More than a week has passed since the Game 5 loss in the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves that ended the Los Angeles Lakers’ postseason run. However, Steve Nash offered a harsh assessment of the performance delivered by LeBron James and his teammates throughout the series.
“The reality is that they had a more complete roster at this stage of the story,” said Nash in reference to Minnesota, during the latest episode of the Mind The Game podcast. “So, for you guys to win, you have to play above your level always. Right, you have to make shots at a high clip, you have to take care of the basketball, but it just didn’t happen.”
The two-time NBA MVP went deeper into his breakdown of the series between the Lakers and the Timberwolves. “From my perspective, two things I think that they had that you guys are looking for. One is an identity. They formed one this year, you guys are just trying to figure yours out,” emphasized Steve. “I think the other part of this was just speed. They have foot speed to defend, to attack.”
Nash believed that the arrival of Doncic wasn’t enough to turn the Lakers into title contenders. “You guys are a developing roster. You traded for a big generational piece, but that doesn’t mean that the roster is balanced, fully formed,” he said. “And you don’t have time, once getting Luka, to make moves necessarily that are gonna allow you to kind of fulfill that roster.”
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James must make a decision about continuing to play in the NBA.
Comparing that scenario to the Timberwolves, Steve pointed to a stark contrast. “Minnesota could trade pieces out, but essentially they’re a balanced roster. You could say, ‘I’d rather this guy over this guy,’ but they’ve got the positions covered,” explained the former guard of the Phoenix Suns.
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LeBron’s take on the series vs Timberwolves
In the same conversation, LeBron James listened carefully to Steve Nash’s comments and agreed with the analysis. “That’s what we talked about, you’re right Steve, we just talked about that, the possession game,” the 40-year-old forward said. “We lost the possession game in the series, and the possession game came down to offensive rebounds, turnovers, and loose balls.”
Immediately, James acknowledged Minnesota’s superiority over the Lakers. “They were a more complete team than we were,” he said. “They have all the makeups. They have shooting, they have toughness, they have size, they have foot speed, they have playmaking, defensive versatility… I could see them for sure getting into the Western Conference Finals, if not the (NBA) Finals.”
LeBron talks about his knee injury
The first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves wasn’t the only bad news for LeBron James. During Game 5, he collided with Donte DiVincenzo, resulting in a Grade 2 MCL sprain that will require a significant recovery period.
In the latest episode of Mind The Game, LeBron delivered a disappointing update. “In my 22-year career, this is my first knee injury... This is the first time I’ve ever had like a sustained knee injury where I had to like, ‘OK, you got to get off your feet,’” he admitted.
“I knew as soon as the impact happened with me and DiVincenzo… I felt it right away. My knee locked up and that’s why I stayed on the ground for quite a minute,” James recalled. “I knew right then and there it was a pain that I hadn’t felt before.”
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