edwards down to guard Austin Reaves), but that’s extremely unlikely so not worth too much discussion.

I had a similar thought, but I don’t think they start Hayes. They will want DFS so Rudy has to guard Rui and they can go 5 out.

[TimberKat]

Hot take for defensive strategy.

Nickeil Alexander on Austin Reaves
Anthony Edwards on Luka Dončić
Jaden McDaniels on Rui Hachimura
Julius Randle on LeBron James
Rudy Gobert on Jaxson Hayes

Allows Jaden McDaniels to operate more aggressively off-ball and limit the value of screen actions, while reducing the chances of him picking up early fouls.

Truthfully, I would almost give Jaylen Clark the starting nod on Luka (no big loss if he gets into foul trouble early, can just pivot strategy; this means move Anthony Edwards down to guard Austin Reaves), but that’s extremely unlikely so not worth too much discussion.

I had a similar thought, but I don’t think they start Hayes. They will want DFS so Rudy has to guard Rui and they can go 5 out.

If they do, Wolves need to lob the ball to Gobert like in the BKN game. He was 13 for 17 (maybe 2 miss catches?).

[minimus]

Hot take for defensive strategy.

Nickeil Alexander on Austin Reaves
Anthony Edwards on Luka Dončić
Jaden McDaniels on Rui Hachimura
Julius Randle on LeBron James
Rudy Gobert on Jaxson Hayes

Allows Jaden McDaniels to operate more aggressively off-ball and limit the value of screen actions, while reducing the chances of him picking up early fouls.

Truthfully, I would almost give Jaylen Clark the starting nod on Luka (no big loss if he gets into foul trouble early, can just pivot strategy; this means move Anthony Edwards down to guard Austin Reaves), but that’s extremely unlikely so not worth too much discussion.

Nickeil Alexander on Austin Reaves
Anthony Edwards on Luka Dončić
Jalen Clark on Rui Hachimura
Naz Reid on LeBron James
Jaden McDaniels on Dorian Finney-Smith

Switch everything!

[minimus]

Watch on YouTube

Why this strategy never worked against Doncic? McDaniels is indeed trying to stay attached to Doncic hip, and MIN has Gobert who is elite rim protector, and I would argue if anyone says that Brook Lopez is more mobile than Rudy.

[Loaf_of_bread]

Fundamental of boxing out and rebounding on both ends of the floor needs to be instilled in the guys minds, and a focus against this team.

[Loaf_of_bread]

https://youtu.be/nvXP376DIlQ?si=RjeBDvD0b056xNaW

Geez, Finch seems almost drunk here.. bizarre answers/way of carrying himself

I get not giving away much in terms of gameplan, but he is looking terrible physically...

Worried about him

[Klomp]

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