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The Los Angeles Lakers will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, and Game 1 will take place on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena. The Timberwolves are a team that Luka Doncic faced in last year's playoffs and did very well against.
After leading the NBA in scoring during the 2023-24 regular season, he led the Dallas Mavericks, who only finished fifth in the Western Conference, to the conference finals versus third-seeded Minnesota. In that series, he averaged 32.4 points on 47.3% overall shooting and 43.4% from 3-point range, 9.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists a game as Dallas took the West title in five games.
The series is best remembered for the game-winning 3-pointer Doncic hit over Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert in Game 2.
Therefore, it isn't surprising that Lakers head coach JJ Redick admitted he's relying on Doncic, as well as assistant coach Greg St. Jean, to prepare for this upcoming first-round matchup.
Minnesota is a somewhat different team than it was last spring. Just prior to this season, it jettisoned All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for power forward Julius Randle and sharpshooter Donte DiVincenzo. While that trade hasn't quite worked out as hoped, the team should present a sizable challenge for the Lakers.
It features a long and strong frontline anchored by Gobert and Randle, as well as Anthony Edwards, the explosive superstar guard who has garnered comparisons to Michael Jordan and late Lakers great Kobe Bryant. Edwards, who scored at least 40 points nine times this season, can win games almost by himself, and rebounding will also have to be a big point of emphasis for Los Angeles because of the Timberwolves' size up front.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: JJ Redick is leaning on Luka Doncic to prepare for the Timberwolves
Continue reading...
After leading the NBA in scoring during the 2023-24 regular season, he led the Dallas Mavericks, who only finished fifth in the Western Conference, to the conference finals versus third-seeded Minnesota. In that series, he averaged 32.4 points on 47.3% overall shooting and 43.4% from 3-point range, 9.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists a game as Dallas took the West title in five games.
The series is best remembered for the game-winning 3-pointer Doncic hit over Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert in Game 2.
Therefore, it isn't surprising that Lakers head coach JJ Redick admitted he's relying on Doncic, as well as assistant coach Greg St. Jean, to prepare for this upcoming first-round matchup.
Minnesota is a somewhat different team than it was last spring. Just prior to this season, it jettisoned All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for power forward Julius Randle and sharpshooter Donte DiVincenzo. While that trade hasn't quite worked out as hoped, the team should present a sizable challenge for the Lakers.
It features a long and strong frontline anchored by Gobert and Randle, as well as Anthony Edwards, the explosive superstar guard who has garnered comparisons to Michael Jordan and late Lakers great Kobe Bryant. Edwards, who scored at least 40 points nine times this season, can win games almost by himself, and rebounding will also have to be a big point of emphasis for Los Angeles because of the Timberwolves' size up front.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: JJ Redick is leaning on Luka Doncic to prepare for the Timberwolves
Continue reading...
