The Minnesota Timberwolves couldn’t keep their momentum in Sport 2, falling 94-85 to the Los Angeles Lakers. NBA legend Paul Pierce believes Naz Reid’s efficiency was a key issue within the loss.
In stark distinction to his Sport 1 heroics, Naz Reid struggled considerably, taking pictures simply 37.5% and scoring solely 9 factors in 20 minutes of play.
Pierce didn’t maintain again on KG Licensed podcast, criticizing Reid’s shot choice. “They went and made the additional move for the three. On this sport they only went and took the three.“
“Naz Reid got here down a few occasions off the dribble and simply shot it. They didn’t let the play become the open three,“ Pierce defined.
The previous NBA champion believes the Timberwolves deserted their profitable Sport 1 technique. “I simply really feel that they pressured it, we are able to do the identical factor [as] Sport 1, they only began launching them, it took them out,” he added.
Reid’s efficiency fell dramatically from Sport 1, the place he was Minnesota’s standout performer with 23 factors off the bench, together with six three-pointers on 9 makes an attempt.
The Lakers’ defensive changes clearly affected Reid’s rhythm and effectivity. In the meantime, Pierce highlighted Luka Doncic as a constructive instance, praising his balanced strategy of attacking the rim and taking pictures from distance.
“You bought to present credit score to the Lakers, they took them out their rhythm. I’m seeing Luka Doncic at half court docket, I may see that was the emphasis, rise up in your man, make them drive… let’s see if they will end on the rim,” Pierce stated, describing the competition as “a typical early 2000s playoff sport.”
Doncic is the star of the Lakers in Sport 2. He scored 31 factors, grabbed 12 rebounds and assisted his teammates 9 occasions.
However Pierce doesn’t need to blame Reid alone for the Timberwolves’ loss. He additionally criticized Anthony Edwards’ efficiency in Sport 2.
“My evaluation of Ant, I don’t assume he got here out and set the tone, [you got to] attempt to win the Sport 2, I assumed he type of sat again and tried to see the place the movement was going.”
Because the sequence continues, the Timberwolves will want each Reid and Edwards to reply with stronger performances in the event that they hope to beat the Lakers’ defensive changes and regain management.
