What Went Wrong with the Lakers in the Playoffs?
The Los Angeles Lakers have been eliminated from the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. At the same time, the loss has surprised many throughout the NBA world. Many who kept up with the series saw the writing on the wall unless the Lakers changed their game plan. The loss in Game Five proved they would stick to their plan no matter what, despite it being a failure.
In the fourth quarter of Game Five, the Lakers only scored 16 points. Half of which they had only scored halfway through the fourth quarter. Head Coach JJ Redick went small with his lineup throughout the game, as he has mostly throughout the series. The decision not to include Jaxson Hayes in the game has left many scratching their heads. Rudy Gobert had a double-double, scoring 27 points and grabbing 24 rebounds. Punishing the Lakers in the paint all game long, and yet it didn't occur to Coach Reddick to insert Hayes and add some size.
That coupled with the not-so-bright decision to double Anthony Edwards at the top of the key. This left many Wolves shooters open for easy jump shots or lobs to Gobert in the paint. It was a recipe the Lakers had all series long, which led to their downfall, and the Wolves took advantage of it. The Lakers' starters once again were utilized too much as they have been throughout the series; only three other players got used off the bench. Even though they can play, shoot, and add size to the mix. You saw no Dalton Knecht, Shake Milton, Alex Len, or Jordan Goodwin.
Lebron James, the whole series looked worn out after Game One. Giving him that many minutes with his mileage and age and coming off a reaggravated groin injury was too much to ask for him. The Lakers had what it took to beat the Timberwolves in this series, but all of this was sprinkled in with the fact that the Timberwolves had a better shooting team and size. The Lakers beat themselves more than the Timberwolves beat them. For the Timberwolves, it reignites the conversation that was had earlier in the season: are they legit contenders now? With Edwards scoring 40-plus in multiple games and with his track record of eliminating legends in the Playoffs? If they can make it past the Warriors or Rockets, then it is a conversation to be had.
