Lakers-Temberwolves: Can LeBron James, Luka Dončić Rallye from the 3: 1 hole?

LOS ANGELES – Similar to dozens of honeymoon, in which famous people in this city are involved, Luka Dončić and LeBron James have everything: a massive supporter, a lot of bliss and the most sought -after title of all pairs of power.

After they were linked in February, the basketball anticipation is not a light performance for a team with such a rich story as the Lakers – and a playoff seed No. 3 was confiscated.

All hopes and expectations began to swell, although he still laughs at her Anthony Edwards when these large playoff plans were presented.

The most humble aspect for the Lakers in this first round with the Timberwolves is that neither James nor Dončić is playing the heavy playing. This role is part of Edwards, the chest and muscle stain, which was the most effective player on the pitch so far.

As for Dončić, James and the Lakers? You can't afford it, a fourth L.

They are 3-1 in the series, and the plug could be drawn in this Hollywood premiere, unless there is a stirring comeback story, from which both LeBron and Luka are fully able to lead.

“I've already seen Bron,” said Lakers Swingman Dorian Finney-Smith and referred to the NBA final in 2016.

You have to start with cleaner fourth quarters. If these Luka and LeBron lakers do not end the playoff games correctly, they will be ready. The wolves punish them, show more energy, grit and brave games and increase the suspicion that Dončić and James are gassed by all the heavy lifting.

The Lakers exceeded the wolves in every fourth quarter and are combined with 105-69. In view of these dominant numbers, this series is not over breathtaking.

As for Dončić and James, they shoot a combined 12-to-37 value in the fourth. They were a minus-19 in the fourth game 3 and minus 9 in game 1.

James in particular either fought or disappeared. He became goalless in the fourth game, when the wolves bounced down and pulled back and won in the last seconds.

So what is the solution? Can the Lakers use their star power not only to regain their foot in this series, but to win them, but to win them? Or is this just the wrong matchup against the larger and physical wooden twolves? And did the spoiled fans in La go wrong when they felt that Luka Lebron would bring wealth together in the first year?

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Here are the positive:

• LeBron remains with 40 grumpy. Overall, he played well in the series, similar to the whole season, which could lead to an all-NBA selection-crazy about his age.

He takes away a good part of Dončić's playing here in the playoffs, which enables Dončić to play the ball more, which he achieved the NBA final with Kyrie Irving in Dallas and the Mavericks last season.

LeBron easily moves on the floor and has its fingerprints in numerous effective pieces. In this series, he achieves an average of 26.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.3 blocks per game and at the same time turns 50.7% and 39.1% for 3 points.

The wolves have to show him respect by occasionally throwing double teams in his direction, although Minnesota, an elite defensive team, does not normally give so much love.

• Luka got upset. His first taste on the playoffs in a Laker jersey looks pretty familiar. How, Dončić's dominance routes remain the same, regardless of whether it is Dallas or LA

He is the standard scorer at 30.8 ppg, although the wolves make it work on every possession. The first line of defense for Minnesota is Jaden McDaniels, who brings with it length and sportiness and excellent anticipation. In addition, McDaniels Dončić often guarded in the 2024 playoffs, so this experience helps.

Most of Dončić has his way against the defense of Minnesota. His only fault is the hunt for Rudy Gobert too often because of insulating insulation. These 1-to-1 highlight games last season in the final of the Western Conference 2024, which fell in his favor. Not so very percentage in this series.

If Dončić does not follow McDaniel's foot in the last moments of game 4, this series may be connected. Sometimes Fluke games have a way to tilt a series in one direction or the other, and it is not to blame.

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And now the concerns:

• Dončić's defense. He can run, but he can't hide. Dončić has to protect someone in this series, unless it is Mike Conley, who is rarely shooting the Wolves, who rarely shoots.

Edwards is certainly a handful of Dončić, as he is for almost everyone in the NBA. In the meantime, McDaniel's' scoring is inconsistent and yet significantly improved (19.8 ppg in this series). Just as the Lakers Gobert hunt and try to get him in non -agreement, the mismatch that seems to escape the radar to the public when the wolves hunt Luka and bring him to switch that they prefer.

Keep in mind that this side of the court of Dončić in the NBA final in 2024 pursued against the Boston Celtics, who repeatedly punished him. And finally this is the reason given why Dončić is no longer with the Mavericks. “Defense Wins Championships” is the mantra of the contested Mavs GM Nico Harrison, who has to look at this series with a little interest.

Would the Lakers be in this series if they had Anthony Davis and his marginal protection? Because there is currently a noticeable lack of this team, and for the most part coach JJ Redick goes without a center.

• LeBron endurance. Everyone claims that he was missing oxygen at the end of these games are garbage.

“We have a few really good looks,” said James about the failed fourth quarter of game 3.

We will see whether Redick repeats a questionable strategy to use only five players for a whole second half, as he did in game 4. Of course, this means that after another season, Lebron does not rest in the last two quarters of a second game in a row on the eve of the corn – provided that the game will be nearby and demand its presence.

The predictions of James Breaking are all buried somewhere in a cemetery. He has incorrectly proven these projections every time. He prepares his body for deep playoff runs, even if these runs do not enter.

So maybe it is not an endurance problem. Maybe it's a problem with late playing. The same thing, because the Lakers cannot afford at that time.

• Luka and LeBron have to win a game in Minnesota. Even if these two are in the friendly limits of the Crypto.com arena, they have to travel to Minneapolis, where a crazy audience will surely wait for game 6.

According to those in the building, the arena noise was the ear splitting for game 4. In view of the wolves, the series would be able to close the series-to stand with a do or-thas game if they fail, the home advantage will probably be considerable enough.

So that's the situation with Luka and LeBron. If this first phase of the mating has a different equipment, there is no choice – now or never. You have to overcome Edwards (29 points, eight rebounds, six assists in the series) and McDaniels and Julius Randle (who play the best playoffs of his career) from enjoying large routes.

Because how many of these possibilities will this couple have more of these possibilities in view of James' age in LA?

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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can send him an email Here you will find his archive here and follow him X.

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