Lakers’ actual tragic flaw was uncovered versus Timberwolves (and it’s unnerving)
The Lakers face a major problem that might prevent them from making a deep postseason run.To escape the Play-In Tournament, the Los Angeles Lakers needed to upset the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday evening.
LA had won four in a row and nine of their past ten. They were hot and posed a danger in the congested Western Conference. The Lakers briefly pulled up to eighth place, trailing only seventh by a half-game. It was conceivable to continue rising, but without a concentration.
Things swiftly unravelled on their home turf. The Lakers were up four after the first quarter, but Anthony Davis exited the game and did not return. He worsened an eye injury, which he suffered against the Warriors on March 16. AD is frequently labelled as injury-prone, but he has played 74 games this season and is expected to be available when the Lakers meet the Warriors on Tuesday night.
Los Angeles has had a poor season, but they still feel they can make the playoffs. The Lakers advanced from the Play-In Tournament to the conference finals in 2023, but Minnesota discovered a significant flaw that might keep LeBron James and company out of the playoffs this year.
The Lakers lack big-man depth and require Anthony Davis to play a significant role. LeBron James missed Sunday’s game due to flu-like symptoms, making things much more difficult for the Lakers against one of the greatest teams in the Western Conference. After Davis went out, LA relied on Jaxson Hayes at the five. The seven-footer played more than 30 minutes for only the third time this season. He ended with 19 points, 10 rebounds, five steals, and one block while shooting 8 of 9 from the field. It was a solid showing, but the Lakers trailed by 14 points after 33 minutes.
When he needed a break, head coach Darvin Ham was forced to go small, with Rui Hachimura at five. The Lakers have no one else. Christian Wood is certainly gone for the year, while rookie Colton Castleton has only played 56 minutes this season. LA lacks depth within.
They will rely heavily on AD in the playoffs, but if he is forced to miss time, things will likely unravel quickly as they did in a 127-117 loss to the Timberwolves on April 7. The Lakers have saddled him with a massive workload this season. He is averaging 35.5 minutes per game and has played over 62 contests for the first time since 2018. They need Davis when the games matter most, but it will be a tall task after a grueling season.
Coach Ham will shorten the rotation in the playoffs. It means more minutes for their best players, but could be problematic for an aging roster hoping to make a deep run.
They must be capable of defeating large squads. The Wolves have Rudy Gobert, and Karl-Anthony Towns is working his way back from a knee ailment. Denver is the defending champion, and their centre is the greatest in the NBA. Domantas Sabonis and the Kings have trounced the Lakers this season, setting up a possible Play-In matchup.
The Lakers will have size challenges and will need Anthony Davis to play 35 minutes or more if they hope to upset those clubs. On Sunday night, the Los Angeles Lakers revealed their Achilles heel in their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Can others use it to send them home early? As the postseason begins, this will be something to keep an eye on.
