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

[Tracymcgoaty]

Yeah last thing I’m doing is overreacting to this game. Minnesota isn’t shooting 51% from 3 next game

We keep overhelping and giving them wide open threes bet your ass they'll swish a lot of them

[Diop]

eh..Im not gonna give up yet. We'll see what happens game 2.

I thought Vanderbilt and Finney smith were the defenders they needed. Maybe play rui off the bench.

Yeah vando and Doe are probably gonna be featured a lot more.

But we have glaring holes that wont be adressed until off season.

We got Luka now we have to build around him.

Lebron needs to take a team friendly deal to help the team. He's gonna be 41 next season and his play is only gonna get worse.

One of the hardest things in life is admitting you're getting old and can't do what you used to do. I can imagine it being very hard for a competitor like LeBron to accept.

[life_saver]

Luka had only 1 assist...did that ever happen in a playoffs game ?

[TimberKat]

Twolves small lineup is better than Lakers small lineup

[Mk0]

eh..Im not gonna give up yet. We'll see what happens game 2.

I thought Vanderbilt and Finney smith were the defenders they needed. Maybe play rui off the bench.

Yeah vando and Doe are probably gonna be featured a lot more.

But we have glaring holes that wont be adressed until off season.

We got Luka now we have to build around him.

Lebron needs to take a team friendly deal to help the team. He's gonna be 41 next season and his play is only gonna get worse.

Dude is gonna get a NT clause next offseason. You better hope it isn't for dumb money.

*It will be, sorry bud.

[Wingy]

Mike’s son sonned Lebron tonight.

[Mavrelous]

Luka with 1 assist and 5 TO, lack of P&R partner will make him a pure scorer, not good...

[Wolfgang630]

All they need to do is put Rui on Jokic. They got them figured out.

[KGDirkTD_Fan]

I guess the question here isn't if the Lakers have the ability to turn this around and win the series, do they have the energy/legs to grind it out with them for 7 games. It seems like every year they look more and more drained and worn out. there is not an easy 1st round opponent...not sure if there even is one for anyone thats not the Thunder.

Where are the bench points going to come from for the Lakers?

No idea, bench looks great during the RS but doesnt show up in the playoffs, been consistent every year. Margins are so thin on underperformance that one bad Reeves or Luka or Bron game is going to be a loss. They basically need miracle offense from their starters to stay even and hope the Wolves offense slows down. I don't doubt that they could make that happen I just don't see it happening over a 7 game series.

[Hoop Hunter]

I thought Minny could win, but I'm shocked it was a complete @ss whopping.

[HotRocks34]

Redick has some tough decisions to make.

You may need to bench some guys to get more energy and defense.

[mademan]

eh..Im not gonna give up yet. We'll see what happens game 2.

I thought Vanderbilt and Finney smith were the defenders they needed. Maybe play rui off the bench.

Yeah vando and Doe are probably gonna be featured a lot more.

But we have glaring holes that wont be adressed until off season.

We got Luka now we have to build around him.

Lebron needs to take a team friendly deal to help the team. He's gonna be 41 next season and his play is only gonna get worse.

I'd be surprised if he did. He's been pretty serious about getting paid market value, even if he has given a tiny bit back here and there. And he's still worth the max

[Tracymcgoaty]

I thought Vanderbilt and Finney smith were the defenders they needed. Maybe play rui off the bench.

Yeah vando and Doe are probably gonna be featured a lot more.

But we have glaring holes that wont be adressed until off season.

We got Luka now we have to build around him.

Lebron needs to take a team friendly deal to help the team. He's gonna be 41 next season and his play is only gonna get worse.

What exactly does LeBron owe the Lakers?

Why does he need to take a team friendly deal?

Does every player need to take a team friendly deal then? Should Luka extend for less than the Max to help the Lakers?

Well if he wants the best chance to win a chip he'll take a team friendly deal. He's said he'll do it himself. Dude has 2 years tops left. He probably wants it to be contending years.

[Diop]

Yeah last thing I’m doing is overreacting to this game. Minnesota isn’t shooting 51% from 3 next game

We keep overhelping and giving them wide open threes bet your ass they'll swish a lot of them

I genuinely get pissed when I watch NBA players brick the wide open shots. You're paid millions, hit the open shots!

[Shaka_Zulu]

I guess the question here isn't if the Lakers have the ability to turn this around and win the series, do they have the energy/legs to grind it out with them for 7 games. It seems like every year they look more and more drained and worn out. there is not an easy 1st round opponent...not sure if there even is one for anyone thats not the Thunder.

Where are the bench points going to come from for the Lakers?

If they had a sensibly built with some depth (defensive starters), they would have Reaves and Rui off bench to give them what Naz/Donte and NAW gives us.

[Tracymcgoaty]

Redick has some tough decisions to make.

You may need to bench some guys to get more energy and defense.

I'd honestly bench AR for Gabe. Nightmare matchup for AR this series.

[Chuck Everett]

Yeah last thing I’m doing is overreacting to this game. Minnesota isn’t shooting 51% from 3 next game

We keep overhelping and giving them wide open threes bet your ass they'll swish a lot of them

Donte and Nickell went 1-11 from 3 too. Lakers made a decision to give up some 3's to guys who don't usually splash like that. But Reid, McDaniels and Randle did hit some that were contested as well, especially as the shot clock was winding down. The Lakers need more bench production period, even if it's just rebounds and steals. The game turned in the 2nd quarter (38-20 Minnesota).

[Shaka_Zulu]

Double post, please delete any mod, thanks.

[80HD]

This Wolves squad is deep. Very deep.

Naz and DDV off the bench is a cheat code.

[OriginalRed]

Lakers are gonna have to stop being lazy and contest those three's. I'd wager Minnesota isn't going to shoot that well from three all series but your not going to win this series just hoping they keep missing. I expect Lebron and Reaves to have much better games going forward and Luka will be Luka.

I'm still saying Lakers in 6 but Game 2 will be very telling for this series.