It will be intriguing to see how the Timberwolves decide to defense Lakers superstars LeBron James and Luka Doncic in their first-round playoff series starting Saturday night in Los Angeles.
The two superstars, along with an emerging star in guard Austin Reaves, form a trio of scorers that is the core of the Lakers’ success. Los Angeles, the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, is built to win by scoring points, not so much with defense or rebounding. The other thing to know about the Lakers is the supporting cast for the Big Three is pretty much bargain basement.
The Wolves, the No. 6 seed, are the more balanced team on offense, defense and rebounding. Their roster, top to bottom, has more cumulative talent and is deeper than the Lakers. Yet mostly because of the extraordinary offensive talent of James and Doncic, the Lakers are favored to win the seven-game series and are one of the betting favorites to emerge in June as NBA champions.
Even at age 40, James remains among the league’s best players. He’s particularly lethal at closing out games with timely plays, whether that’s a clutch basket or perhaps a blocked shot. A 6-9, 250-pound power forward, James is always among the tallest players on the floor for the undersized Lakers. While this can be detrimental for his cub, it also causes matchup problems for opponents trying to control the Los Angeles offense.
Defensive specialist Jaden McDaniels could be given much of the James assignment by Wolves coach Chris Finch. At 6-foot-9 his length (including wingspan), combined with athleticism, is a tempting match up versus James. But at a listed 185-pounds, he gives away size and muscle to the Los Angeles forward who sometimes plays center.
James must draw focus no matter who is on the floor to guard him. He’s effective shooting mid-range and beyond the three-point arc. Guard him too tight and his ball handling and muscle allow drives to the basket for layups and dunks. He’s also a threat on the fast break, sprinting out quickly toward the basket with Doncic throwing a Tom Brady-like pass.
Other than James, the Lakers are pretty much skunked for rebounders and sizeable defenders. He’s the best at both assignments for Los Angeles. Bothered by a groin injury not long ago, his health is paramount to a Lakers playoff run.
Doncic seems to be constantly nagged by injuries and his presence is equally important to the Lakers. Even at age 26, Doncic is recognized as one of the greatest scorers in NBA history. His three-point range is near unprecedented, while his strength, sense of timing and athleticism allow him to slow down the game while driving for mid-range, near the basket, and lay up scores.
When Doncic isn’t dialing up jaw-dropping baskets, he can be just as show-stopping with his passes to set up wide open looks for teammates. Reaves, a fast-developing shooter from multiple spots on the floor, is a consistent converter of those opportunities, but too many other Lakers don’t deliver.
Playing for the Mavericks a year ago, Luka and mates took the Wolves out in five games during the Western Conference Finals. He averaged 32.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists.
The best defensive strategy for the Wolves against Doncic is this: consistently double-team and be physical. Putting two defenders on him (as far out as mid-court) will often force Doncic to give up the basketball sooner than he wants. Teammates may then have wide-open shots but that could be a good thing for the Wolves.
Doncic, a 6-6, 230-pound point guard, can sometimes be bothered by not only double teams but by defenders of similar size and strength. McDaniels is a possibility but Anthony Edwards, at 6-4, 220, is even a better option. As important as Edwards is offensively, his defensive prowess could be as key to the series outcome.
The Wolves have other options, too, in 6-4, 203-pound Donte DiVincenzo and 6-5, 205-pound Nickeil Alexander-Walker. That’s four relatively young but experienced defenders who, especially in double team situations, should be able to bother Doncic and impact the series.
With a roster of quality defenders to throw at Doncic, the Wolves match up better against the Slovenian legend than many rosters in the league. Power forwards Julius Randle and Naz Reid, along with McDaniels at times, can play one-on-one against James.
And center Rudy Gobert, at 7-1 and 258 pounds, is a bonus as the Wolves contemplate their defensive scheme. He is playing at an all-NBA defensive level and will be expected to challenge drives by James and Doncic as they approach the rim.
Gobert will also need to be on his game against Doncic’s drives with his tendency to lob a pass to a teammate, sometimes center Jaxson Hays. Gobert can not only dominate on defense, but he should be able to contribute a lot on offense where he has picked up his game late in the regular season including with rebounds and points (54 points, 29 rebounds in the last two games).
So, the whole key to the series may come down to those Wolves defenders singled out here and being able to hold down Doncic. Let James and Reaves score near their season averages of 24.4 and 20.2 but keep Luka, who averaged 28.2 points per game, from being a wrecking ball (again).