Matt Barnes has defined what the most important challenge for the Los Angeles Lakers was in Recreation 1 in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Lakers are many consultants’ choose to win the NBA championship this season, and the Timberwolves weren’t imagined to pose a lot of a risk.
But, All-Star guard Anthony Edwards impressed his staff to victory on the Crypto.com Enviornment and, instantly, Recreation 2 has grow to be a must-win.
Barnes identified how JJ Redick’s staff have been uncovered final time and what can’t occur once more in the event that they wish to advance.
Whereas the Timberwolves have been main underdogs, they clearly have the expertise to hassle LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Co.
Nonetheless, no one thought they’d blow out the Lakers in Recreation 1 to instantly flip the sequence of their favour.
Barnes admitted he was “very stunned” by the best way the sport panned out, and was notably bothered by the Lakers’ defence.
Everybody is aware of that the Lakers are an offensive-minded staff, however they won’t succeed with such lacklustre transition protection.
Barnes mentioned on All The Smoke: “I used to be very stunned. I wasn’t stunned that [the Timberwolves] received, I used to be stunned by the style they received. Clearly, they’re not going to shoot 50 per cent from the three-point line for the remainder of the sequence.
“However fastbreak factors: 25 to 6. They involved me from the standpoint that the Lakers are simply an older staff. Usually, the playoffs are slower, however if you happen to’re in a position to get 25 fastbreak factors in a playoff recreation, you’re actually doing one thing.”
Barnes’ co-host, Rachel Nichols, thinks the Timberwolves uncovered one key flaw within the Lakers’ roster.
For the reason that commerce for Mark Williams broke down, Redick has been left with Jaxon Hayes as his solely true heart.
The absence of inside protection was a major problem in opposition to the Timberwolves, with Edwards dominating within the paint.
“I assumed the Lakers would find yourself profitable this sequence as a result of they’d simply outgun Minnesota ultimately,” Nichols mentioned. “That’s how the Lakers are going to win any playoff sequence this 12 months. They’re simply going to place in so many factors with such a potent offense that they will make up for his or her defensive deficiencies.
“The place it falls aside is if in case you have somebody who can actually drive the lane and make you pay on the basket as a result of they simply don’t have that inside protection anymore. I used to be actually impressed by Anthony Edwards, he was so disciplined.”
