The playoffs are here; so are the banter, emotions, and opinions! As the Los Angeles Lakers entered the first-round playoff against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 on April 19, a lot within the basketball community placed their bet on the Kings’ army. But who will tell that the Wolves always hunt in packs and will not give anyone a free pass? True to their character, they turned the match, made all pundits witness something perhaps no one foresaw. The Lakers lost against the Wolves, and they did so spectacularly. A 22-point loss at this stage of the tournament? Especially after their strong from leading to the playoffs this season, no one could see them losing with such a large margin. It was clear that something about the Lakers’ performance didn’t align with expectations, at least not with the Legend Magic Johnson.
Magic wasted no time weighing in on the situation. He praised the Lakers’ coach, “Coach JJ Redick did a great job all season,…” only to blast him for his handling of the game, “… but he didn’t do a good job for Game 1. The Lakers stood around on offense, played too much one-on-one basketball, and he didn’t make any necessary adjustments.” His sharp words show his frustrations with how the players performed, and they echoed sentiments of the fans. The question is: Was this simply a case of an underperforming game, or was it a deeper issue with the team’s approach?
As the discussion around Game 1 heated up, a clip from the “Run It Back” podcast started making the rounds. When Lou Williams was asked about Magic Johnson’s criticism, he shared his own thoughts. He claimed, “They just didn’t meet the level of intensity that Minnesota brought.” He recalled hearing Anthony Edwards’ remark about the pressure to win, “Everybody expect us to lose. I get that.” Lou pointed out, “They didn’t allow offensive rebounds to be a factor in this game. They gave them one shot at the rim.” So, did the Timberwolves’ discipline and hustle make all the difference in this game? It sure seemed like it.
Magic Johnson said JJ Redick didn’t do a good job in Game 1 of Lakers-Timberwolves
Lou Williams says Anthony Edwards’ confidence in Minnesota’s toughness should’ve rang the alarms in Los Angeles @boogiecousins | @MichelleDBeadle | @TeamLou23 | @ChandlerParsons pic.twitter.com/Z51utgrLxf
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) April 21, 2025
‘Not the face of the league’, Anthony Edwards’ perspective on the game added further fuel to the fire. After his impressive performance in the win, which included 22 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, he played it off as if the victory wasn’t worth much. He claimed, “It’s not big at all, man. Just Game 1.” Later on, he even stated, “We’re not supposed to be here, so we’re just going to compete to the best of our ability.” This is what Lou meant when he said, “I heard it in Ant-Man’s voice.” This conviction to prove the doubters wrong is what led him to give it his all! Could this game mark a turning point for the underdog Timberwolves, or will the Lakers rebound in Game 2? Only time will tell.
Kevin Garnett scoffs at Shannon Sharpe’s gimmick following the Lakers’ disappointment
After the Lakers’ shocking 22-point loss to the Timberwolves in Game 1, the NBA world quickly turned its attention to the fallout. For Shannon Sharpe, a staunch Lakers supporter and loud advocate for their championship aspirations, the loss hit hard, but it didn’t stop him from staying optimistic.
On the Nightcap podcast, Sharpe praised Minnesota’s strong performance but emphasized that the Lakers had to win Game 2 to avoid falling into a deep hole. Yet, it didn’t take long for NBA legend Kevin Garnett to respond in his own unmistakable style. Garnett, a former Timberwolves star, took to Instagram, calling out Sharpe’s usual overconfidence.
Image Credit: USA Today
On his Instagram story, he wrote, “It’s crazy I DON’T HEAR OR SEE ALL THESE LAKERS IN 5 meems no mo…. WHERE’S THAT SAME ENERGY AT? Hellloooo00…. Any one there….. Helllllloooooo? Right… Let yall tell it the YOUNG WOLVES DIDN’T HAVE A CHANCE… Just saying…”.
He pointed out how vocal Sharpe and Lakers fans had been leading up to the game, yet after the disappointing loss, their silence was deafening. It’s no secret that Sharpe’s “Lakers in five” mantra had been a fixture of his commentary, but following the Game 1 disaster, even Sharpe couldn’t ignore the glaring issues.
The Lakers are facing an uphill battle, and Sharpe’s prediction is looking increasingly unlikely. Adjustments are crucial for the Lakers to avoid going down 2-0. They need a complete team effort. Will they rise to the occasion in Game 2? It’s safe to say the stakes are higher than ever, because you can’t keep on missing the bus, or else the flight is waiting in the taxi bay.
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