Playoffs - Round 1: Lakers Vs. Wolves

Staggering minutes to give Luka and LeBron a breather might have worked, but it could have also equally backfired. The lead could have evaporated within minutes because the bench has been absolute cheeks this game.

 

and it doesn't help when you have the same starting 5 playing the entire half. there's no way those guys can keep up with the wolves athleticism late in games when they're playing that many minutes

 

Dafuq can't JJ play Vando, Knecht, Vincent or Hayes even a few minutes..??
Craziest Coaching decision I've ever seen... The outcome was predictable.

 

We did go like this in the 2nd half, starting with a 11-0 run.
Too bad JJ panicked and ran them to the ground. We didn't have juice in the end, although we were a play or 2 from the win.

I still think we can win this series.
We are being outscored for like 50 in the Q4 in this series. That's insane, especially having Luka now.
I'm expecting a strong response on Wednesday, this team is not done

 

^ we'll fold like a cheap lawn chair. Zero balls outside of Bron and Luka, it is what it is.

 

We're lookin' fuqqqed after that epic loss in Game 4. 'N all that, but now I step outside of my rabid Laker fan-frame of mind and just look at the style and skill of Ant. He's just fantastic to watch. He's been at times Kobe-MJ-level spectacular. He'll be 24 in August. This guy is some sick-azz-level jit.

Then I step back into my rabid Laker fandom and find nothing but lust. My gawd I'm greedy. Lebron is going out, but that's okay: we got Luka now.

And I have to audacity to think we should be able to get Antman too? The nerve of me!

 

I get this. Honestly I do.

But I think you have to take that gamble.

Particularly with LeBron’s age and Luka rebounding from being sick. We may still lose but I can’t help but think several shots (particularly a couple by Luka) go in with fresher legs.

 

LeBron once won when down 3-1 we all know that in finals .
Lakers lost up 3-1 to Phoenix in 2006
I am not sure about Luka was lazy to check
Last time Lakers won by being down 3-1 it was 55 years ago

And overall record teams that are down 3-1 even if excluded Doc not good at all

How many teams recovered from a 1-3 deficit ?
13
4.5%

 

Game 4 was the last stand, and it wasn't good enough. Game 5 could very easily look like 2011 Game 4 against Dallas.

 

Game 5 back at home you can’t go out like that these games have been very close you have to find a way to win Game 5 and put some pressure back on Minnesota. I’m hoping JJ learns from his mistakes and has better rotations for Game 5 and the rest of the series. A series can change very quickly watching the NBA for over 25 years I’ve seen alot of teams blow a 3-1 series lead when it looked like they were in complete control.

I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but actually the teams that usually do it are the ones that have Game 5 and 7 at home. It’s what the Suns did to use in 2006. The Warriors back it to the Thunder back in 2016. The Nuggets did it twice back in 2020. But again it all starts with winning Game 5 and then all the pressure is back on Minnesota in Game 6 because they don’t want go back to LA for a Game 7.

 

If I’m all of those guys I’d be open to a trade in the offseason. Especially DK and Jaxson. He’s shown that he doesn’t believe in them. Tough to overcome going forward.

 

If we win this, im confident we can reach the WCF. 2nd round should on paper be easier than the wolves. At teh same time I'd never imagine us struggling this bad, even with a younger wolves team with ant.

 

If I'm the front office I'm also open to losing all of those guys. Knecht is a rookie so I don't blame him for not being ready to be part of a playoff rotation. Vando and Hayes are too flawed as players to be playing more than spot minutes in a playoff series right now. Vincent is the guy I trust most out of all of them and the one I would have liked to see to play a few minutes in the second half to spell the other guys.

 

DFS and Gabe are really the only two rotation players we have that are close to your prototypical 2-way player. Their defense is acceptable and their 3pt shot is good enough where opponents have to respect them and close out. Every other role player I'm good with moving on either through trade or letting them walk. I think with Knecht there is still room to develop defensively since he's a rookie, but he might very well be our most valuable piece we can move along with our 1st round pick.

 

yeah, minny hasn't had to play with a shred of pressure yet. if we were to win game 5, they suddenly may feel like they really need to win game 6, and the role players can get tight (like ours have been all series). right now, they're loose.

anyway, i'll repeat this is why game 1 was important.

 

I know that not many of you have any interest in NHL,but yesterday was some craziest day in Los Angeles history of sports especially in playoffs

What a bad day/weekend for LA playoffs. I was thinking earlier this morning...

JJ Reddick: I am going to play my 5 the entire second half with no substitutions.
Jim Hiller (LA Kings coach) Hold my beer.
He did same by playing some of role players by combining like 5 minutes and overplaying almost entire first line close to 40 minutes and this game went to OT.

 

i'm expecting lebron to mail it in next game as he knows the series is over