Somehow, the Lakers concealed the shortcoming in plain sight for months, enough to where the situation looked manageable.
That was then.
Now, in a postseason series against an athletic team with size, their lack of a big man has become a major problem. Now, as the Lakers find themselves with a two-games-to-one deficit in their first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the absence of a reliable center could be why their season comes to a premature end.
Advertisement
Luka Doncic was said to be feeling awful on Friday night, and his play reflected it. However, an equal, if not greater, factor in the Lakers’ 116-104 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 3 was the team’s complete inability to protect the rim.
Timberwolves forward Julius Randle shoots over Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, guard Gabe Vincent and guard Luka Doncic in Game 3 of their series Friday at the Target Center. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Considering how Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards practically skipped to their basket on Saturday night at Target Center, the Lakers might as well have replaced their free-throw lane with a red carpet.
The Timberwolves knew the Lakers couldn’t stop them, and the numbers reflected their lack of respect. They attempted 45 shots in the paint, compared to 28 for the Lakers. They scored 56 points in the paint, compared to 26 for the Lakers.
Advertisement
McDaniels scored 30 points, including 24 in the paint. Edwards finished with 29 points and a team-high eight assists.
“The fact is we don’t have rim protection,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “So if you give up blow-bys, we’re gonna give up something.”
Read more: With Luka Doncic ailing, LeBron James’ historic night can’t save Lakers in Game 3 loss
The Lakers technically have a center in seven-footer Jaxson Hayes, but Redick clearly doesn’t want to play him, evidenced by how Hayes has logged nine or fewer minutes in each of the three games of this series. The nine minutes Hayes played on Friday were particularly destructive, as he registered a plus/minus of minus-13.
Advertisement
Hayes was a backup before the Lakers sent Anthony Davis to the…
..
