Instant Analysis: Dreadful Lakers Performance Hands Timberwolves Easy Win

The Los Angeles Lakers went back to losing ways with an 80-109 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Target Center tonight. This was the Lakers’ fifth loss in the last seven games, completely extinguishing the fire the team had during their hot start to the season.

The Timberwolves were led by a team effort amidst Anthony Edwards‘ shockingly poor eight-point (3-13 FG) night. Julius Randle led the team in scoring with 18 points (6-13 FG) and five rebounds, while Rudy Gobert put up a monster 17-point (7-8 FG) 12-rebound double-double. Both Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid contributed 15 points on identical shooting splits (6-11) in the win as well.

The Lakers had no reliable offense at all, being led in scoring by former Wolves guard D’Angelo Russell’s 20 points (8-12 FG) and five assists. LeBron James‘ inefficient offensive form continued with 10 points (4-16 FG) and eight rebounds, while Anthony Davis was no help with 12 points (4-14 FG) and 11 rebounds. Rui Hachimura had a quiet 10 points (4-5 FG) as well.

Let’s analyze what happened in this one-sided Lakers loss.

The Timberwolves Team-Play Was Excellent Even As Edwards Struggled

The Timberwolves earned this win in every way possible, ensuring the Lakers weren’t comfortable offensively for even a minute despite their own offense dragging their feet. Anthony Edwards (8 PTS) had his worst game of the season after carrying the Wolves offensively for most of the year, and his rough night didn’t mean somebody else stepped up for a big scoring night.

Without any 20-point scorers, the Timberwolves relied on efficient team-ball to get this result. They shot 41-81 (50.6 FG%) from the field, 15-35 (42.9 3P%) from three, and 12-15 (80 FT%) from the line while outrebounding the Lakers (43-39), out-assisting the Lakers (31-19), and executing more steals (11-7) while turning the ball over fewer times (15-20) in this convincing win. 

Edwards ended the night as a +1 in a 29-point win, primarily because his teammates did a great job of picking up the slack. They didn’t need to be offensively inefficient and force shots to keep themselves competitive, as their team contributed with regular buckets and stifling defense to force the Lakers into their worst offensive performance of the season. 

LeBron James Is Declining In Front Of Our Eyes

Everyone should always be mindful of saying LeBron James is declining because he’s the first player we’ve seen play at this level for 20+ years. While fans knew that 2020 LeBron wasn’t as explosive and complete as 2012 LeBron, the recent versions of LeBron have still been All-NBA caliber on a season-to-season basis. This year, there’s no way to say that James is still performing at an All-NBA level.

LeBron almost saw his 1500+ game streak of scoring 10 points end tonight, barely hitting that mark before JJ Redick subbed him off to give the rotational player minutes in garbage time. This isn’t the first game this season where James’ 10-point streak has been in danger, a fact we haven’t said before. He didn’t make a single three-pointer tonight, extending his streak of games with 0 three-pointers to four games after shooting a career-high 41.0% from three last season. 

This version of LeBron isn’t even playing at an All-Star level. He’s averaging 16.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 8.7 assists over the last six games while shooting 39.8% from the field and 10.0% from three.

It’s remarkable production for a man 22 years into his career and less than a month away from turning 40 years old, but it isn’t the LeBron we saw even a few months ago at the Olympics. The decline is upon us, which will likely lead to retirement speculation getting even more aggressive as the season goes on.

JJ Redick Can’t Do More With This Roster

Looking at the Lakers’ play this season, it is hard to say that there’s anything JJ Redick could do better to improve the results of the team. He’s shown a willingness to try new things within their schemes and rotations to try and fine-tune what the best version of this roster can be, but the cold fact is that the best version of this roster is still a Play-In team in the 2024-25 season. 

Redick won’t hang his GM out to dry so early, but it’s clear the Lakers can’t expect an improvement in performance until personnel changes are made. Their depth right now is pitiful, primarily due to injuries to various rotational players, but it still needs to be addressed. The Lakers bemoaned injuries while having an average season last year, so they can’t do the same again. 

Redick has tried implementing an offensive vision that his team can’t execute. They shot 6-31 from three tonight, a dismal 19.4% that further reinforces the Lakers’ position as one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA. There’s no offensive creativity outside LeBron, even though their defense was relatively competent tonight.

There’s no way to justify this roster making it past February. If the Lakers fall below the competitive top 10 of the West, GM Rob Pelinka will have no choice but to make moves as soon as possible.

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