Magic Johnson no longer has a formal connection with the Lakers, though as one of the franchise’s all-time greats, he makes no bones about his allegiances. When he takes to social media for commentary, though, he usually keeps things milquetoast, offering congratulations and platitudes on Twitter/X.
On Sunday after the Lakers suffered a diesheartening 116-113 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 4 of their opening-round series, putting the Western Conference No. 3 seed Lakers down, 3-1, to No. 6 Minnesota, Johnson brought about as much heat as he could muster on his former team.
There was this, “I’m just sick to my stomach that the Lakers lost this game after being in control most of the 2nd half.” But that’s typical of Johnson’s social media style.
Less typical was this high heat directed at JJ Redick, the Lakers’ rookie coach. Redick’s team played on Friday night, and with only one day off before an afternoon game, Johnson suggested it was not wise for the Lakers to lean as heavily as they did on stars LeBron James and Luka Doncic, and that’s why they ultimately lost the game.
Wrote Johnson: “I dont know if it smart to play LeBron and Luka the entire second half after only having one day of rest between Games 3 and 4. When we needed LeBron to take over in the fourth quarter he couldn’t – he scored 0 points in the fourth.”
And while Redick has done much right this season at the Lakers’ helm, Johnson has a valid point. It was an excess of minutes for James and Doncic in the second half, especially considering that James is 40 years old and that Doncic was laid up for two days with a stomach virus and struggled badly in Game 3.
James was 0-for-2 from the field in the fourth quarter. Doncic was just 1-for-6. The Lakers led by 10 points to open the period and were promptly outscored, 32-19.
James offered no excuses, and told reporters, via Spectrum’s Mike Trudell, “Big play after big play (down the stretch) … they made a couple more than we did, obviously.”
Game 5 will be back in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
