The NBA Playoffs emphasize matchups, and the series between the Lakers and Timberwolves exemplifies this. The Lakers, often viewed as a small-ball team, feature players predominantly above 6'5", thus adopting a more medium-ball approach. Conversely, the Timberwolves, though perceived as large, have shorter players in key roles. Despite concerns about the Lakers' ability to defend the Timberwolves' size, particularly against players like Rudy Gobert, their strategies differ, focusing more on guard play and effective three-point shooting than traditional post-ups or pick-and-rolls.
In reality, the Lakers have leaned into a more medium-ball mindset while the Timberwolves' traditional size is mostly found in their frontcourt.
While there is validity to the skepticism surrounding the Lakers' reliance on playing heavy minutes without a non-traditional center, the dirty secret to how they've survived doing so is that they are not that small.
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