NBA – Luka Doncic’s Lakers lynched after their elimination

Par Mathieu Seguin | Rédacteur sport

The Lakers have now been out of the playoffs for a good week, all with a disappointing performance for the players. Does the absence of a center explain everything? Not necessarily for some fans.

Beaten by the Timberwolves, the Lakers will be back in the playoffs next year if all goes well, still with the ambition of winning the championship. This is not a given for the franchise, especially as Rob Pelinka will have quite a few things to rectify in the coming weeks. A center has been in demand for months, including by Anthony Davis when he was still here.

That’s why Pelinka is being criticized by some fans for his actions. He’ll be expected to make amends over the summer, with the GM explaining that the Angelinos should also look to recruit a strong defender. But do these shortcomings explain their first-round playoff defeat? Not necessarily.

Les raisons de la défaite des Lakers en playoffs

For some, JJ Redick’s coaching wasn’t good enough, as he refused to give Jaxson Hayes a single second when Rudy Gobert got hot in Game 5. For others, it was the attitude of the players that was bad. This Sunday, for example, we could find this tweet damning the franchise.

@damanr : “Lakers lost to them in 5. Call it matchups or whatever but it’s cope. There needs to be a serious look in the mirror at the competitiveness and preparedness the Lakers brought to that round.”

Would the Lakers have won with a good center? Well, let’s just say that the answer isn’t necessarily yes, which confirms the statements here.

@DOC323123 : “You can’t walk away from that series and say “we just need a center” That’s the easiest way to waste a year deluding yourself thinking you’re closer than you are.”

The Lakers undoubtedly need more than just a center to hope to win the title. The attitude wasn’t right, and the effort of certain players needs to be questioned. Luka Doncic could be the first to be targeted, as he needs to raise his game defensively if he is to win over the fans. They remain disappointed by the performance, and it wasn’t a single player who could have changed the outcome against Minnesota.