The Minnesota Timberwolves once again took control of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers, winning Game 3, where Luka Doncic was far from his best and posed little threat on the offensive end.
While JJ Redick revealed that his Slovenian guard had been vomiting and struggling with severe stomach aches since before the tip-off, Shannon Sharpe clarified that no excuses should be accepted. Moreover, he also stressed that as the intensity of this series increases, the expectations from “The Don” to be his team’s offensive catalyst will also rise.
In the first two games of this series, Doncic set the tone early for the Lakers, scoring 16 points in the opening quarter each time and injecting confidence into his teammates. But in Game 3, he was visibly hampered. He was seen clutching his stomach and refraining from his usual aggressive approach in the paint. He shot just 1-of-6 from the field in the first quarter and recorded zero assists in both the second and fourth quarters, highlighting how significantly he took a back seat.
Reflecting on the 26-year-old’s performance, where he just finished as the team’s third-best scorer with 17 points, Sharpe emphasized the value of Luka being the Lakers’ offensive catalyst. As Sharpe argued, Superstars are expected to find ways to rise to the occasion, no matter their condition, and now, playing for the Purple and Gold, this pressure is something that Luka must learn to shoulder. Otherwise, unwarranted criticism will follow.
“So he might be a little under the weather, but at this juncture of the year, Ocho, don’t nobody care,” Sharpe said. “When you’re in the playoffs, nobody cares. Nobody gives a da** whether you got an injury, whether you got the flu, food poisoning, or whatever the case may be. Get your butt out there on the field or the court and deliver. That’s what you make the big bucks for. That’s how you got that name.”
With Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle brimming with confidence and looking to send the Lakers packing, the Timberwolves are expected to go all out on Sunday night to seize a 3-1 lead. The responsibility of pulling the Lakers back into the series cannot fall solely on LeBron James once again. This is where the five-time All-Star must rise to the occasion in this pivotal Game 4, as any slip-up from here could have catastrophic consequences for the Purple and Gold before this series heads back to Hollywood.
Now, with all eyes locked in on “El Matador” on how he would respond after a subpar performance in Game 3, it remains to be seen if the 6’6” shooting guard can bring out his ‘A-Game’ when he is put under the spotlight, in arguably what is supposed to be the most pressured-game he has played for his new franchise until now.
