6 THINGS THE LAKERS GOTTA DO VS TIMBERWOLVES

WRITTEN + EDITED BY JORDYN BONTRAGER

Contrary to his critics’ hopes heading into the season, JJ Redick did the damn thing in his inaugural campaign running the Lakeshow. Following a 50-32 finish, the Lakers rattled off the franchise’s best regular season record since the championship 2019-2020 season. All things considered, there were a lot of things that this team did right throughout the regular season.

Did you notice the italicized word in each of those past two sentences? Perhaps you are pondering the purpose of it’s distinct formatting?

The purpose of that particular emphasis is to distinguish the regular season that resides in the rearview from the real season that lies ahead. And it all begins this evening.

Referencing back to the aforementioned note regarding the on-point things that purple and gold did right throughout the regular SZN, this team knows good and well the obvious things that must transpire for them to put the Timberwolves out of their misery (hopefully quickly). Each and every guy on this roster has a role to fill throughout the impending playoff race, and the coaching staff holds the responsibility of properly preparing each of them for each and every nightly battle.

All that in mind, here are the 6 things the Lakers gotta do in the series with the Minnesota Timberwolves

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D GOTTA MAKE ANTHONY EDWARDS TEAMMATES BEAT ‘EM

Unfortunately for Laker fans across the globe, the squad is about to square off with the likely (near) future face of the league in Anthony Edwards. The NBA’s 4th-leading scorer in the regular SZN (27.6 PPG) and one of the association’s most lethal outside threats (his 4.1 3PT made/game ranked 2nd in the league), Ant Man is a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses.

Fortunately for Laker fans across the globe, the team houses arguably the world’s most prototypical Anthony Edwards clamper in Jarred Vanderbilt. Oddly enough, he might not even be the team’s best overall perimeter defender. Dorian Finney-Smith was a perfect midseason pickup and the 3&D poster boy, and odds are he will find himself hawking Edwards frequently when he is on the floor. Gabe Vincent and Jordan Goodwin may be a tad tinier than friendly forward duo, but possess the feistiness to fight with the alpha wolf at times.

With those guys all coming off the pine, it will likely be Austin Reaves and X-Factor Rui Hachimura splitting reps defending Edwards with the starting unit. While neither is renowned for any type of lockdown capabilities, they are each serviceable options on the less glamorous end.

PLAYMAKERS GOTTA HUNT JADEN MCDANIELS FOULS

After earning his first All-Defensive (2nd) team nod a season ago, Jaden McDaniels officially established himself among the elites of perimeter stoppers. He has a strong shot at receiving a second consecutive acknowledgement in this regard following another strong year defensively, and will have his hands full splitting matchup time between Luka Doncic and LeBron James. His 6’9” frame and lanky 7’ wingspan set him apart from most other matchups with these dudes, and his gritty nature pushes him either at or right there near the top of that list.

Look beyond him, though, and you will see that the Wolves are barren when it comes to guys who can capably defend the Lakers top shelf tandem. Julius Randle is a helluva ball player, and has the size to make life difficult for that duo. But things have just never come together defensively for the former Laker. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has the reputation of a perimeter pest, but is too small to seriously stop either Luka or LeBron. That same sentiment rings true for Donte DiVincenzo.

Luka, LeBron, Reaves and Rui need to go at McDaniels every chance they get. If they can get him in foul trouble, they could straight feast on his substitutes.

LUKA GOTTA LET LEBRON CHARGE UP EARLY IN THE RUN

The Lakers are 16 wins away from championship #18. That may not seem like a ton, but after an 82-game gauntlet of a regular season it should go without saying that those 16 W’s are much easier said than done.

And after suiting up in 70 (!) games during his age-40 (!) season, it is needless to say that LeBron James could use as much rest early on in the postseason push as he can possibly get. If this team is going to bring home the trophy, they will need LBJ in pristine condition come the Western Conference Finals and, much more importantly, the NBA Finals.

With those things in mind, Luka Doncic needs to shoulder a bit more of the load than usual in the opening round series. Keep the King fresh.

REAVES + RUI GOTTA ROCK

While a lot of that aforementioned responsibility to preserve James lies in the hands of the Don, he will count on Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura for ancillary support.

At this point, Reaves is basically a full blown star (and soon to be All-Star). The former undrafted product from Arkansas is fresh off his first (of many) 20 PPG campaigns, and has our vote for Most Improved Player (of all-time). Whether or not he receives that recognition remains a mystery, but one thing that is certain is he and Hachimura’s importance to this team’s championship formula looking ahead. In the extremely unlikely event that Doncic is off, AT LEAST one of those guys must pick up the slack in the points department. Both of them have proven capable of leading the team in scoring on any given night, and the duo’s output throughout the playoffs should serve as a clear indication of whatever inevitable outcome awaits.

SHOOTERS GOTTA SHOOT

This is going to be a recurring theme regardless of who the Lakers face throughout the postseason. You know what you are going to get from Luka and LeBron from an overall catalyst perspective, and aside from Reaves and Rui the rest of the gang will have little to no offensive creation responsibilities. It will be all about offensive completion for those guys, and most notably the completion of the jumpers they jack at the rim.

Rui finished the (regular) year as the team’s top outside shooter (again) at 41.3% 3FG, faintly trailed by his runner-up DFS at 39.8%. Behind them were Goodwin (38.2%), Luka (37.9%), Reaves (37.7%), LeBron + Dalton Knecht (37.6% apiece) and Gabe Vincent (35.3%). If those guys are hitting shots (not to mention Maxi Kleber, who will miss tonight’s opener but should be back soon), the sky is the limit.

BIGS GOTTA CONTAIN GOBERT ON THE OFFENSIVE GLASS

Rudy Gobert is one of the best rebounders in the history of this sport, and corralling him on the boards is no small feat. Jaxson Hayes will matchup with the French big fella with the starters, but if the small-ball units are unable to play Gobert off the floor than it is going to be a gang effort in containing the 7-footer and his career 3.4 ORPG.

We all know how critical rebounding is when it comes to winning basketball games, so do not sleep on the impact (or lack thereof) which Gobert portrays in this series.