(3) Lakers vs. (6) Timberwolves First Round Playoff Series Thread

[QUOTE=Lakers Legend#32;14996885]It was a game all the way to the end and that was with Luka having food poisoning and Hayes not playing.

I feel better going into Game 4 than I did going into Game 2.[/QUOTE]

Hayes not playing is a good thing for the lakers

[QUOTE=ImKobe;14996892]It's a small sample size but they have a 120 ORTG with him on the bench and 115 with him on the court. Overall they're better off with him with this limited sample size because of the defense but the eye test tells you that the Wolves are better off without him in the 4th quarter where they're breaking down the Lakers' defense with ease when playing 5 out.

Rudy isn't punishing the Lakers for their lack of size and the Lakers have an easier time defending Minnesota with Rudy on the court because the Wolves don't even try to get him the ball so his minutes should be limited in this series.[/QUOTE]

Not what the eye test tells me. He takes up space. They have to keep him off the boards which they ve done a good job of. If gobert didnt play at all the lakers would win feom what ive seen. They finished well last nite but overall they certainly dont look better than the lakers without him. Lakers can rebound playing small with luka, lebron and vandebilt. Wolves arent a good rebounding team outside gobert

[QUOTE=Xiao Yao You;14996908]Not what the eye test tells me. He takes up space. They have to keep him off the boards which they ve done a good job of. If gobert didnt play at all the lakers would win feom what ive seen. They finished well last nite but overall they certainly dont look better than the lakers without him. Lakers can rebound playing small with luka, lebron and vandebilt. Wolves arent a good rebounding team outside gobert[/QUOTE]

He takes up space yeah but that's 1 less guy the Lakers have to worry about on the perimeter. Without Rudy the Lakers can't just pack the paint and when you got tired Luka/Bron/Reaves in the 4th it's much easier to exploit them without Gobert in the game.

Anyone with a brain knew that having no bigs was going to really hurt the lakers in the playoffs:oldlol:

Donshit looked awful in game 3 could barely move

Last night the Lakers played the best they could have possibly played. There will be no better performance by the Lakers this series and the Wolves somehow beat them. Lebron put on a performance maybe he'll never replicate again.

Nothing better than Grady commenting on an Ant poster!

[URL="https://x.com/TWolvesLead/status/1916158221829448022"]https://x.com/TWolvesLead/status/1916158221829448022[/URL]

[QUOTE=04mzwach;14996937]Last night the [B]Lakers played the best they could have possibly played[/B]. There will be no better performance by the Lakers this series and the Wolves somehow beat them. Lebron put on a performance maybe he'll never replicate again.[/QUOTE]

they were really bad IMO


throwing the ball into the stands and passing it to players on the other team. everyone on the team did it cant even single anyone out.



series not over but wolves definitely have a real edge. I think the lakers are in trouble because they need the homecourt and they give up a lot of open threes, if the wolves are hot from three next game this series is done


if the wolves can hit threes its over. if they shoot less than 40% next game then the lakers will win the series.


I think series is 60-40 for the wolves, still a toss-up

It's Randle that has been Minny's best weapon and the reason they're ahead.

Randle vs Reaves/Luka/Rui has been very effective. They need to find a better strategy to avoid Randle getting steam on his drives.

[QUOTE=coin24;14996921]Anyone with a brain knew that having no bigs was going to really hurt the lakers in the playoffs:oldlol:

Donshit looked awful in game 3 could barely move[/QUOTE]

Jordan had the flu in a finals game and had an all time great performance.

Luka had the flu and acted like he was dying on the court.

Today's league is SOFT.

[QUOTE=Full Court;14997005]Jordan had the flu in a finals game and had an all time great performance.

Luka had the flu and acted like he was dying on the court.

Today's league is SOFT.[/QUOTE]


Spent half the game crying to the refs :facepalm

[QUOTE=coin24;14996921]Anyone with a brain knew that having no bigs was going to really hurt the lakers in the playoffs:oldlol:

Donshit looked awful in game 3 could barely move[/QUOTE]


I dont get it, lakers had so much time to add a quality big. There were many options. ISHers had good suggestions, on RGM, Twitter etc but a GM cant figure it out?

There were many sensible options.

[QUOTE=Xiao Yao You;14996905]Hayes not playing is a good thing for the lakers[/QUOTE]

That’s very debatable.
By the numbers, maybe yes.

But my personal eye test, not just in this series but over the last two months, says the best situation for the Lakers is when they can get Gobert in foul trouble, or hunt him so much/so well that he’s benched, and then Lakers go big with Hayes in, against a Minny lineup where there greatest rebounder is Randle, and their greatest rim protector is Reid. Then having Luka coming off Spain pick and roll going right, Hayes rolling to the rim, and Rui /Finney in the corners, and LeBron out top, after he screens who switched onto Hayes.

[QUOTE=BarberSchool;14997213]That’s very debatable.
By the numbers, maybe yes.

But my personal eye test, not just in this series but over the last two months, says the best situation for the Lakers is when they can get Gobert in foul trouble, or hunt him so much/so well that he’s benched, and then Lakers go big with Hayes in, against a Minny lineup where there greatest rebounder is Randle, and their greatest rim protector is Reid. Then having Luka coming off Spain pick and roll going right, Hayes rolling to the rim, and Rui /Finney in the corners, and LeBron out top, after he screens who switched onto Hayes.[/QUOTE]

Gobert generally defends without fouling and they have been hunting him. It hasnt worked and wont. Minnesota hasnt played him big minutes though so there has been plenty of chances for hayes. Their best chance has appearred to be when minnesota has played small without hayes. Minnesota can defend without gobert. Rebounding could be an issue for sure. Id hunt randle if anyone myself

OK I'm ready to be hurt again.

Toody right off the bat :roll: :roll: embarrassing for a big man.