LAKERS-TIMBERWOLVES PREVIEW! Luka Dončić! Anthony Edwards! Matchup Battles! And More!
Very, very few folks are picking the Timberwolves to win this first round series with the Lakers. In fact, it’s hard to find anyone picking Minnesota. So are they off the mark?
Ben Beecken, host of Locked On Wolves joins the show to break it down.
For what its worth, Beeken agrees, this is LA’s series to lose. Why? For starters, the Lakers have three of the four best players in the series, and in the postseason that tends to matter much more than what’s happening deeper down the roster. He expects there to be some carryover from last year’s playoffs, where Luka Dončić flambéed the Wolves, because Minnesota really isn’t any different defensively this season. But what’s the right way to approach it? Will Minnesota try aggressive doubles? Play it straight all around the floor? Meanwhile, what will the Lakers do to try and slow down Anthony Edwards? Can the Lakers keep the Wolves off the glass?
Ultimately, is the conventional wisdom correct? Who wins the series?
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with guest Ben Beecken
SEGMENT 1: How do the Wolves defend Luka?
SEGMENT 2: What do the Lakers do with Ant?
SEGMENT 3: X-factors and offensive rebounding.
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29 Comments
Wolves in 4
This isn't even a conversation!
This is a clean sweep mark my words 😤
WOLVES IN 4
Wont be suprised if Lakers lose the first game of the series. Game 1 is usually Lebrons feel out game, and with a week off there could be some possible rust. Lakers in ✋️
No
One of the guys on No Dunks picked the Wolves. That's the only Wolves pick I've seen thus far.
This is going to be a very interesting series
Ben didn’t stand on any business for the Timberwolves. 🤣 Just soft. A good representation of the way this fanbase is. He basically came on here to tell the Lakers fans why they will win. Not one live stream this week on his channel supporting his team. I’ve seen about 10 channels going live, doing call ins, breakdowns, previews for the Lakers. Standing on business for their team as they should.
Unsubscribing from his channel. 🙄
This guy stupid, minnesota doesn't have the better of the 7 wtf is ben talking about. Get him tf out of here
Luka averaged 30 ppg in the finals plus was fouled out of a game with half the quarter left. The narrative that luka was shut down is so overblown. Yes he was slowed down by multiple injuries but the 2 games in boston luka came out both games torching the Celtics from the tip. Usually the quarter was close when mavs bench came in it was instant 20 point game.
Don't give the game plan away lol
I like that this guy had the Lakers last even under OKC as teams they'd least like to face. I had the Wolves at the top only Grizz ahead as teams we'd most like to face. All of this means nothing though if we lose the series. We can all feel how we want or predict what we want. Last year I picked the Wolves to win the west including what I felt would have been relatively easy vs Mavs. And they very nearly got swept.
But I have 3 outcomes in mind for a Lakers victory. Win games 1, 2, 3 & 5. Win games 1, 3, 5 & 6. OR Win games 1, 2, 4 & 5. The first option is what I want because going up 3-0 there is no way LeBron blowing that.
Bron turns ssj in the playoffs. Reaves goes kaioken x10 in the playoffs and Luka turns SSJ Blue in the playoffs. RIP the rest of the west.
Double AR = foul trouble for Minne
Doubling Austin is not really a smart strategy anymore, is it? He'll either carve you up with his dribble, or simple put good defenders in foul trouble. And he's no slouch as a passer of course…he usually loses possession on entry passes. But go back and look at his turnover numbers as the season has progressed, they've gone down so much.
Last year, their best defender on Luca was Kyle Anderson, which they no longer have now who was logging an average of 22 minutes a game. So McDaniel does get into file trouble who’s next?
i‘m so tired of hearing that Luca is the best player on the Lakers. this sichte kindbof coverage that will derail the team. lebron is the best player on this team .
Luka is very very dangerous in the playoffs and in the Finals just check stint of his rain of terror for All the NBA teams in the Western conference on the bracket of 2025 💜💛💜💛💯
AK if Lakers don't make a deep run would you TRADE Reaves & expiring player for Suggs + WCJ? Both teams benefits for their weaknesses
Personally as a Wolves fan, no. That’s why I would treat him like Jokic and let him do his thing and lock everyone else down. And then attack both Luka and LeBron in pick scrolls over and over and wear them out.
Skimsfor me huh! Sold! Gonna have to try then out
Austin Reeves, Luka threes, honey bees…. WOLVES IN 5
The fact that you concluded that you would rather play the best team in the league than a team with a few large flaws make me glad I listen to the Dane Moore podcast and not Locked On Wolves
Heard the short segment on ESPN and decided to check out the pod. Thanks for the more in depth analysis and insight.
Should be a good series. TWolves have a good defense which could give the Lakers some trouble. Lakers in 6
Locked on Corruption Nation.🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
Go one on one? 😂 Come on mane!
VANDO WILL SHUT ANT DOWN OR AT LEAST FRUSTRATE HIM INTO MAKING TURNOVERS OR TAKING BAD SHOTS 😮😮😮
ANT-MAN BATMAN SUPERMAN LAKERS IN 5
Wolves simply have to attack SheBron's defense and let him take as many jumpshots and free throws.