Wolves-Lakers playoff storylines to watch
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Anthony Edwards and Luka Dončić will star in a must-watch playoff series. Photo: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Buckle up, Wolves fans. The first-round playoff series that tips off Saturday night against the Los Angeles Lakers is bound to be a wild one.
The big picture: This matchup is almost certain to draw big TV ratings thanks to a trio of superstars in the Wolves' Anthony Edwards and the Lakers' LeBron James and Luka Dončić, not to mention the Hollywood celebs in the stands.
Yes, but: The intrigue of this series goes beyond the marquee names. While most experts predict a Lakers victory, they also say it will be competitive and should go six or seven games.
Here's what we're watching:
How the role players step up: The Lakers are going to throw double teams and extra help to smother Ant. That means Donte DiVincenzo, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid will need to hit their open shots.
Rudy's time to shine: The Lakers don't have a big team and could play small ball. If they do, Wolves center Rudy Gobert will need to punish them in the paint and on the glass.
The chess match: Wolves coach Chris Finch has gone toe-to-toe with brainy coaches in the playoffs the last three years. His Lakers counterpart, J.J. Redick, was podcasting a year ago and just wrapped up his first season coaching in the NBA.
- Not only is Finch more experienced, but he also has a cupboard full of chess pieces on the bench that Redick's top-heavy Lakers team doesn't.
The Luka show: Remember the taunting and the heartbreakers Dončić delivered a year ago in the Western Conference Finals?
- The Wolves need to keep cool heads and make Luka work harder on the defensive end, since one of the reported reasons Dallas traded him to L.A. was because of poor conditioning.
LeBron's swan song?: The face of the NBA for the last 22 years is now 40 years old and hasn't said yet when he plans to retire. James is still playing at an elite level, but you have to wonder how many more chances he will have to win a fifth NBA title.
- If Ant dispatches LeBron and the Lakers, fans could look back on this series as a passing of the torch, as many see him as the future face of the NBA, a title he doesn't necessarily want.
Details: Game 1 in LA is at 7:30pm Saturday on ABC.