Lakers Struggle Down the Stretch as Timberwolves Take 3-1 Series Lead

And just like that, things are dire. The Lakers, one of the biggest favorites going into the NBA postseason, had the stage set to cruise through the first round.

There was talk of a championship run, and even whispers of a new dynasty. Unfortunately, reality is rarely so easy.

(Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)

Rather than mowing through a young Timberwolves team on their way to the second round, the Lakers have struggled at all stages of their series.

They aren’t playing bad basketball, but they are making plenty of small mistakes.

In the playoffs, that’s enough to sink even the strongest ship.

The Rising Tide

While the Lakers have plenty of faults, they also have plenty of talent. Talent they hoped would bring them back from the brink after losing a tough game three.

They came into game four with plenty of optimism

They are the stronger team on paper, and are helmed by the two best players in the NBA.

Unfortunately, the Timberwolves are no push over. They play well together, are expertly coached, and know they can beat anyone.

That confidence gave them a three point lead at the half, which was quickly wiped away by a huge third quarter for Los Angeles.

Led by James and Doncic, the Lakers went up by ten with one quarter left. Unfortunately for them, one quarter was all the Timberwolves needed.

In the final twelve minutes, the home team put up great shots, clamped down on defense, and evaporated the Lakers’ lead.

Then, with less than 10 seconds left, LeBron James knocked the ball out of Anthony Edwards’ hands to force a turnover.

That led to a challenge, in which the referees determined James actually fouled the Minnesota superstar

He shot two free throws, Austin Reaves missed a game-tying three pointer attempt, and Minnesota won 116-113. They now control the series, and are up 3-1 going back to LA.

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In Need of Help

That loss was a huge blow for the Lakers, who came into the postseason with extremely high expectations.

Not only do they have the dynamic duo of LeBron James and Luke Doncic, they also ended the season on one of the strongest tears in the NBA.

That combination seemed prime for a championship run

Though there’s still time, that future seems increasingly unlikely. The Lakers, for all of their talent, just don’t have the bench or depth to keep up with more well-rounded teams.

James had 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Doncic had 38 points, 2 assists, and one rebound. They were backed by the ever-reliable Austin Reaves (17/7/4), and Rui Hachimura (23/5/1).

Those four combined for 105 of the Lakers 113 points. Though that style of play can work, as it’s currently doing for the Clippers, there are some weaknesses to being so dependent on just a few players.

The biggest is that, when the chips are down, nobody is there to step up

They also have no answer for Anthony Edwards. The athletic guard put up 43 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists in the win. If the Lakers want to comeback in the series, they need to find a way to get him off balance.

Changes from the Sidelines

The Lakers’ struggles are certainly a big surprise, but this is coach J.J Redick’s first postseason. Some growing pains are expected, especially with the current roster.

Doncic continues to be one of the most talented players in the NBA

He’s a pure offensive threat with plenty of firepower.

James also continues to turn back the clock, putting up huge numbers night after night. The issue then comes from the condition.

Redick made a rather odd choice to make no substitutions in the entire second half of game four, which is why LA ran out of steam down the stretch.

There’s nothing wrong with depending on stars, but that decision seemed based on desperation more than anything else.

“We certainly played well enough to win and we gave the effort to win,” the coach said “It’s not a planned thing to play five guys (for) an entire second half. I asked them at the beginning of the fourth quarter, told them we had two extra timeouts, if you need a sub let us know. Those guys gave a lot.”

That decision is extremely odd given the circumstances. Even worse, Redick deflected all responsibility by stating he trusted his team to pull themselves out.

“Once you’ve kind of made that decision and they all are in, you’ve just gotta trust them,” he added.

That style of coaching doesn’t seem to work in a hyper-competitive league like the NBA

Redick might have had a solid plan, but his plans have not worked in three out of four games. He needs to get more players involved in the next contest, or the Lakers won’t have any rope left.