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

thinktank · Post #1561 » by **thinktank** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:32 am

ball_takes23 wrote:Luka - 37 points, 1 assist. That's the way to beat a Luka team, eventually his legs will get tired and shooting will drop off.

This is Finch’s approach to Doncic, Jokic, guys like that now.

It’s working.

RingoKid · Post #1562 » by **RingoKid** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:32 am

Bust out that saddle and ready the horse so Ol Bron James can ride off into the sunset...

One can dream!

whatisacenter · Post #1563 » by **whatisacenter** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:33 am

HotRocks34 wrote:If I'm Redick I'm looking at this rotation heavily:

Luka
Gabe
Jordan
LeBron
Doe
Vando
(Some Rui)
.
.
Less:

Reaves
Hayes

Goodwin's energy could help IMO. Having LD/AR/LJ together on the court after the first rotation may not be the way to go here.

Who is Jordan and Doe?

HotRocks34 · Post #1564 » by **HotRocks34** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:34 am

whatisacenter wrote:
HotRocks34 wrote:If I'm Redick I'm looking at this rotation heavily:

Luka
Gabe
Jordan
LeBron
Doe
Vando
(Some Rui)
.
.
Less:

Reaves
Hayes

Goodwin's energy could help IMO. Having LD/AR/LJ together on the court after the first rotation may not be the way to go here.

Who is Jordan and Doe?

Goodwin and Finney-Smith.

Revived · Post #1565 » by **Revived** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:34 am

whatisacenter wrote:
HotRocks34 wrote:If I'm Redick I'm looking at this rotation heavily:

Luka
Gabe
Jordan
LeBron
Doe
Vando
(Some Rui)
.
.
Less:

Reaves
Hayes

Goodwin's energy could help IMO. Having LD/AR/LJ together on the court after the first rotation may not be the way to go here.

Who is Jordan and Doe?

Jordan, Michael. He’s back.

Sharkboy242 · Post #1566 » by **Sharkboy242** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:34 am

MikRay wrote:
Sharkboy242 wrote:
MikRay wrote:This should be a cake walk for the Lakers

Hey.

4-2 LA
LA underestimating the little puppies the next game will be a blowout and LA Will put these little puppies in their place. Minnesota isn’t shooting over 50% from three-point and again lmao

Cope.

Enjoy your cakewalk series! :lol:

KyRo23 · Post #1567 » by **KyRo23** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:34 am

ArksNetsSince99 wrote:
KyRo23 wrote:
ArksNetsSince99 wrote:
Sure you do , next game Bronny in for AR as a starter , prob your wet dream bro

I don’t like Bronny

I asked you 6 months ago who you gonna root for when LeBron retires , your answer was one word

BRONNY

You are not really reading my sarcasm today brother :lol:

or 6 months ago

ArksNetsSince99 · Post #1568 » by **ArksNetsSince99** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:34 am

MikRay wrote:This should be a cake walk for the Lakers

LOL

mademan · Post #1569 » by **mademan** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:35 am

HotRocks34 wrote:
blueberrysticky wrote:
Patches Perry wrote:The Luka trade is kind of tragic in the sense that Dallas was built perfectly around him. I thought they mortgaged way too much of their future to do it and obviously losing Brunson was a fumble, but they made the finals last season so you can't complain too much (until he traded Luka).

Luka misses the Lively/Gafford lob threat. The lob threat pulling defenses in, and shooters pulling defenses out, is the perfect scenario for Luka to orchestrate the offense.

This exactly. The team was built around Luka. This lakers team obviously pulled the trigger to get the better player but this looks like what it is……midseason trade and not constructed yet

It's like Year 1 of Kyrie to Dallas.

But with a 40+ year old Lebron and even less assets. They have, 2 1st rounders they can trade this summer? They have to make it count and hope Lebron keeps outpacing father time

thinktank · Post #1570 » by **thinktank** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:35 am

HotRocks34 wrote:
whatisacenter wrote:
HotRocks34 wrote:If I'm Redick I'm looking at this rotation heavily:

Luka
Gabe
Jordan
LeBron
Doe
Vando
(Some Rui)
.
.
Less:

Reaves
Hayes

Goodwin's energy could help IMO. Having LD/AR/LJ together on the court after the first rotation may not be the way to go here.

Who is Jordan and Doe?

Goodwin and Finney-Smith.

Who?

Revived · Post #1571 » by **Revived** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:35 am

HotRocks34 wrote:
whatisacenter wrote:
HotRocks34 wrote:If I'm Redick I'm looking at this rotation heavily:

Luka
Gabe
Jordan
LeBron
Doe
Vando
(Some Rui)
.
.
Less:

Reaves
Hayes

Goodwin's energy could help IMO. Having LD/AR/LJ together on the court after the first rotation may not be the way to go here.

Who is Jordan and Doe?

Goodwin and Finney-Smith.

You really thought people are gonna know you’re talking about Jordan Goodwin by just mentioning his first name? And Finney-Smith isn’t good enough to have a popular nickname that everyone knows him by either man, cmon.

Revived · Post #1572 » by **Revived** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:36 am

mademan wrote:
HotRocks34 wrote:
blueberrysticky wrote:
This exactly. The team was built around Luka. This lakers team obviously pulled the trigger to get the better player but this looks like what it is……midseason trade and not constructed yet

It's like Year 1 of Kyrie to Dallas.

But with a 40+ year old Lebron and even less assets. They have, 2 1st rounders they can trade this summer? They have to make it count and hope Lebron keeps outpacing father time

They have Reaves as an asset too. He should bring back a similar Mikal Bridges type return in a trade.

Bob Ross · Post #1573 » by **Bob Ross** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:37 am

ESPN is going to meltdown over this

Mk0 · Post #1574 » by **Mk0** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:37 am

ball_takes23 wrote:Luka - 37 points, 1 assist. That's the way to beat a Luka team, eventually his legs will get tired and shooting will drop off.

Now they just need someone picking him up full court and pissing him off. He will score in a burst and lose his legs/energy or he will implode.

Shaka_Zulu · Post #1575 » by **Shaka_Zulu** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:38 am

Tracymcgoaty wrote:But gotta give cred to Wolves. GG man that was a dominating game.

Kudos for being a good sport.

That 1st half was scary as hell. And early 4th quarter when you brought it down to 12 pts. Was getting ptsd...

mademan · Post #1576 » by **mademan** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:38 am

Revived wrote:
mademan wrote:
HotRocks34 wrote:
It's like Year 1 of Kyrie to Dallas.

But with a 40+ year old Lebron and even less assets. They have, 2 1st rounders they can trade this summer? They have to make it count and hope Lebron keeps outpacing father time

They have Reaves as an asset too. He should bring back a similar Mikal Bridges type return in a trade.

no way. A 1-way non star scoring guard is not nearly as valuable as a defensive wing, especially when that defensive wing can also score. He's also on an expiring contract

NiceLikeChrist · Post #1577 » by **NiceLikeChrist** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:39 am

ball_takes23 wrote:Luka - 37 points, 1 assist. That's the way to beat a Luka team, eventually his legs will get tired and shooting will drop off.

That’s been the way to beat all of these heliocentric stars. It was the obvious way last season but teams wanted to double and help and let PJ Washington carry the Mavs to the finals.

Once you figure Luka out he’s easy to beat because he doesn’t play well with co stars, doesn’t defend well, is a habitual complainer, and needs the ball in his hands almost always.

Ethomasp31 · Post #1578 » by **Ethomasp31** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:39 am

So the real question is will Luka take a back seat so LBJ can win the Finals MVP?

MasterIchiro · Post #1579 » by **MasterIchiro** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:40 am

Lakers are top heavy and the tip is not built to endure an athletic, physical team that boasted a top 10 offense to go with a top 10 defense.

Look at the bench scoring.

Wolves have the depth to make this an easy series for them.

Seems like ages ago Doncic came out of the gates with 16 points in the 1st quarter followed by the half court heave at the buzzer to end the first half.

Magic dust is not going to save them from sure defeat.

MNRunLeft · Post #1580 » by **MNRunLeft** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:41 am

Revived wrote:
mademan wrote:
HotRocks34 wrote:
It's like Year 1 of Kyrie to Dallas.

But with a 40+ year old Lebron and even less assets. They have, 2 1st rounders they can trade this summer? They have to make it count and hope Lebron keeps outpacing father time

They have Reaves as an asset too. He should bring back a similar Mikal Bridges type return in a trade.

I mean people are clamoring for Reaves to be benched because he can’t defended and he’s netting a Bridges’ type return? In what world?

Who wins the series?