Playoffs - Round 1: Lakers Vs. Wolves

It’s all a matter of perspective. As puffy said, it’s a children’s game played by adults. Everyone wants to win, and our team is trying their hardest. Most likely we go and beat them in game 4 and 5 and everyone will be back to saying lakers in 6.

Your emotional swings up and down don’t change the results at all, enjoy the great quality of basketball and root for our guys. But you having your week or weekend ruined with a loss, that’s a waste of time.

 

I’m sorry Weezy, but I don’t see it the same way. Not sure why we look outmatched, they hit us hard in Q1, we weathered the storm and hit them back in Q2 and we were in it t** for tat until the last 3-4 possessions.

Game 1 and 2 is kind of a wash. They were better in game 1 and we were better in game 2. There’s a very high chance that we win games 4 and 5.

 

I get it. I take Laker losses hard too. There are 16 teams still in it right now. I think we're one of the 8 best of those, easy. But the competition - the parity, especially in the West this year - is crazy, man. 15 of the 16 team's fans are gonna be sad and disappointed their guys didn't grab the ring this year. Odds look bad for us.

For me, weed helps. I still feel the Laker loss, but I have a slightly more cosmic perspective on it all. Lakers are part of Life. And Life is good, no matter what, ya feel me?

Now, if the Bags win it all again, no amount of cannabis will ease that pain. Gotta keep it real.

 

they might win another game, but this series is probably over

minny's length and athleticism is just too much to handle. doesn't help that hayes is unplayable which is allowing randle and mcdaniels to do as they please down low

this is a flawed roster post-luka trade, but that's the price you pay for a future face of the franchise. the real work begins in the offseason with landing a big man

 

not having a playable big is the main problem, but minny's defense is just suffocating them and forcing mistakes. they're relentless and our guys are struggling with it. too many missed FTs too

 

Doubled their turnovers, and LeFlop only had one of those. Sloppy ball will lead to early exit unfortunately. People can say what they want but we cook these fools with A.D.

 

No bigs no chance

 

I didn't see a lot different between game 1 and game 2 to be honest. Game 1 we won the first quarter and made another run in the 3rd through the 4th quarter taking the lead from 27 to 12 with a chance to get it into single digits - we couldn't get over the hump, if we had made that 3 to bring it to 8 with most of the 4th quarter to go, maybe we make more of it. In game 2 we led by 20 from the end of Q1 all the way through to the 4th pretty much. They made a run to get it within 10 similar to how we did in game 1, but we closed it out, same as they did.

Game 3 we led through the half, then they kind of were a possession or two ahead of us for the 3rd and early 4th. But the truth is, we were tied with 4 mins to go. It doesn't get any closer than that, if Luka isn't sick, he probabaly doesn't get attacked every turn down the floor and we pull this one out. If we don't have 19 turnovers, we probably don't lose the lead in the third quarter and pull this one out.

Looking ahead to the 4th game; Lebron probably won't go out and get 40 odd points in game 4, however, Luka will be better. If we can just minimise the points off of turnovers, we probably win game 4. I think then we got a good shot at game 5. If we're 3-2 going back to Minnesota, we have two bites of the apple to close it out.

 

Turnovers:

Rui #1: Conley pokes the ball out of bounds and it hits Rui's leg on the way out
Rui #2: We get the rebound and Rui fumbles it on the break
Rui #3: Dribbles it off his foot in Q4

Honestly, at least 2 if not 3 of these are avoidable.

James #1: Throws it to DFS who's foot touches the line
James #2: Slips on a wet spot
James #3: Drops it randomly, we give up an and 1 on the other side

All are totally avoidable.

Reaves #1: Throws a grenade into Vando's face, totally avoidable and Reaves gives up an and 1 off it
Reaves #2: Dribbles it off his foot for a back court violation
Reaves #3: Good defence by Minnesota, forced the turnover
Reaves #4: Random offensive foul?

At least 2 of these are avoidable, if you accept refs calling random fouls at times

Doncic #1: Falls over, if he isn't sick, he doesn't just fall
Doncic #2: Bad pass, good Minnesota defence
Doncic #3: Bad pass to Hayes, good Minnesota defence
Doncic #4: Collects the rebound and gets it poked away
Doncic #5: Gets the ball poked out by Gobert

2 of these are unforced errors, the other 3 is good defence

DFS #1: Lebron's bad pass
DFS #2: Unnecessary DHO to Gabe

Both of these could be avoided

Vando #1: Is slightly out of bounds when he collects the tip from Luka Q1
Vando #2: Collects a rebound and lets NAW poke it out.

Both of these could be avoided

Out of the 19 TO's, at least 11 or 12 could have been avoided - 20 points was scored off them. That's the game right there.

 

Lakers are strictly a jumpshooting now without elite snipers .

Good news is Sota has his ups and downs as a team , if not they would have won more games .

As of now , it does look like Sota in 6 unless Luka saves us or a role player has a hot game 4 or 6

 

The next game is do or die, but I don't see us getting through them now.

 

Yup, playoffs are done. Noon game on the road, 3 guys that are capable of making a play, scoring... good luck.
If we'll have C Bags - Clippers Finals, im gonna shoot myself

 

Lack of urgency, no rim protection, and unforced turnovers are pretty much what did the team in. We need to win game 4 or it's a wrap on this series.

The good news is that 2 of 3 can be controlled by just putting forth more effort and paying attention to the details. It just baffles me why it has to be constantly preached to a team with vets that have plenty of playoff experience.

 

Wolves are already a tough physical matchup for us... If Luka is not 100%, there's no way LeBron can carry us for 40+ minutes & still have anything left to finish the game.

 

For me, it’s two things:
1. This is my 40th playoffs of being a Lakerholic.
2. Even after the Luka trade, I still feel that our lack of even a first or second string Center will be our undoing.
They still can beat Minny, but like others have stated, it’s going to take all three of Luka, Austin, and LeBron having great games, along with our entire team playing 48 minutes of great D to win.