Timberwolves Have Exposed Lakers’ Lack Of ‘Depth And Size’

The Minnesota Timberwolves are up 3-1 against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs and one NBA analyst believes the Timberwolves have exposed the Lakers’ lack of “depth and size.”

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report outlined some reasons why the Timberwolves are up 3-1 on the Lakers. He said Anthony Edwards is outperforming Luka Doncic, the Lakers are too small and the Timberwolves are too deep and strong on the road.

“L.A. has one of the most dynamic offensive top threes in the league with Luka, LeBron James and Austin Reaves,” Bailey wrote. “But this series has exposed its lack of depth and size, two weaknesses that were likely to doom the Lakers either now or somewhere down the road.”

Game 5 between the Lakers and Timberwolves is on Wednesday. All signs point toward Minnesota eliminating Los Angeles in the first round. 

Doncic, James, Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Dorian Finney-Smith played the entire second half for the Lakers in Game 4. It was the first time in the play-by-play era that five players didn’t come out in a half of a postseason game. 

“Lakers center Jaxson Hayes has started all four games in this series,” Bailey wrote. “Sunday, he played four minutes, picked up two fouls, left the game and never came back. And while coach J.J. Redick’s desire to play small is understandable, especially with how much Hayes has struggled in this series (he’s averaging under 10 minutes a game), it’s tough to pull off against a team as big and physical as the Timberwolves. Even when Minnesota plays small,’ it’s big. Naz Reid, particularly in fourth quarters, has been a nightmare for L.A. to defend.

“Julius Randle‘s juggernaut game has had the Lakers reeling on several possessions. Edwards is huge for a shooting guard. And the Timberwolves have won the rebounding battle in two of their wins, while tying in that column for the third. Unfortunately for the Lakers, there’s nothing they can do to simply get bigger between now and Game 5.”

The Lakers are in trouble. No one expects them to win Game 5, even though the contest is in Los Angeles.

The Timberwolves are the better team and have the more experienced head coach.