Lakerholics

A Lakers Fan Community

Posts

Game 1 Loss To Wolves Was Exactly What Redick & The Lakers Needed

By 1 Comment

When the dust has settled, JJ Redick and the Lakers may finally realize their shocking Game 1 blowout loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves was exactly what they needed to get them playing championship basketball.

The true test of character for players and teams is how do you react when you get punched in the face in the playoffs and dominated by a team you were projected to easily defeat in the first round in 5 or 6 games at most? The Timberwolves dominated the Lakers the same way L.A. dominated OKC. Just like the Thunder could not stop the Lakers’ barrage of threes, the Lakers were helpless as the Timberwolves rained threes upon them.

Ironically, after losing Game 1 of their 2020 first round playoff series vs. the Trailblazers, the Lakers bounced back with 4-straight wins to beat Portland 4–1 in a gentlemen’s sweep on their way to their 17th NBA championship. That’s exactly how the Lakers should respond to the Timberwolves Game 1 of this year’s first round series. They need to slap the insurgent Wolves hard and put them back in their proper place with 4 straight blowout wins.

Right now, the Lakers are the NBA’s version of a an old joke with a stale punch line. The Wolves were so dominant that they now have become the betting favorites to defeat the Lakers in their first round playoff series.
The Lakers were the only home playoff team to lose home court advantage on opening night. If they lose tonight, they would have to win 4 out of the next 5 games with 3 of them being in Minnesota. Lakers must win tonight.

We find out tonight if JJ Redick and the Los Angeles Lakers are for real. Two games into the playoffs and Lakers face a legitimate ‘Must Win’ game. That’s what parity and the changing of the guard have done to the NBA.

Mini 5er

By Leave a Comment

Ok, still got the Lakers in 6. Still, the level of intensity needs to ratchet up. Significantly. Fast. Coach sounded like he though the group was too loose, they play loose on game 2 may be time to switch the line up mojo.

1) Luka showed up, took what the defense gave him, and couldn’t do it alone. He was in himself over his low assists but that’s a collaborative stat. Someone gotta make a shot.

2) Reaves needs to be better. You might not score a lot, you need to do more with your minutes or risk losing them. Reaves looked passive and disengaged for the first half. Didn’t do much to change my opinion in the second half although he was better.

3) Rui needs to play with more urgency in offense. Started hot, faded after that and never recaptured his groove. Needs to rebound better.

4) Vando needs to play more in this series. Especially if Reaves and Rui can’t rise to the challenge of playoff intensity. I understand how this impacts the scoring but we can’t be playing slow and mellow against this team. The T’Wolves have steadily improved over the course of the season. That’s not a fluke. Julius is healthy and motivated to get a big contract this summer, Ant Man would love to knock Luka and LeBron out of the playoffs, and McDaniels is legit. We need a guy like Vando who has size, speed and a chip on his shoulder.

5) Hayes needs to rise to the challenge or we should start DFS. Me? I might not wait another game but the fan of hard work in me believed he deserves a shot. Problem is he seemed so willowy out there, I don’t mind him picking up fouls, he needs to play a lot harder and not let contact come to him. He needs to seek it out. Play with the intent of knocking a dude on his ass.

Lose game 2 and this could go south real fast.