Basketball legend Magic Johnson has offered his expert analysis on why the Los Angeles Lakers lost Game 2 of their playoff series against the Golden State Warriors. The Lakers suffered a 127-120 defeat at the hands of the Warriors on Thursday, prompting Johnson to take to Twitter to share his observations.
In addition to praising the Warriors’ game plan and the performance of JaMychal Green, Johnson emphasized how Golden State’s defense on the paint proved to be the deciding factor in the game.
In Game 3 the Lakers have to make some major changes and adjust to how the Warriors are now playing them.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 5, 2023
In Game 1, the Lakers dominated the painted area, with Anthony Davis scoring 30 points, grabbing 23 rebounds, and blocking four shots. However, in Game 2, AD managed only 11 points and seven boards as the Warriors kept the Lakers out of the paint. Johnson attributed the Warriors’ success to Coach Steve Kerr’s excellent adjustments on offense, particularly in putting Green in the starting lineup to spread the court.
Coach Steve Kerr made excellent adjustments on offense putting Jamychal Green in the line up to spread the court as well as adjusting their offensive plays. Defensively they kept the Lakers out of the paint.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 5, 2023
Johnson went on to urge the Lakers to respond to the Warriors’ adjustments and make some major changes in their strategy for Game 3. He cautioned that if the Lakers fail to do so, they risk falling behind in the series, as losing by 27 points and trailing by as much as 32 is not acceptable.
While Johnson’s advice to the Lakers may have been somewhat vague, his message was clear: the Lakers must make adjustments and respond to the Warriors’ changes if they want to increase their chances of winning. In the playoffs, every game is crucial, and the Lakers cannot afford to fall behind in the series.
Indeed, the Lakers will likely need a better performance from their stars, particularly LeBron James, if they are to turn things around in Game 3. James got off to a hot start in Game 2, scoring 14 points in the first quarter, but was less effective for the remainder of the game, finishing with just 23 points and six rebounds.
In addition, the Lakers’ supporting cast will need to step up and contribute more in Game 3. D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Dennis Schroder, and Jarred Vanderbilt only combined for 27 points in Game 2, which is below average.
With all eyes on the Lakers in Game 3, it will be interesting to see how they respond to the Warriors’ adjustments. They will need to make some major changes and adjustments to their game plan if they hope to win and avoid falling behind in the series. The playoffs are always a test of a team’s character and ability, and the Lakers will need to show both if they want to advance to the next round.
Shaquille O’Neal Hails Steph Curry as the Best Point Guard Ever, Sparking a New Debate Alongside Magic Johnson
Shaquille O’Neal, one of the NBA’s all-time greats, is a big fan of Steph Curry‘s game. On a recent episode of his podcast, ‘The Big Podcast with Shaq’, the former Lakers star declared Curry as the best point guard in NBA history. O’Neal reasoned that the game has evolved and Curry’s position is now the point guard. His compliment adds him to the growing list of former and current players who believe that Curry is the greatest point guard ever to play in the NBA.
Before Curry’s recent accomplishments, Magic Johnson was usually considered the best point guard ever. However, Shaq’s endorsement of Curry could spark a new debate similar to the Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James discussion.
While discussing the playoff series between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers, Shaq pointed out the challenge of guarding Curry. He praised the guard’s unique playing style and suggested that he may be unstoppable. He also advised the Lakers to “touch him up,” but not beat him up, to try and disrupt his rhythm.
Despite being a Lakers legend, Shaq predicted that the Warriors would eliminate his former team in the conference semifinals. He attributed his decision to Golden State’s ability to flip a switch and turn up the intensity when needed. Meanwhile, he expressed uncertainty over which version of Anthony Davis would show up for the Lakers, adding that LeBron James and Curry would undoubtedly bring their best performances to the table.
