The third-seeded Los Angeles Lakers will face the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Timberwolves secured the sixth seed by defeating the Utah Jazz on the final day of the regular season, thereby earning their playoff spot and avoiding the play-in tournament. Their reward is a rematch with Luka Doncic, only this time, he is in a new uniform. Both teams have heated up down the stretch of the regular season and are entering the playoffs in strong form. It will be a pivotal series to watch.
The Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are consistently one of the most talked-about teams in the NBA, especially during the playoffs. But this year, it is even more so. The Los Angeles Lakers made a shocking move at the trade deadline for Doncic. This trade shook up their team overnight, and the duo of Doncic and LeBron James immediately had fans salivating for the postseason. It is a tantalizing pair. Despite his injury bouts this season, Doncic has still put up numbers, averaging 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game. James has also been excellent, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game.
Doncic and James are the type of duo that can take over games in the fourth quarter with their scoring and passing. They’ve done it before individually, but now they are both on the same team. They are also coached by first-year Head Coach J.J. Reddick. Many were skeptical about Reddick’s hiring, but over the season, he has proven to be a great coach, even before the Doncic trade. With an entire series to prepare for, Reddick will bring his all to target the Timberwolves on both ends of the floor.
The biggest question for the Los Angeles Lakers comes from their supporting cast. The team does not match the size of Minnesota, with their best big man being Jaxson Hayes. This means they will have to play small, relying on players like Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Dorian Finney-Smith, among others. Depending on both teams’ strategies, this could help or hinder the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves are entering this series hungry to avenge last season when Doncic decimated them in five games. Anthony Edwards has taken his game to another level this season by becoming an elite three-point shooter. He led the NBA in threes this season, averaging 27.6 points per game and shooting 39.5% from three. If he can continue to shoot like this in the playoffs, it will greatly improve Minnesota’s chances.
The Timberwolves also have a strong supporting cast of Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo, Jaden McDaniels, and Naz Reid. Randle, Gobert, and Reid will be the keys on offense if the Los Angeles Lakers go small. If their big men, particularly Gobert, are played off the floor, things will not go well. They also have a strong defense, but all their best defenders, like McDaniels and Gobert, could not stop Doncic in their last playoff series.
If Minnesota wants to upset the Los Angeles Lakers, they will need to force them to play their way and get a huge series from Edwards. Randle has been inconsistent in past postseasons, and he will also need to be an efficient second option. They cannot let Doncic decimate them like he’s done before.
Final Thoughts
The Los Angeles Lakers and the Timberwolves both have dreams of going on deep playoff runs. With star players on both sides, it will be one of the most interesting series to watch. The Lakers are the current favorite to advance as the third seed, but if the right players perform, it could go either way.
