The Lakeshow Review

The Los Angeles Lakers were unable to exercise their playoff demons last Sunday against the Minnesota timberwolves and now find themselves on the brink of elimination from the NBA Playoffs. The defeat, 116-113, has officially put the season in critical condition. This series has been marred by the Lakers’ inability to shake off their Jekyll/Hyde syndrome. Some nights (or halves, or quarters) they look great, others not so much. Unfortunately, for this series, the latter has been the norm and the former the exception. They have been unable to bring consistent effort each game, and more importantly, they have failed to make the necessary adjustments against a rangy, athletic, energetic and well-coached Timberwolves squad. So far, the team has been unable to meet the moment and play collectively and disciplined. Too many mistakes, careless turnovers, inopportune fouls and overall lack of timely shotmaking have contributed in placing this team in a 3-1 ditch. There is always hope and the series isn’t over, but the Lakers will need to bring much more to the table, both from a tactical and execution perspective, in order to bring themselves back into this series. So far, Minnesota has controlled the pace, dictated the series’ terms and thrown the first and last haymakers. The Lakers must show some grit, some fight, some desperation, coupled with an improved game plan so that they can hang from the ropes and avoid getting knocked out. 

Minnesota’s athleticism has made them into a dangerous team so far in these playoffs. Their (sudden & unexpected) ability to switch constantly on defense has thrown a wrench on LA’s screen and roll attack. Instead of backing up in drop coverage and allowing the Lakers to feast on midrange shots, they have successfully pressured high, at the level, and at times even hedging on screens to pressure LA’s ball handlers into costly turnovers. Their switching has also proved troublesome for LA, who still haven’s figured out a way to attack it. The Lakers simply don’t have the athleticism to turn the corner on those hedges. And the bigger problem is, they might be resigned to this strategy. As they don’t have any post-up options to throw them the ball down low. It’s unfortunate LeBron has never had a prolific back-to-the-basket game, as that would literally make him the perfect fit on this roster. The Lakers, for all their faults this series, need to find a way to get more out of their screening actions in order to have a prayer’s chance of staying competitive. More Luka/LeBron two-man game (maybe even have LeBron set the screen and short-roll on hedges), more high pick and roll, more slipping screens on switches, punishing lazy switches with three pointers, more off-ball screening and activity, etc. Lakers need to punch back. They’ve been much content being the punching bag, rather assuming the mantle of aggressor. 

Offensively, LA did not have a horrible game. They were taking and making long range jumpers and were generally flowing offensively. Luka Doncic had his highest scoring output of the series with 38 points, while LeBron added 27 (despite disappearing during the fourth quarter to the tune of zero points), and Austin Reaves chipped n with 17 points (all scored in the second half). Their defense however was another issue. This team can’t live and die with LeBron or Rui Hachimura switched out to guard Anthony Edwards on the perimeter. That’s a recipe for disaster. The Wolves have broken down the Lakers’ perimeter defense at will throughout the course of this series, with Anthony Edwards claiming the paint as his new home. LA’s help defense has also been an issue, as they have surrendered many open three pointers based on bad gambles on the ball, thus leaving their man wide open. Both LeBron and Rui have done a poor job of this. Edwards had his best game of the series with 43 points. Julius Randle also contributed 25 points. Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid continue to be provide a steady hand, pacing the bench with 16 and 12 points respectively. Simply a very balanced attack. It all starts with Edwrds beating his man off the dribble. When the defense breaks down, the Lakers simply don’t have the interior size to offer help as the low man and provide a shot-deterrent at the basket. When the low man is Rui, or LeBron, or Dorian Finny-Smith, that spells trouble. And credit to Edwards since he’s been a virtual killer at making elite reads on his drives whether it’s for the finish or the kickout. Something I find perplexing is the fact that Jarred Vanderbilt, the team’s most well-equipped option to contain Anthony Edwards, has remained parked on the bench. At this point, it wouldn’t hurt to stick him on Edwards, if only as a last-ditch effort. Ant has cooked everybody placed in front of him. 

Personally, I still maintain that both Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent should be inserted into the starting group. This would allow the Lakers to emphasize the two-man game of Luka and LeBron early on in games thus establishing their chemistry, while also having the athletes to defend the perimeter in Vando and Gabe. Rui and Austin Reaves can provide the much needed scoring punch off the bench. As it stands, this team remains unbalanced. Can they win playing this way? I think it’s highly doubtful. Jaxson Hayes should also be on the floor for the minutes that Rudy Robert is on the floor, as Minnesota’s size has begun to take a stranglehold on the series, after LA convincingly lost the rebounding battle 49-41 during Game 4. Regardless, changes need to be made to personnel, and a shuffling of lineups could be the jolt of energy that the team needs. However, at this juncture, I don’’t expect any of this to happen, as Head Coach JJ Redick seems set on the lineups that he likes for this team. 

Lastly, this team has struggled mightily in crunch time scoring. They seem perennially unable to generate quality looks at the end of close games. Much of this is due to what they are running. Or what they aren’t running. Redick’s decision to go away from organized sets late in games, opting instead to let the guys “wing” it, has proven costly. The personnel, however, is there. Luka Doncic handling the ball on a high pick and roll, with Austin and/or LeBron on the weak side screening. Finney-Smith is also available for the pick and pop. But unfortunately, these plays ares simply devolving into isolations where the team aimlessly swings the ball around the arc and end up settling for a bad shot (such as a LeBron three pointer in a crucial spot, which he more often misses). This group has not been around each other for a long time, thus they don’t have the synergy required to be able to play freely off each other. In this case, oraganized sets can go a long way to giving this team some structure to make plays out of. Particularly within the pressure-packed crucible of a tight playoff contest.

In any case, this team has quite simply failed to meet their expectations, unfortunately so. Getting back into this series will require the will of its players and the coaching staff. For a team that hasn’t accomplished much, if anything, they are a cocky bunch. But that attitude is usually reserved for teams with actual championship pedigree. Teams with the proverbial on/off switch, that they can activate seemingly on command. This team doesn’t even know what kind of switch they have, or if they have one at all. Going out and playing under the assumption that they do is a dangerous game to play, the type that makes you humbled. This team simply has to focus on showing up, mentally and physically, and allow the rest to take care of itself. Go Lakers.