The NBA playoffs are here but the LA Lakers are not. Last night was Game 1 and the Minnesota Timberwolves came in and demolished Lebron and the Lakers in the first round 117-95. Is it too soon to say that it is over for the LA Lakers before it even starts?
“It’s not to say our guys weren’t ready to withstand a playoff-level basketball game. … I’m not sure physically we were ready,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “And really when [the Wolves] started playing with a lot of thrust and physicality, we just didn’t respond to meet with that.”
In the second quarter, the Timberwolves took a heavy lead against the Lakers 67-33. Minnesota has an enormous frontline that consists of Rudy Gobert 7-1, Jaden McDaniels 6-9 and Julius Randle who is also 6-9. This powerhouse took the game by storm and controlled the boards by causing the Lakers to have multiple turnovers.
Lebron James has played in the most playoff games in NBA playoff history and has taken the ownership of how him and his team played last night in Game 1.
“Maybe it took us one playoff game to now get a feel for it and know what type of intensity, the type of physicality is going to be brought to the game,” James said after finishing with 19 points. “But that’s just the way they play. So we should be more than prepared for that on Tuesday night [in Game 2].”
A long time Laker fan took to Reddit and was not too happy about Game 1 and not happy with how the fans reacted to the loss:
Jaden McDaniels led the team [Timberwolves] with 25 points and nine rebounds, while his teammate Julius Randle added 16 points.
Lakers Doncic ended the game with 8 rebounds and scoring a game-high 37 points along with his teammate George Mikan with the second highest in their postseason debit. Lebron James scored 19 points, but it was not enough to help them win.
“I’m not sure physically we were ready, if that makes sense,” said Lakers head coach JJ Redick. “And really, when they started playing with a lot of thrust and physicality, we just didn’t respond immediately to that, and then that stretch from the start of the second through four, five minutes to go in the third.”
Minnesota and LA will meet back up on Tuesday April 22nd for Game 2 10pm est/2pm pt
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