Lakers superstar LeBron James breaks down why Game 3 is the turning point in the NBA playoffs

The first round of the Western Conference Playoffs began with an unexpected loss for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena, followed by a win from JJ Redick’s team that evened the series at 1-1. Now the matchup shifts to Target Center, and LeBron James explained why he believes things will be different starting in Game 3.

In a conversation with Steve Nash on the Mind The Game podcast, they talked about how the style of play in the NBA shifts once the playoffs begin. “The physical intensity of the defense — you’ve seen them in the regular season, but if they’re going to blitz you in the playoffs, that is a different blitz,” said the two-time league MVP with the Phoenix Suns. “That is a different blitz. That is physical. That is hands. That is the body, feet — everything taking away space.”

LeBron agreed with that take and added another key element. “The referees allow it a little bit more, too,” said the Lakers star. “The refs allow it. And I love it. And I love when you can be more handsy, you can be more physical, and the whistle is not blown as frequently, right?”

However, James also acknowledged that this change in style of play takes some adjustment. “I actually like this. But I need a game or two to actually get to it,” he admitted. “It takes a couple games. Because if you’ve been training your body and playing a certain way for eight months, and then all of a sudden, within one week, you have to now go into the postseason where everything is more physical, everything is faster, everything is more intensified.”

Lakers star LeBron James

Based on LeBron and Nash’s comments, the turning point of this first-round series may be arriving now. After the first two games, it’s logical to assume that the Lakers and the Timberwolves are dialed in to this new playoff energy — and starting with Game 3 at Target Center, we may see the best version of both teams.

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LeBron James compares the NBA playoffs to the Olympic Games

Continuing the conversation on how the NBA playoffs demand a higher level of physicality than the regular season, LeBron James made an interesting comparison. “I’ve always equated like, the regular season to the playoffs — it’s like playing in the NBA to now playing in the Olympics, right?” said the 40-year-old forward.

“It takes a couple games playing in the Olympics for you to get to the point where it’s like, ‘Oh, they’re allowing us to play a little bit more physical,” James explained. “And that’s how the regular season to the playoffs is.”

The Lakers can’t let up against Minnesota

The Game 1 loss to the Timberwolves served as a wake-up call for the Lakers, who responded in Game 2 with a much stronger performance and a crucial win. Still, with the series tied 1-1 and the next two games being played at Target Center, the challenge ahead is significant.

Luka Doncic delivered a clear message to LeBron ahead of the Lakers’ matchup in Minnesota, stating that the two of them, as “leaders of the team, have to keep the team together.” And James also spoke about the challenges they’ll face. “Hostile environment, but we gotta come in with the same mindset as we had tonight,” he said after Game 2. “Understand that it’s a playoff game, no possessions we can take off, we gotta play with intensity, energy, and effort.”