The Los Angeles Lakers are in trouble during the 2025 NBA playoffs.
However, as early as the first round, the LA Lakers’ backs are already facing the wall, with the Minnesota Timberwolves leading 3-1.
Leading by the brilliance of Anthony Edwards superstars, the Timberwolves prove their claim that they are more than just the underdogs. Minnesota closed out both games 3 and 4, earning a compelling 3-1 lead after securing the series opener in Los Angeles in a dominant way.
The Lakers are now only one loss from elimination, and players need to step up.
Without a doubt, the driving force behind the Timberwolves’ domination in this series was their solid support unit.
Behind Edwards’s stellar leadership, Minnesota features a cast of promising characters. Julius Randle thrives as the second place on the team after finding his “purpose and structure.”
Jaden McDaniels continues to rise with his great defensive stands and many large scoring bursts as the T-Wolf X-factor for this series. And off the bench, Naz Reid and Donte Divinsenzo are a great revelation from their credibility and dirty work.
The Lakers can’t take the same attention. The Lakers rely heavily on both LeBron James and Luka Donsic’s star power.
On the Kevin O’Connor show, Marcus Morris raised the season with the TO-Olves, urging the rest of the Lakers to bolster their game. Specifically, he wants more from Austin Reeves and Louis Hachimura.
“This isn’t about Luka and LeBron. They dominate the series. Anthony Edwards controls the series. Who else outside of them controls the Lakers?” said the former NBA veteran.
“AR plays solid basketball, I think Rui can help him level a little more. Other than that, who’s playing well?
“Jayden McDaniels is doing really well with seeing the wolves and Julius Randle playing well, Naz Reed plays really well.
“I can’t say that about the Lakers. They just have to do more with the two playing par.”
The incredible depth of the T-Wolves is fully shown in this thrilling first-round series, but in contrast, the Lakers are exposed to a lack of secondary talent.
After tallying more than 20 points in this past regular season, Austin Reeves has not produced enough as the team’s third star with an average of 17 points this postseason. Rui Hachimura’s 12.8 marker is also insufficient.
The poor turn-up strength of LA is seen when director JJ Redick plays the five main players James, Don Sic, Reeves, Tamura and Dorian Finney Smith, the infamous five in the second half of the Game 4 defeat that sparked rage on the Lakers fanbase.
In a battle of size and length, the Lakers couldn’t rely on Jackson Hayes when they faced the impressive Timberwolves frontcourt found by Rudy Gobert.
Faced with elimination, the Lakers are unable to call an urgent, full-scale approach across complementary works if they want to survive and compete for the NBA championship.
“This isn’t a win over the superstars, it’s won by the others on each team,” Morris added. “Minnesota is winning the fight with a big margin.”