After the Lakers’ 18-point defeat in Game 1 of the semifinal series, Redick admitted postgame that his team’s defensive issues, especially Shai’s coverage, ended up hurting them from time to time.

“Whether it was a coverage thing or Shai coverage – every time we didn’t execute, they hurt us. And then the other point – when they did get an offensive rebound, they absolutely killed us. We didn’t do a good job of building back out on the offensive rebound.” Redick said.

Contrary to Redick’s comments, the Lakers held SGA to a quieter game than usual in the box score. The reigning MVP scored 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting along with 6 assists.

When asked about how they were able to hold SGA to under 20 points but still ended up on the losing side, Redick was not interested in talking about the scoreline.

“I think we did a good job on our Shai execution. You know the rotations out of that weren’t always great. They got good players. They shot 16 for 28 on non-paint twos. Again, we did some good things. That 108-90 doesn’t matter to me. We lost a game.” Redick reflected.

While it did not end up working out for this game, the Lakers now have the blueprint on how they can effectively guard SGA to limit his scoring as much as possible.

This is the fewest points the Canadian has scored in a game since Game 3 of the Conference finals last year against Minnesota. The 27-year-old also just tried one shot from deep and had seven turnovers to his name as well.

The Lakers can take all the credit for this, as they have been one of the most stringent half-court defensive units in the postseason, allowing just 84.9 points per 100 plays and limiting the Thunder to just 94.3 points per Tuesday night.

However, on a night where the Thunder’s main player had his worst scoring game in a year, the Lakers only have themselves to blame for not capitalizing on it, as their own offense was below average at best.

The Lakers’ Offense Let Them Down Against the Oklahoma City Thunder

Apart from King James defying his age time and again, the rest of the Lakers’ offense was uninspiring, to say the least. James topped the Lakers’ box score with 27 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds on 70% shooting.

After Luka Doncic, the Lakers’ offense got hit yet again as Jarred Vanderbilt had to leave the court after suffering a dislocated finger.

Meanwhile, Austin Reaves had an abysmal shooting performance, finishing with just 8 points in 3-of-16 shooting from the field and 0-of-5 from beyond the arc. The 27-year-old has recently returned from injury and has not found his rhythm yet.

The 17-time NBA champions would hope for Reaves to find his form soon to provide James with a good option, and for them to have any chance to overcome the reigning NBA champions.

Game 2 will be on the road for the Lakers again on Thursday night, as they try again to get an away win ahead of two important home games at the Crypto.com Arena.

So, do you think the Lakers will be able to put the brakes on SGA again while also upping their offense?

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A few weeks ago, the Purple & Gold performed well, with a 15-2 record in March. Then an untimely injury ruled Luka Doncic out, leaving the team vulnerable. Even then, the team reached the semi-finals to face the defending champs, the OKC Thunder. Now, the problem showed up quickly, the offense. It reflected on the board with a 108-90 loss in Game 1. 

Even in defeat, the defensive effort stood out. Appreciating it, Magic Johnson took to his X handle and wrote, “I must say, the Lakers defended well tonight – they just couldn’t generate enough offense against the World Champs.”

The scoreboard backed that up as well. To shed some light, it’s enough to reflect on the team’s defensive domination of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA, who holds the record for most consecutive games with 20 points, finished with 18 points and committed seven turnovers. 

The LA side disrupted the OKC rhythm and forced mistakes. It’s something that they failed to do in the regular season, as the Thunder swept it 4-0 with a 29.3 point margin. Now, even without Luka Doncic, the team managed an 18-point margin.

Coach JJ Redick addressed the team’s effort, also calling for improvement in the next game.

Amid Magic Johnson’s Praise, the Lakers Need to Fix Their Offense

The offense remains the major roadblock. Last night, the team shot 41.7% from the field and 33.3% from three, making just 10 of 30 attempts. Once again, turnovers piled up, conceding 20 points.

LeBron James led from the front with 27 points and six assists, but his supporting cast, Austin Reaves, didn’t deliver, dropping just 8 points with a poor 3-16 FG.

Addressing Reaves’ poor night, JJ Redick said, “He didn’t play well, but he’s going to bounce back.” So, the plan is clear. The team needs to protect the ball and execute a better offense. Redick further added, “Basketball’s a game full of mistakes. There are just too many tonight. We’ve got to clean that up… We just got to do a better job with execution.”

At the same time, there’s some optimism surrounding Luka Doncic’s recovery. Shams Charania reported that Doncic is on a ‘slow path’ to recovery, with no confirmed return date announced.

Next up, the Thunder host Game 2 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City this Thursday night.

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The 2006 NBA champion feels that, although the San Antonio Spurs have momentum on their side, it won’t be an easy series for them. He feels the Timberwolves’ playoff experience should not be overlooked.

Speaking on the show, Nightcap, Walker said, “Everybody thinking because the Spurs had a great season that this was going to be an easy series. No, Minnesota feel confident.”

For context, the Timberwolves have reached the Conference semifinals in consecutive seasons, while the Spurs are in their first deep playoff run.

“The Minnesota team been together for some years now. They’ve been in the wars. This is the first trip for San Antonio,” Walker said. “That core seven, eight guys besides Terrence Shannon have been in these wars and played tough games. So they got an advantage that way.”

The Timberwolves’ recent history supports Walker’s thinking as well. Minnesota became the first team to reach the conference semi-finals as a sixth seed in consecutive seasons, beating the Denver Nuggets, the team that had knocked them out in 2023.

On the other hand, the Spurs are in the Conference Semifinals for the first time and lack the experience of being there.

Walker feels that when the game gets tight in the fourth quarter, the one with the familiarity of the situation gets the edge, just like Anthony Edwards did in Game 1. Edwards returned from a knee injury and scored 18 points in 25 minutes, including 11 in the fourth quarter, to help the Timberwolves win.

And Edwards’ experience would matter in Game 2 as well.

Anthony Edwards’ Status Ahead of Game 2

Edwards, who suffered a left knee hyperextension and a bone bruise in the previous round against the Denver Nuggets, is questionable for Game 2. Nicknamed ‘Wolverine’ by his teammates due to his capability of recovering fast, the star guard featured in Game 1, but with time limitations.

As reported by NBA Today, Edwards will undergo further treatment to determine whether he can play in the second matchup of the series.

As per Antoine Walker, if Edwards can play for 20-25 minutes in Game 2 on Wednesday (starting at 9:30 PM EST), the series won’t be long

“I don’t know how hurt he is. You know, it’s hard for us to tell. But if he gets anywhere to 20, 25 a night, they got a chance to get this thing over in five, man, I like Minnesota,” Walker concluded.

And if he plays, the Spurs, facing a 1-0 deficit on their own floor, will need to find an answer they did not have in Game 1 on Monday.

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After winning their first-round series against the Houston Rockets, the Lakers entered the semifinals against the defending champs, hoping Doncic would return in time. The Slovenian guard, dealing with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, has missed seven playoff games. The Lakers scored 90 points in his absence compared to OKC’s 108.

Reacting to the loss, 77-year-old wrestling legend dropped a post on X. He wrote, “Luka @lukadoncic, Please Get In The Game! Take A Shot Of Cortisone And Deal With The Pain! They Are Paying You 50 Million A Year, And You’re Not There!”

Ric Flair, known for his toughness in the ring, has often highlighted his ability to play through pain. There are multiple instances of him wrestling while bleeding in the head. And he expected a similar mindset from Luka Doncic. 

However, injuries work differently on the basketball court. Especially, straining his hamstring could further aggravate the damage and affect his long-term career.

Flair followed with a message directed at Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, writing, “I Hope @JeanieBuss Trades You Next Year. Nobody Wants A Lame Duck On Their Team!” 

The team brought Doncic in last season in a trade that sent Anthony Davis out. It was a move that heavily invested in the team’s future, positioning Luka as the centerpiece. With James in the later stages of his career, the Lakers needed a generational talent to carry the legacy.

The Luka Doncic Return Timeline

LeBron James has led the Lakers’ offense in Doncic’s absence, consistently showing up on the offensive end. Moreover, with the return of Austin Reaves, the burden is slightly brought down. But it’s not enough. 

The Lakers will need a superstar like Luka Doncic to defeat the Thunder. According to Shams Charania, Doncic is on a “slow path” to recovery. While he has increased his on-court activity, he has yet to do a full-court workout.

At the same time, this update gave some optimism. The team still expects the star guard to return to the floor at some point in the series. 

For now, the Thunder hold the upper hand and continue their 5-0 postseason momentum.

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With about 6:30 remaining in the third quarter, Reaves appeared to collide with Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and went down. The 27-year-old was on the ground for another minute or so after, holding and grabbing his chest.

However, in an X post from MrBuckBuck, the replay showed us that it was actually Lakers guard Marcus Smart who accidentally shoved SGA into Reaves, while trying to set a screen on him. Thankfully, Reaves was able to continue playing after the collision.

Reaves went on to play 36 minutes in Game 1. However, the Lakers lost 108-90 to the Thunder.

Reaves scored eight points while shooting 3-of-16 from the field and 0-of-5 from beyond the arc. He also provided six assists to his teammates, but logged four turnovers.

Reaves has struggled to find consistent form across his first three games back from injury. The 27-year-old, in Game 5 of the first round against the Rockets, scored 22 points with 12 free throws, 4-of-16 shooting, and 2-of-8 from deep.

In Game 6, he reduced that stat to 15 points on 50% shooting but didn’t make any shots from beyond the arc.

With Luka Doncic out with injury, the Lakers have no choice but to turn to Reaves to provide a helping hand to LeBron James, who led the team to a Round 1 win against the Rockets.

However, James did not want to hear any criticism surrounding Reaves, as he defended the 27-year-old’s performance postgame.

LeBron James Believes Austin Reaves Will Step Up

LeBron James did not think much of Reaves’ struggles in Game 1 against OKC, as he trusts his teammates’ abilities and knew how tough it is to find rhythm back after returning from injury.

“He was out a month,” he said. “We know he’s gonna make shots and make plays. That’s tough when you’re out a month towards the end of the season. … His presence alone helps us, no matter what.”

James was once again the Lakers’ best player, helping them remain competitive through the first three quarters. He finished with 27 points, four rebounds, and six assists on 70.6% shooting from the field.

Reaves is expected to play alongside LeBron James as a key contributor in the series against the defending NBA champions. Game 2 is on the road again on Thursday, and the Lakers will look to take a series advantage before heading to the Crypto.com Arena for Games 3 and 4.

So, do you think Austin Reaves will show signs of his previous self in Game 2?

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It isn’t really another ring or a championship. While the Los Angeles Lakers marched towards the Western Conference semifinals, King James sat down for Steve Nash’s “Mind the Game” podcast. And there came the revelation.

“To be able to have Bronny in the locker room has definitely helped out a lot as well. I have a job and a responsibility to show him what it means to be a professional,” LeBron said.

Bronny James has long observed his father’s career from the sidelines. He has already “seen it from the outside throughout the course of his life.” But being in the locker room, is bigger than that. And for LeBron, having Bronny on the team reinvigorates his passion.

As the father, the 41-year-old admitted that he has a “responsibility” in the shaping of his son’s outcome. King James’ finds his rhythm in inspring his team and now his son, leading the Lakers to wins even at his ripe age.

James also highlighted what role he played and the approach he took for his team.

What was LeBron James’ Mindset Going Into Game 6?

While he played with a certain responsibility, the senior James averaged 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 8.3 assists through the first-round win over the Houston Rockets.

He was clear on his approach.

“They (Rockets) felt like they were the better team…” he explained. “For me, as the leader of the team, I felt like it was about what the team kind of just held their composure and stayed… and understand the assignment.”

James belived that the key to putting together a complete game was to inspire confidence in his team about their capabilities. He made sure they understood that they deserved to be where they are. LeBron made sure to address the fact that they needed to minimize any mistakes, “both offensively and defensively.”

After a Game 1 loss to the OKC Thunder, LeBron and company will be looking to make a comeback in Game 2 on May 8, when the Thunder host the Purple and Gold.

Do you think LeBron James’ leadership will help the Lakers win over the defending champions, the OKC Thunder? Let us know in the comments.

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After the emotional loss against the Phoenix Suns, Kerr said, “These jobs all have an expiry date,” hinting at his possible exit. He also added that he would meet Joe Lacob and Mike Dunleavy Jr. a few days later to finalize his decision. They already had a two-hour meeting in San Francisco that didn’t find any resolution, and they plan to meet again.

In the meantime, Windhorst, who has been watching it all closely, made an observation about his appearance on The Rich Eisen Show. “The thing I’ll say about Steve Kerr is, it’s not just an emotional decision.”

The 48-year-old explained that, while emotions play a role, money plays a major one. He highlighted that Kerr earned around $17 million last season and questioned whether the Warriors would match the same figure again, given the team’s current phase.

Windhorst continued that “money is a factor,” and the team already has a contract on the table, and “Steve had to just go sign it and then send it in.” But why the delay?

 Speaking of the ongoing delay and discussion, Windhorst added, “They had to have material discussions about how they’re going to play, what his money is, all that stuff. That’s why this is a bit of a process, but they’re having the process. They’re still talking.”

Brian Windhorst on the Steve Kerr Contract Discussions

To further emphasize that Steve Kerr wasn’t held back with emotional reasons, Windhorst added another layer to the story. He said, “If Kerr just wanted to go play golf, then he would be playing golf. He’s in San Francisco as far as I know, working, discussing this.” 

In the meantime, Marc Stein reported that ESPN is ‘aggressively’ pursuing him for a broadcast role following his retirement talks. Given his coaching experience, which includes four NBA championships, he would enter a high-paying role in the studio. 

Nevertheless, the important aspect is what the team’s philosophy is going into the next season. With Curry entering the last few seasons, will they compete for a championship or rebuild? What do you think?

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The injury occurred when the 27-year-old tried to block a fastbreak dunk attempt by OKC star Chet Holmgren. Unfortunately, Vanderbilt’s hand hit the backboard instead.

He was visibly in a lot of pain and immediately left the court. There is no update on how serious the injury is yet, but one look at how the Thunder bench reacted, and one would assume it is a dislocated or broken finger.

Vanderbilt finished his game with two points (1-2 FG, 0-1 3Pt) and one rebound in six minutes. The Lakers ruled him out for the rest of Game 1 at halftime, and it was revealed that he had injured the pinkie on his right hand.

This is just not what the Lakers need right now, especially while facing the gargantuan task of overcoming the reigning NBA champions. They are already facing issues in the attack, with star player Luka Doncic out with a Grade 2 hamstring strain suffered on April 2 against the Thunder.

Fortunately, the injury occurred on Vanderbilt’s non-shooting hand. The team must now find a replacement for the 27-year-old.

While Vanderbilt rarely plays a full game for the Lakers, he remains a key asset for the short-handed team. He brings clear value with his ability to play 94 feet of energetic defense and handle the ball in transition.

With Vanderbilt likely gone for the series, the question remains who the Lakers will trust to replace him.

Who will step up for the Lakers?

Following Vanderbilt’s injury, the first two names that come to mind to replace the power forward are Luke Kennard and Jake LaRavia, who are poised to get more minutes.

However, head coach JJ Redick could also evaluate his bench options with surprise inclusions of Bronny James, Adou Thiero, and Dalton Knecht.

Defensively, Thiero would be the best fit among the three, as he had an impressive performance against the Thunder on April 8 while guarding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Thiero had 10 points, four rebounds, and two assists in that game, though the Lakers lost 123-87.

With the 17-time NBA champions losing Game 1 with an 18-point deficit on the road, the most important thing coming out of it is that Vando is healthy after what appears to be a pretty nasty injury.

So, who do you think should be the frontrunner to replace Vanderbilt in Game 2? Let us know in the comments.

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The fine was announced by James Jones and was the second time in four months that Brown had been sanctioned for public comments about referees, as the league fined him $35,000 in January after a postgame rant following Boston’s home loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

The comments that drew Tuesday’s fine came the day after Boston’s 109-100 Game 7 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Jaylen Brown, who led the Celtics in scoring during the series, took to his regular Twitch stream and directed his frustration at the officiating throughout the playoff run.

“They keep saying, like, this push-off and stuff like that. You know how many players do that? That is such a common basketball play. Every player does it. So why are you targeting me? They clearly had an agenda,” Jaylen Brown said.

He went further, adding that referees had communicated to him earlier in the season that he would “lead the playoffs in offensive fouls.” Brown also said some referees “need to be investigated.”

However, the NBA’s press release did not specify which comments triggered the fine, citing only “public criticism of the officiating” as the basis for the penalty.

Having said that, Brown’s frustration has not been isolated to just this postseason.

Jaylen Brown Fine Follows Pattern of Officiating Tension With Celtics

After Boston’s January loss to San Antonio, Brown went on a two-minute postgame rant that drew the $35,000 sanction. The escalation to $50,000 for Tuesday’s fine reflects the league’s standard practice of increasing penalties for repeat violations within the same season.

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On the same Twitch stream, Jaylen Brown also took aim at Sixers star Joel Embiid for flopping.

“Joel Embiid is a great player, one of the best bigs in basketball history, but he flops,” Brown said. “He knows it. This ain’t breaking news.”

Those comments drew responses from several current and former players, though the league’s fine addressed only the officiating remarks.

That being said, Jaylen Brown is heading into the final year of his contract, and how the Celtics respond to a first-round exit after reaching the Finals in three of the past four seasons will define the offseason, with front office decisions around the roster carrying as much weight as anything said on a Twitch stream.

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Looking back at the pivotal moment during an appearance on the New Heights podcast, James let the hosts in on how 3 companies were vying for his signature during his senior year.

“I took on three pitches. I did an Adidas pitch. I did a Reebok pitch. I did a Nike pitch. The best pitch that I got where I thought I was going to end up was actually Reebok at one point,” LeBron James said. “I went to their meeting. The guy slides a check to me. And he says, ‘If you don’t go talk to any other companies, this is yours.’ And I look at it. $10 million. Just right there as an 18-year-old.”

He continued, “I told him I need a break. They stepped out. I sat there. My mom looked at it and looked at me. She said, ‘Son, trust your gut. If they’re offering you this, then who knows what the other companies may offer you?’ So they came back in. I said, ‘Thank you. I will definitely like to continue our conversation, but I would be remiss if I did not take those other pitches from the other companies.’”

LeBron James said he may have cried on the way home after the Reebok pitch and that he was still a student at St. Vincent-St. Mary, and that he went back to class the next day.

That being said, Nike’s pitch in Oregon was different.

How Nike Won LeBron James Over the Competition

Nike brought physical shoe prototypes in James’ size, presented a global vision of what his brand could become even before he had played a single NBA game, all while positioning him as a figure that transcended basketball entirely.

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On May 22, 2003, weeks before the NBA Draft, James signed a seven-year, $87 million deal with Nike. And while Reebok reportedly countered with $115 million, and Adidas offered under $60 million, the decision had been made by then.

Having said that, the partnership reached a new level in 2015 when LeBron James signed a lifetime contract with Nike reportedly worth around $1 billion.

Furthermore, James now has a section of the Philip H. Knight Campus named after him, and 22 signature shoe models on the market.

It seems rather safe to say that the advice LeBron James’s mother gave him in that Reebok conference room to not settle for the first number on the table shaped every dollar that followed.

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