We are not going to hide it… This Lakers – Wolves at 4:30 smells of powder. Between Minnesota’s legendary final day of the regular season and the Lakers’ fantastic end to the season, this matchup enjoys insane hype, and rightly so. Take out your guns, it’s preview time!
LOS ANGELES LAKERS – MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLES : 4H30 (aired on BeinSport 2)
In any good Western you already need a setting. What better place in the NBA than the Staples Center to host a decisive duel. Then, you need actors of choice. Starring tonight as The Sheriff: LeBron Jamesundisputed master of the place, he will defend his territory alongsideAnthony Davis, his silent but no less lethal lieutenant. The objective: rjoin Memphis in the first round of the Playoffs.
The script : a band of young degenerates led by a giant named Karl-Anthony Towns wants to hold up Los Angeles. They call themselves: Minnesota Wolves…
Unfortunately for them, during their last blow, they left feathers there. Their new recruit Rudy Gobert almost derailed the Play-in mission by dealing a violent blow to his teammate Kyle Anderson and Sergeant MacDaniels made the wrong opponent by smashing a wall. Pack leader KAT caught up with three bombs from the parking lot to set things straight. The two bewildered are, on the other hand, already out for tonight’s duel. Minnesota will, on the other hand, be able to count on Anthony Edwards et Kyle Anderson which will be essential in the heist plan.
These young wolves have resources. Despite a disappointing season their record of 42-40 is not catastrophic either. It is certainly average but sufficient to have two bullets in the magazine to rally the Playoffs. In case of a hitch tonight in California, a second opportunity will come against the winner of the game between the Pelicans and the Thunder. Will the ultra-entertaining episode of the last day of the regular season have had the ability to strengthen the bonds of the group? Answer tonight.
Still, in Los Angeles, LeBron and his band must have had a good time watching the images of Wolves’ last outing. On cloud nine from the All-Star Game, the Purple&Gold enter the postseason fully inflated. Yet totally picking up with a 13th place in the middle of November, the Angelinos have since put the gear forward and with Nitro. 9 wins in their last 11 regular season games and now they finish in an (almost unexpected) seventh place in the West with a positive balance of 43-39.
With LeBron in their ranks, the Lakers in the play-in/Playoffs take on a whole new dimension. So much so that some see them going to the conference final. We are not there, but when we see the collective level displayed by LA during this last part of the season, the dream is allowed. With an Anthony Davis on his All-Star standards, an Austin Reaves potential X factor and a densified roster with the fresh arrival of Tristan Thompson and Shaq Harrison, the Lakers Nation has the right to believe in it.
Keys to the game:
- Wolves group cohesion. After the episode of the last day of the regular season, how will Minnesota present itself? Electroshock or collective shipwreck?
- LeBron et Anthony Davis. It will be their respective performances that will largely decide the outcome of this match on the Lakers side.
Get out the fringed cowboy boots and your best sombrero to follow this exciting poster tonight at 4:30!
