First time in Chronicles: The Lakers played with the same top five throughout the second half

The Lakers are found on… ropes, since lost with 116-113 by Timberwolveswho reached 3-1 in the first round of the playoffs. La team coach Jay Jay Redick chose to take out the whole half with the same five, which is happening for First time in the Playoffs Chroniclesat least since the 1996/97 season, when the play-by-play began to be used in statistics.

The Luca Doncic, LeBron James, Rui Hatsimura, Austin Reeves and Dorian Finey-Smith They didn’t even take a breath in the third and fourth twelve minutes. In particular, the former had suffered in the previous game by stomach disorders, while the latter is 40 years old, while not-how the Lakers were playing two days before and again in Minnesota. The Timberwolves returned from -11 and won 32-19 in the last period, where their opponents seemed “cracked”.

Redick’s explanation for his choice? “We played well enough to win. We were not planned to play with the same five in the whole half. I told the kids at the beginning of the fourth period to tell me if they want a change. When you make such a decision and players say they are ready, you have to trust them“, He stressed.

Already, however, the coach’s decision is being criticized. Lakers legend, Magic Johnson, wrote on Twitter: “I don’t know if it was smart to play LeBron and Luke all over the second half with only two days of rest. When we needed LeBron to come forward in the last period he couldn’t have a single point in the fourth twelve minutes“