Luka Doncic’s Focus on Rudy Gobert Sparks Concerns Over LA Lakers’ Offense
The LA Lakers managed to tie their series against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 1-1 with a hard-fought 94-85 victory in Game 2. However, the team’s performance was marred by a lackluster fourth quarter, where they scored a mere 13 points. According to NBA Analysis, Luka Doncic’s relentless focus on taking on Rudy Gobert may have contributed to the team’s struggles.
Doncic, who scored a team-high 31 points, has been criticized for his approach to the game. As reported by NBA Analysis, sports journalist Chris Mannix expressed concerns that Doncic’s fixation on Gobert may be detrimental to the team’s offense. “Luka has to stop hunting like, I know he loves generally speaking, the center screens, right? Like, he loves hunting centers, like we he always wants to go one on one with the center that’s been his MO for his whole career,” Mannix said on the Sports Illustrated podcast.
Mannix further emphasized that Doncic’s persistence in going after Gobert led to the Lakers’ offense breaking down late in the game. “He had that play in the second quarter, we went to the basketball, faked him at the baseline jump shot, camera pans to him. He’s yelling, ‘sub him out’ at Rudy, like he had that moment. But in the fourth quarter, and really the whole second half, he was hunting that switch, and he kept trying to do everything on his own. I thought that was malfunctioning, or screwing up the Lakers offense,” Mannix explained.
According to Mannix, people around the team share his concerns. “Talking to people around the team like they agree with me on that one. There was too much Rudy hunting. And look, you want to take advantage of Rudy on the perimeter when he’s on the floor. Austin Reaves did it. Luka did it. Everybody’s gonna try to do it. But that can’t be your entire offense,” he said.
Doncic’s love for taking on Gobert is well-documented. The two players have a history, with Doncic’s late shot over Gobert in Game 7 of their Western Conference Finals matchup last season being a defining moment. However, as NBA Analysis reports, it’s essential for the Lakers to mix up their offense to avoid becoming too predictable.
Rudy Gobert, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, is not afraid to be put in challenging situations by Doncic. Nevertheless, when an offense becomes too concentrated, it can favor the defense due to a lack of variety. The Lakers will look to switch things up in Game 3, which will be played at the Minnesota Timberwolves’ home court.
As the series shifts to Minneapolis, the Lakers will need to come out strong and lay down a statement. The team’s performance in Game 3 will be crucial in determining the outcome of the series. NBA Analysis will continue to provide updates on the series and other NBA news.
The Lakers’ upcoming schedule is as follows:
* Friday, April 26: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 01:30 GMT
The team’s ability to adapt and adjust their strategy will be key to their success in the series. As NBA Analysis notes, the Lakers will need to find a way to balance their offense and avoid relying too heavily on Doncic’s one-on-one matchups with Gobert.
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