The Wolves punched first. Now it’s time for the Lakers to adjust.Matchups, tactics, a need for a different court geometry, a few Luka–LeBron ideas, and one move that’s probably being saved for later in the series👇https://t.co/AjbBXG90lv pic.twitter.com/zzSMs7AJLr— Iztok Franko (@iztok_franko) April 22, 2025
FROM THE ABOVE ARTICLE:
The Los Angeles Lakers opened their 2025 playoff campaign with a dud—falling 117–95 at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1. It wasn’t just the loss, but how it happened: outplayed, outworked, and out-executed throughout most of the night. Now the pressure’s on. Game 2 is as close as it gets to a must-win, because going to Minneapolis down 0–2 against a locked-in, confident and hungry Wolves squad would be a very dangerous spot to be in.
Game 2 is always about first adjustments. And this time, it’s J.J. Redick and his team who need to respond after taking the first punch. The best and most straightforward adjustment in the NBA is always the same: just play better. Stars, role players, coaching staff—everyone on the Lakers needs to raise their level. But playoff games are also tactical chess matches, and when we talk about possible adjustments, we can go a bit deeper than just “play better.”
1. Set the tone with physicality, force, and focus
2. Control the pace through better offense and more discipline
3. Smarter offense I: Targets of attack (
VIDEO)
4. Smarter offense II: Angles of attack (
VIDEO)
5. Probably a ‘too-early-to-pull-the-trigger’ adjustment