First-Spherical collision between the Lakers and Timberwolves has all of the makings of a traditional – NBC Los Angeles
It’s humorous how the calendar works.
Six months of NBA basketball have introduced us right here — again to the start, and someway to the brink. Saturday night time, the Los Angeles Lakers host the Minnesota Timberwolves in Recreation 1 of a first-round playoff sequence that feels something however unusual. It’s the type of matchup that doesn’t simply whisper intrigue — it calls for consideration.
These two groups met on NBA Opening night time again in October, however so much has modified since then.
At the beginning, Luka Dončić now dons the purple and gold, so does Dorian Finney-Smith, two gamers who weren’t within the lineup in that 110-103 victory on Opening night time.
Nevertheless, the Timberwolves nonetheless have Anthony Edwards, arguably one of the best participant within the NBA, and a charged up and fearless postseason performer. Additionally they have four-time Defensive Participant of the 12 months Award winner Rudy Gobert.
For sure, this isn’t your unusual 3 vs. 6 matchup. That is two of the highest groups within the Western Convention–particularly during the last two months–going head-to-head in a matchup that in all probability must be suited to the Western Convention finals.
For the primary time this season, each groups can be wholesome and have their full arsenal over gamers at their disposal. Count on excessive drama on the hardwood as these heavyweights go to toe-to-toe within the best-of-seven sequence.
So with out additional ado, let’s soar headfirst into this juicy first spherical matchup.
A Season Sequence And not using a Story
Neglect the regular-season matchups. Critically.
The Lakers and Timberwolves break up their 4 video games within the common season 2-2, however of the 4 conferences, just one got here post-Dončić commerce, and even that one became a glorified scrimmage. Gobert and Julius Randle sat. Edwards acquired himself ejected, and Lakers’ ahead Rui Hachimura limped off early. It was a sport performed in fragments — not consultant of the battle we’re about to witness.
This sequence will not be about what was. It’s about what’s — and each groups have a lot to say.
Los Angeles: Small Ball, Huge Stakes
JJ Redick didn’t want lengthy to stamp his fingerprint on this Lakers staff. With Davis shipped out and the failed Mark Williams deal within the rearview, LA doubled down on its id: pace, spacing, and switchability.
Dončić is the gravitational power. He doesn’t simply run the offense — he orbits it. Every part spins round his creativity. Alongside him, Hachimura has blossomed right into a 3-and-D marvel. Dorian Finney-Smith performs with the quiet confidence of a person who is aware of his function and executes it to perfection. Austin Reaves could be the heartbeat of this staff and the x-factor that they might want to win the sequence, oh, and don’t neglect about LeBron James, sure, even at 40 years outdated, the King remains to be that dude.
However the million-dollar query throughout this primary spherical matchup between Minnesota and Los Angeles is that this: Can the Lakers small lineup survive in a seven-game sequence in opposition to arguably some of the bodily imposing entrance strains within the NBA?
Gobert, Randle, and Naz Reid make up that entrance line.That trio is bruises on prime of bruises, and so they don’t flinch. If the Lakers need to win, they’ll must house the ground, power rotations, and switch these Wolves bigs into defensive liabilities.
The maths is straightforward. Get Gobert shifting. Get Randle pondering. Get Reid chasing. After which assault the gaps — time and again — till one thing breaks.
That is what the Lakers small lineup might want to do in opposition to the Timberwolves to achieve success and if they will field out, rebound the ball, and get out in transition they’ve a possibility to shorten this sequence.
“You simply acquired to play onerous as s—,” mentioned Austin Reaves to the media earlier than the sequence started when requested concerning the smaller lineups that may inevitably go up in opposition to the Wolves bigs.“Each possession, you win by the smallest margin otherwise you lose the smallest margin within the playoffs as we may inform from final yr. Clearly, ain’t the identical staff, however in case you return and watch final yr’s video games, one factor right here and there may have modified the entire sequence. We will’t take possessions off.”
Minnesota: Protection, Depth, and Ant-Man
Anthony Edwards doesn’t concern the second. He’s the second.
Edwards has elevated himself from athletic curiosity to bona fide famous person. His shot choice has grown smarter, his imaginative and prescient clearer. He’s the type of participant who can single-handedly flip momentum with a spotlight dunk or backbreaking triple.
However he received’t be alone.
Minnesota’s calling card is steadiness. Prime-10 in each offensive and defensive score because the All-Star break, they’re one among solely 4 groups to perform that feat. Gobert anchors the center. Conley organizes the chaos. McDaniels, flawed shooter although he could also be, offers you 94 ft of hell on the defensive finish.
After which there’s Reid — the last word X-factor. He’s torched the Lakers in previous conferences. If he will get going off the bench, issues get dicey for the purple and gold.
Nonetheless, every little thing revolves round whether or not the Wolves can include Dončić — and historical past says they will’t. In final yr’s playoffs, Luka lit them up just like the Las Vegas Strip. He averaged 32-9-8 with surgical effectivity, and Minnesota by no means actually discovered a solution.
McDaniels struggled to carry his floor. Edwards picked up fouls attempting to physique up. Gobert acquired spun in mismatches. If that repeats, Minnesota’s protection may unravel shortly.
X-Elements: Hachimura and McDaniels — the Wild Playing cards in a Loaded Deck
Rui Hachimura has quietly change into the Lakers’ linchpin. He’ll guard Edwards. He’ll physique Randle. He’ll stretch the ground. He would possibly even play small-ball 5. If he hits his 3s and stays out of foul bother, LA’s lineups change into deadly.
On the flip aspect, Jaden McDaniels is Minnesota’s swing piece. If he can someway include Dončić, knock down simply sufficient threes, and make hustle performs that swing quarters, this sequence adjustments complexion. But when the Lakers flip him right into a shooter — not a stopper — the Wolves may be chasing shadows.
This sequence goes to be a slugfest, a tug-of-war between two totally different philosophies, and the winner will doubtless be the staff that breaks first.
The Lakers need you to match their tempo. Drive you to go small, play spread-out chess, and stay or die by rotations. The Wolves need you buried within the paint, clawing by way of screens and bumping into 7-foot bushes till your legs give out.
Neither aspect desires to blink. However somebody’s going to need to over the course of seven video games.
If Minnesota is pressured to take a seat Gobert late in video games or lean too closely on small-ball lineups they don’t belief, LA will feast. If the Lakers get pounded on the glass or lose the 50-50 balls Austin Reaves referred to as “life or dying” within the postseason, then the Wolves dictate phrases.
It feels unsuitable that one among these groups received’t make it out of the primary spherical. Minnesota is best than a 6-seed. The Lakers are higher than their December file.
However when the margins are skinny, expertise ideas the scales. Los Angeles has two of the highest three gamers within the sequence. Perhaps three of the highest 5. And when the clock is ticking in a good Recreation 6 or 7, you guess on Luka. You guess on LeBron.
The Wolves will punch. They’ll frustrate. Edwards will dazzle. Reid will make you swear underneath your breath. However ultimately, the Lakers’ mixture of elite shot creation, playoff IQ, and defensive adaptability must be sufficient to push them by way of to the second spherical.
The celebrities will shine. The lights will burn shiny. And for one staff, the street to one thing particular begins now.
