The Los Angeles Lakers’ lack of size and rim protection has been a glaring weakness ever since they traded Anthony Davis. Those issues were more prevalent than ever in their 116-104 Game 3 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
The Timberwolves scored a whopping 56 points in the paint, repeatedly attacking the basket after blowing by the Lakers’ perimeter defenders. With Jaxson Hayes, the Lakers’ lone center, playing only nine minutes, the Timberwolves faced little resistance at the rim for most of the game.
Jaden McDaniels, who led his team with 30 points, was the biggest beneficiary of the Lakers’ lack of rim protection. The fifth-year wing attempted 12 of his 22 shots in the restricted area, converting on 10. Julius Randle also applied a lot of pressure on the Lakers’ interior and was rewarded with 10 free throws, of which he made nine.
As a team, the Timberwolves got to the free-throw line 21 times, making 15 foul shots at a respectable 71.4% clip.
After the game, ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins explained why the Timberwolves must continue to attack the paint for the rest of the series, arguing the Lakers have no answer to the physicality.
“That needs to be the recipe. They need to attack and make sure they own the paint,” Perkins told “SC with SVP” of the Timberwolves. “Tonight, they did that. I thought Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels set the tone early, and then we saw Anthony Edwards also get down hill… When they’re attacking, playing with pace and owning the paint against a Lakers team trying to go small, the advantage favors the Timberwolves.”
It’s worth noting that the Lakers tried to shore up their rim protection with the acquisition of Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets shortly after the Doncic trade. However, the trade was rescinded after the 7-footer failed a physical. It now seems the nixed trade is costing the Lakers dearly.
The Lakers will try to stay afloat in the series in Sunday’s Game 4. A loss would mean they’d be in a 3-1 hole, a deficit they haven’t recovered from since the 1970 conference semifinals against the Phoenix Suns.
