05-01-2025, 08:42 AM
(05-01-2025, 08:12 AM)omahen Wrote: Other than this game, Gobert has been really bad this series. Lakers were likely very tired as it was the first game where Minny dominated on boards.
Lakers problem was not so much the defense, it was the offense and extremely short rotation. They scored over 100 in only two games in the series. They were far less athletic and physical - despite Lakers playing small ball, Minnesota was playing faster. I think Luka was solid for his standards, but not superstar. Minny was able to reasonably contain him without doubling. Game three was a negative outlier as he was battling sickness and was visibly not himself on both sides of the court.
I was surprised by lack of adjustment by Reddick. We were watching five same games. Lakers working hard for every bucket, running out of gas in the fourth. Their offense was one of their offensive creators trying to get by his defender from three point line, mostly iso. I was surprised they didn't try posting up more.
Lakers obviously lack a center and could use another good wing. Dorian is busting his ass on defense, but is still very limited on offense (only 6 ppg in playoffs), Vando brings energy but is a complete zero on offense.
Kleber, DFS and Vando are not starter championship material... We know it very well.