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

[djsunyc]

The NBA playoffs have been of the best I have seen so far, this might be the best first round.

all season long, fans here, online and media have been complaining about the game and how the nba sucks but here's the playoffs, they're amazing and nobody really gives them props. so easy to say bad stuff - it's such a cop out.

amazing first round and really speaks to the real true parity for most of the league. yes, there are e super elite teams in okc cle and boston. okc shredding memphis is fine. boston still has it's hands full with orlando and all the other series have been hard fought games.

[OriginalRed]

Wolves should be up more but considering how outside of Randle and ANT nobody else showed up, it could be alot worse. They just have to hope Luka and Bron gass out by the fourth having to hard carry this Laker team and that they're roleplayers start showing up.

[scrabbarista]

Luka only 1 assist. Intentional strategy by Minnesota or Luka just looking for his own shot more?

I think combo of Wolves strategy and the fact that he doesn't have a lot of great players to pass to.

[mademan]

Offensive rebounds covering up how bad the role guys for Minny have been. This game is there for the taking for LA if they can just box out

[cgf]

I don't think anyone expected Julius Randle to be playing this well.

Not with his track record. Dw the real Randle will be back soon

Is LeBron gunna try to injure him next?

[life_saver]

Naz Reid has been a complete dud since Game 1. Donte is just a dud in general.

Naz is a very streaky player and he can be frustrating at times on defense. Donte atleast has been pretty good defensively but yeah offensively, all 3 - Naz, NAW, Donte have been mostly meh except for that G1 from Naz.

[djsunyc]

abc halftime show:

mallika says 10 words. perk, myers and sas say 5 words each and then off to commercials. amazing.

tnt's entire broadcast is based around the pre, halftime and post game shows. abc treats the game like breaks from the commercials.

True, but you can't blame those networks when they pay billions for the rights to broadcast those games.. they gotta get the money back somehow..

understood - i'm just amazed at the contrast of the telecast and how it's presented.

[holdenwait]

abc halftime show:

mallika says 10 words. perk, myers and sas say 5 words each and then off to commercials. amazing.

tnt's entire broadcast is based around the pre, halftime and post game shows. abc treats the game like breaks from the commercials.

ESPN and ABC are a disgrace for this. TNT is/was miles ahead with actual conversation and analysis

[Tracymcgoaty]

After this series if im Pelinka im making calls asap looking for a quality big. Possibily trading Reaves as well if we can get a quality wing.

My god Reaves has absolutely crushed me man. Horrendous play.

[facothomas22]

Can't expect to win games when you're consistently playing 2 on 5 basketball. It doesn't matter how good Lebron/Luka are if nobody else can be even halfway decent.

[Bank Shot]

Did I just watch a Goodyear Still Dre commercial

[Revived]

Wolves should be up more but considering how outside of Randle and ANT nobody else showed up, it could be alot worse.

Who else are you expecting to show up? McDaniels is only good alternate games. And then who else? Naz Reid? Lol.

[Rubios]

Luka looks way, way off.
Perhaps the timing was a bit short in order to get to the PO in shape / rhythm.
Maybe he is still a bit sick.

[PierceFan4ever]

Hilarious lakers fans bitch about Solomon hill years ago but now say what LeBron did to ant is just pure hustle.

[cgf]

I don't think anyone expected Julius Randle to be playing this well.

*raises hand*

Some of us did

[AmIWrongDude]

I've been watching Lebron play for over 2 decades. He's not a dirty player and everyone whose not a hater knows it. He's physical but he's never played dirty or reckless.

he dove right into his legs. It doesnt get much dirtier. This causes potentially career ending injuries.

He had no shot at the ball against a 23 year old. He was frustrated with Edwards being physical with him and decided to go for his leg on that fake hustle attempt which again he had zero shot at getting with Edwards clearly a step ahead of him and didn’t need to dive to even try to get a touch of the ball.

What is this fan fiction lol. It was borderline whether it was even a foul or not. LeBron went straight for the ball and hit it and barely rolled up on Ant. Y’all cant be serious with this.

[scrabbarista]

Luka only 1 assist. Intentional strategy by Minnesota or Luka just looking for his own shot more?

I think combo of Wolves strategy and the fact that he doesn't have a lot of great players to pass to.

To an extent, assists are a two-man stat. The receivers need to A) be in position and B) make the shot. The Lakers' guys aren't really great at either of those two things.

[darkse1d]

great adjustments by wolves players. They stopped going for Luka's fake and making it tough for him when shooting. He also got tired as the game went on. Crazy that lebron is at a much better condition at 40 years while Luka just faded as it got more physical and fast paced.

[sp6r=underrated]

I've been watching Lebron play for over 2 decades. He's not a dirty player and everyone whose not a hater knows it. He's physical but he's never played dirty or reckless.

he dove right into his legs. It doesnt get much dirtier. This causes potentially career ending injuries.

He had no shot at the ball against a 23 year old. He was frustrated with Edwards being physical with him and decided to go for his leg on that fake hustle attempt which again he had zero shot at getting with Edwards clearly a step ahead of him and didn’t need to dive to even try to get a touch of the ball.

You joined in 2011. At a minimum you're in your mid-20s but likely older. You should have matured past this.

[KyRo23]

Hilarious lakers fans bitch about Solomon hill years ago but now say what LeBron did to ant is just pure hustle.

Go watch that Hill play right now and then think about how absurd you are. Probably haven’t seen it in awhile, because this is hilarious