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Luka Doncic at Full Throttle: The Perfect Fix for the Lakers!

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By: Mike

Full Throttle Luka Doncic Is Exactly What the Lakers Need
© Red94 – Luka Doncic at Full Throttle: The Perfect Fix for the Lakers!

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LOS ANGELES — During the second period of the second game in the Lakers-Timberwolves series, Rudy Gobert once again found himself unfavorably matched against Luka Doncic. Doncic thrives on exploiting center screens, particularly against centers like Gobert, whether it’s during his time with the Mavericks or now with the Lakers. A memorable moment from last year’s playoffs saw Doncic skillfully maneuver past Gobert and secure a three-pointer to clinch Game 2 of the conference finals. Doncic relishes these opportunities to dominate Gobert, showcasing his offensive prowess against one of the premier defenders of the era.

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Doncic frequently employed this strategy in the Lakers’ 94-85 victory on Tuesday. He perhaps leaned on it excessively. Doncic tallied 22 points in the first half with a 60% shooting accuracy. However, his performance dipped in the second half, managing only nine points on 30% shooting. Early on, he was successful with floaters, setting up teammates, and making free throws. Later, his missed shots and turnovers contributed to a sluggish offense, which only scored 13 points in the final quarter.

The Lakers were relieved by the win, as a defeat would have been devastating. Los Angeles had a rough start to the series, being overwhelmed on their own court. They were outperformed from beyond the three-point arc (Minnesota shot 50% in Game 1) and outrebounded. The Lakers had built momentum going into the playoffs, securing the third seed. The Wolves, coming off a strong finish to make the playoffs, halted that momentum.

The NBA typically allows some breathing room in the first round, and the Lakers capitalized on this. The two days off allowed for two practice sessions. They refined their offense on Sunday and addressed defensive concerns on Monday. Lakers coach JJ Redick, known for his meticulous film study, admitted to occasionally overanalyzing.

“I was looking into Utah’s offense against Minnesota,” Redick remarked. “I’m asking myself, why am I even watching this?”

The efforts paid off immediately. The Lakers scored 34 points in the opening quarter while holding Minnesota to just 15. They were aggressive with Mike Conley, tightly marking Anthony Edwards, and restricting Naz Reid. They limited the Wolves to a mere 20% from three-point range in the first half. Doncic was in fine form, scoring, assisting, and rebounding almost at will, finishing just one assist shy of a triple-double. The Lakers were up by 15 at halftime, and the Timberwolves would not have been faulted for accepting a split before returning to Minnesota.

“I can barely recall what happened in the first quarter, honestly,” Edwards confessed. “But we just couldn’t manage to stop them effectively.”

In the latter half, the Wolves narrowed the lead. In the third quarter, Redick hastily called for a timeout when Minnesota reduced the Lakers’ lead to 11. “It was about reactivating our sense of urgency,” Redick explained. In the final quarter, the Timberwolves cut the lead down to nine briefly. “They’re extremely aggressive,” noted Austin Reaves. “And if you don’t match that intensity, you see the consequences. So, the focus tonight was to bring that level of intensity.”

It wasn’t that Minnesota was performing well. Jaden McDaniels made only 3 out of 11 shots. Reid, a standout in Game 1, was 3-for-8. Edwards and Julius Randle combined for 52 points. No other Wolves player scored more than nine. However, the Lakers were nearly worse. They converted only 1 of 12 three-point attempts in the second half. In the fourth quarter alone, L.A. shot a dismal 26.3%. Redick was still somewhat optimistic about the shots his team was getting. Noting the Lakers’ defensive efforts, Doncic remarked that L.A. “responded well.”

“A rock fight,” was how Redick described the game.

LeBron James emphasized, “We have to match their intensity. It’s going to be like this throughout the series.”

Doncic has lived up to expectations with the Lakers, but this series has also highlighted Gobert’s ability to challenge him. Doncic acknowledged Gobert’s defensive skills beforehand, referring to the 7-footer as “a great defender,” yet the tension on the court is unmistakable. Not only did he secure the game-winner over Gobert last season, but he also taunted him with some choice words as he jogged back down the court. Doncic admits he enjoys taking on centers, and there are few true centers like Gobert, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year. As much as Doncic aims to defeat Minnesota, he seems equally driven to humiliate Gobert in the process.

That’s perfectly acceptable to the Wolves. Despite complaints about Gobert’s suitability against small ball lineups, the statistics suggest otherwise. Gobert isn’t being sidelined by center-less configurations. His 24 minutes in Game 1 were more about Reid’s exceptional shooting rather than any deficiency on Gobert’s part. He had a plus-14 rating in the opener. He was only a minus-two in Game 2, but that was the best performance of any Minnesota starter. If Doncic wants to make this a personal duel with Gobert, the Wolves are likely to accommodate him.

One by one, Minnesota players spoke to the media on Tuesday, and none appeared disheartened. “We dug ourselves too deep a hole,” Randle rued. Gobert added, “I think we did a lot of things well tonight, but it just wasn’t enough to overtake them.” The three-pointers didn’t connect, but they will. The bench struggled in Game 2, but it will improve. The Wolves now return home to a passionate crowd in Minneapolis, with the series tied and a strategy they believe can secure a victory.

The Lakers need Doncic to stay focused. The margin for error is extremely narrow. James remains a formidable force, evidenced by his late-game contributions—six points and two assists—that prevented the Lakers from falling 0–2. Rui Hachimura, despite a facial injury, managed to score 11 points, while Dorian Finney-Smith played nearly 40 minutes off the bench. But Reaves has struggled from beyond the arc this series, Jarred Vanderbilt has had limited impact, and Jaxson Hayes has been largely ineffective. More than ever, Doncic is the catalyst for L.A.’s offense. More than ever, they need him to perform at his best.

Doncic achieved another highlight moment against Gobert on Tuesday, driving him back with a dribble, coaxing him into a misstep with a fake, and then sinking a fadeaway jumper. As he transitioned back to defense, cameras captured Doncic shouting “sub him out” towards Gobert. Overcoming Gobert is fine, as long as his team ends up with the loss.

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