Lakers' Belief in Rallying from 3-1 Deficit Fuelled by LeBron James' Influence
MINNEAPOLIS - The Los Angeles Lakers teeter on the edge of elimination after suffering a 116-113 thrashing at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of their opening round series in the NBA Playoffs. Yet, there's a palpable sense of hope lingering within the Lakers' locker room, with LeBron James serving as the beacon of resilience.
Following the Lakers' heart-wrenching loss, Dorian Finney-Smith recounted the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers, a team led by James that defied odds and came back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals to clinch the championship. Finney-Smith's conviction in his team's potential is steeped in his experience watching James, believing they still have a shot at making a comeback.
"I've seen 'Bron work his magic," Finney-Smith declared. "We're still banking on a series victory. We just have to win the next game. Clearly we've dug ourselves a hole, but we've gotta figure it out as a team."
In recent history, the Denver Nuggets have become the only team to rally from a 3-1 deficit in a playoff series, managing to do so twice in the 2020 Playoffs. They faced off against the Utah Jazz in the first round, eventually winning after trailing 3-1, and later overcame a 3-1 deficit against the LA Clippers in the second round.
For James, who is no stranger to this predicament, the key to the Lakers' survival lies in focusing on one game at a time.
"We can't think ahead to winning three," James advised. "We just have to get the next one. That's all that matters. If we can't do that, then it's time for the off-season. That's what we must concentrate on."
One of the major topics of discussion following Game 4 was Lakers head coach JJ Redick's choice to keep the starting lineup on the court for the entirety of the second half, with Dorian Finney-Smith entering the fold for Jaxson Hayes at the start of the third quarter. The burning question remains whether exhaustion played a decisive role in the Lakers' fourth-quarter breakdown.
"We had some excellent scoring opportunities," James clarified. "I missed a wide-open layup that would’ve given us a four-point lead, we had a few chances to snatch the win. I don't think exhaustion was the root issue here. We simply missed some open shots."
As the Lakers prepare for Game 5 at home on Wednesday, they will aim to halt the Timberwolves' momentum and keep their playoff hopes alive.
- LeBron James, despite the losing streak, exudes optimism, serving as a beacon of resilience for the Lakers.
- Drawing inspiration from the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers and the Denver Nuggets (who overcame 3-1 deficits in their playoff series), Dorian Finney-Smith remains hopeful that the Lakers can still make a comeback.
- The Lakers, trailing in the NBA Playoffs, need to focus on winning each game individually, as advised by LeBron James, rather than worrying about the potential of winning three.
- JJ Redick's decision to keep the starting lineup on the court for the entirety of the second half and insert Dorian Finney-Smith in the third quarter has sparked discussions about the role exhaustion may have played in the Lakers' fourth-quarter breakdown.
- crucial for the Lakers to halt the Timberwolves' momentum and keep their playoff hopes alive, as they prepare to face them at home in Game 5 on Wednesday.
