Nico Harrison shocked the basketball landscape when he traded Luka Doncic, a franchise icon in the middle of his prime, to the Los Angeles Lakers just prior to the NBA Trade Deadline. By now you know the story – the Mavericks received Anthony Davis in return. While Davis himself is a tremendous asset, he is a downgrade from Doncic in just about every facet but one. That one asset is what Harrison has used to justify his indefensible move since.
Defense wins championships. Harrison has said it over and over and over again when asked about the Doncic trade, even though it doesn't necessarily make sense when applied to the Mavericks. Dallas lost in the Play-In round, and Harrison is feeling the heat as a result. Ironically enough, however, it's the Lakers and Doncic who ought to take Nico's advice to heart after a frustrating Game 1 effort against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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Luka Doncic and the Lakers need to be more physical in Game 2
Yes, believe it or not, Harrison was right about one thing. The Lakers slept through much of Game 1 against the Timberwolves and paid the price. If you don't believe me, just ask LeBron James.
"Maybe it took us one playoff game to now get a feel for it and know what type of intensity, the type of physicality is going to be brought to the game," James said. "But that's just the way they play. So we should be more than prepared for that on Tuesday night [in Game 2]."
The Lakers were lacking in defensive intensity and physicality, and it showed. The Timberwolves shot 51 percent from the field, and out-rebounded the Lakers 44-38.
"It's not to say our guys weren't ready to withstand a playoff-level basketball game. ... I'm not sure physically we were ready," Redick said postgame. "And really when [the Wolves] started playing with a lot of thrust and physicality, we just didn't respond to meet that."
Timberwolves imposed their will on Lakers in Game 1
Anthony Edwards, as well as the three-headed Timberwolves monster of Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels, imposed their will inside. It's a deficit the Lakers will have to make up for if they hope to make it out of the first round against Minnesota. Los Angeles did not acquire Doncic to fall three rounds short of their ultimate prize.
Luka himself will never be an elite defensive player, but he has made strides in that department. Where he gets into trouble can be against more physical defenders. In those scenarios, Doncic can become passive, which is something the Lakers cannot afford heading into Game 2.