2025 NBA Epitome Games: Los Angeles Lakers #NBA #Timberwolves #Lakers

2025 NBA Epitome Games: Los Angeles Lakers #NBA #Timberwolves #Lakers

You are watching the 2025 NBA epitome game series presented by Law Murray Power Rankings Project Ringmaster at The Athletic. This is where I pick out one game from each team from the last regular season. I am putting the spotlight on the biggest weakness of the 14 teams that missed the playoffs and the biggest strength of the 16 playoff teams from the regular season. This installment features the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers took quite a path to 50 wins in JJ Reick’s first season coaching the team. D’Angelo Russell was benched and eventually traded. LeBron James turned 40. Anthony Davis was injured in January and then traded for Luca Donuch. The Lakers had by far the least impressive point differential of the nine teams that won 50 games last season and they wound up being the only one of those nine teams that failed to win multiple playoff games. For the fourth time in five seasons, the Lakers did not win a playoff series, getting gentleman swept by a Timberwolves team that Dantage beat the year before. The epitome game for Los Angeles came at the end of February against the Timberwolves, the front end of a backto back for both teams. The Timberwolves didn’t have Julius Randle or Rudy Gober. The Lakers had perhaps a friendly whistle. First quarter, Luca Donic playing out of a ball screen from Dorian Finny Smith. He’s got Jaylen Clark on him. And when you have that kind of size and skill and guile, you can do this in the mid-range. You can’t touch a man who’s on the cover of men’s health. Jaylen Clark won for Luca Don. He was the only Laker to get free throws in the first quarter. That wasn’t the case the rest of the game. Now, LeBron James, his free throw attempts were way down this year, but he’s still LeBron James. Again, at that size, at that skill, if you’re going to be in rotation, he’s going to take advantage and he’s going to earn himself free throws. A guy that attempted more free throws per game than even LeBron James, Austin Reeves. And this is a typical situation. Austin Reeves told you that he’s a foul merchant. He studied those guys late in the clock. Mike Conley’s hands in the wrong place. That’s one of two fouls that Austin Reeds drew shooting a three-pointer. And then finally, the Lakers not a good second half team. So a 23-point lead got down to three even with Anthony Edwards ejected. But Luca Donuch again ability to get to the paint at that size with that skill. Another and one even though he didn’t make the free throw. Los Angeles won this game 111 to 102, outscoring the Timberwolves 32 to 20 from the free throw line. And that wasn’t even a game the Lakers shot well from the line as they only made 69.6% of their season high 46 attempts. People get defensive about the Lakers and free throws, but the fact is the Lakers led the league in free throw attempt rate this season after finishing second in each of the previous two years. And for the third year in a row, the Lakers led the league in free throw differential. A very important factor for a team that was on the wrong side of every other margin that matters. two-pointers, three-pointers, offensive rebounds, and turnovers. The free throw line is and has been the great equalizer for the Lakers. And Luca Donic is here and signed long term now, so that will be the case for years to come. DeAndre Aton is also here to remind Luca that he was the number one pick. Jake Labravia replaces Dorian Finny Smith, while Marcus Smart is the latest former Celtic to sign with the Lakers. And I guess LeBron James is still here, too, for the last year of his deal. I’m sure it will be a dramafree season. Stay tuned for the next installment of the 2025 NBA game series featuring the Detroit Pistons.

2025 NBA Epitome Games: Los Angeles Lakers #NBA #Timberwolves #Lakers