Author: Soccerhuz
On Wednesday night, the vaunted LeBron-Luka pairing bowed out in the first round in just five games to the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves. If you were underwhelmed by the Luka-LeBron Lakers, you’re not alone. Opponents felt the same way. To drive home this point, here’s a startling fact: On the season — regular season and postseason combined — the Lakers were outscored with LeBron James and Luka Dončić on the floor. In the regular season, the Lakers were plus-24 with those two stars on the floor, scoring 1,399 points to the opponents’ 1,375. In the Minnesota series, they were minus-29. From…
The Los Angeles Lakers’ 2024-25 season is now officially over after they lost Game 5 of their first-round playoff series to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. Yet again, as was the case throughout the series, the Lakers got beaten badly on the boards, and it proved to be the biggest difference in the series. They were outrebounded 54-37, and they gave up 18 offensive rebounds and 20 second-chance points. They simply couldn’t find a way to neutralize Minnesota’s frontcourt, which was bigger and stronger than their own. Back in February, Los Angeles appeared to have made a move to significantly…
Probably the biggest disappointment this year in the NBA has been the Los Angeles Lakers. The team had found strong form following the arrival of Luka Doncic, raising expectations around their playoff potential. However, an early exit in the first round at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves is a major blow for JJ Redick’s squad. In that context, LeBron James is under the spotlight regarding his future. At 40 years old and after playing 22 consecutive seasons in the NBA, Bron’s time as a professional basketball player is clearly nearing its end. That’s why the question—one only he can…
Bronny James didn’t get to play in the Los Angeles Lakers’ season-ending loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. That’s part of what informed his decision about what to do next in the NBA future. Shortly after the Lakers loss, LeBron’s son shared with reporters his immediate next step. Bronny plans to play in the Las Vegas Summer League for the second consecutive year. It’s a logical move. Bronny got a shortened college experience at USC due to his heart issues and return-to-play limitations. Then in the 2024-25 season, Bronny swung back and forth between the G League and NBA. He got…
The Minnesota Timberwolves sent LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers tumbling out of the NBA playoffs at the first hurdle, producing a clinical 103-96 win to complete a 4-1 series victory. Minnesota’s French centre Rudy Gobert delivered a dominant display at both ends of the court on Wednesday, finishing with 27 points and 24 rebounds as the Lakers exited the postseason in the first round for the second straight year. The Wolves advance to a Western Conference semifinal showdown against the winner of Golden State’s series against the Houston Rockets. The Lakers, meanwhile, were left to reflect on another…
The Los Angeles Lakers’ 2025 NBA season came to an early and disappointing end on Wednesday night, as the team fell 103-96 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. Despite high expectations heading into the postseason, the Lakers struggled against Minnesota’s physicality and rebounding dominance, highlighted by center Rudy Gobert’s 27 points and 24 rebounds-both playoff career highs. Minnesota controlled the series from the start, limiting the Lakers’ ability to execute their preferred small-ball style. Gobert’s performance in Game 5 was emblematic of the Timberwolves’ success in exploiting the Lakers’ lack of a traditional center.…
LeBron James is 40 years old, in his 22nd NBA season, and somehow, he’s not just playing elite defense. He’s playing the best defense of anyone in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. According to advanced metrics, LeBron James has emerged as the most dominant rim protector and versatile defender in the postseason, defying age, logic, and all historical precedent. Let’s start with the numbers: Among players who have defended at least 20 shots at the rim this postseason, LeBron leads the league in opponent field goal percentage at just 36.4%. That’s not just good: it’s miles ahead of elite interior defenders…
Every NBA fan not rooting for the Los Angeles Lakers had the same joke. There was no way the refs were letting this series end in five games. Well NBA conspiracy theorists. You were wrong. In a truly stunning result, the Minnesota Timberwolves, thanks to Rudy Gobert’s monster double-double with 27 points, 24 rebounds, eliminated LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and the Lakers in the Western Conference first-round NBA playoffs series. It’s the first time the Lakers have ever lost a first-round series as a top-three seed. LeBron, at 40 years old, had an admirable series, but is only 2-12 in…
That’s a terrific starting five, but Edwards then decided to make one change. “I want to change my four,” Edwards stated. “My four gonna be Nikola Jokic. My four is Jokic. No disrespect to Tim Duncan… They gonna foul Shaq, so I need somebody who gonna make it so easy for Shaq.” Before we get to the omissions, let’s take a look at the players Edwards went with. LeBron James is the point guard for this team, and some consider him to be the greatest player of all time. James has won four titles, four Finals MVPs, four MVPs, a…
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic has been productive offensively in his first postseason since being traded by the Dallas Mavericks. The 26-year-old guard entered Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves averaging 30.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists through four games. After leading Dallas to the NBA Finals last season, Doncic was hoping to do the same for LA this year. With the Lakers securing the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, it surprised many when they quickly fell into a 3-1 hole to the sixth seed Timberwolves. Complicating matters, Doncic left Wednesday’s game in the first half…