After Anthony Davis’ departure, the Lakers never signed a true center. The Mark Williams trade was rescinded, leaving only Jaxson Hayes as the option. Initially, the former Pelicans center did well with his burst and energy. However, the Wolves made sure to ensure the reality. Without a shot blocker, they had a free pass to the rim. And tonight, JJ Redick & Co. saw just exactly how their defense cracked!

The Timberwolves, led by a late flurry from Anthony Edwards, successfully defended their home floor to take a 2-1 advantage. But Ant-Man’s heroics only put the seal on the game. The Wolves’ Jaden McDaniels inflicted critical damage to the Lakers, capitalizing on their weakness. And although AD’s departure hadn’t hurt them as much as everyone believed, JJ Redick is realizing how an off night could severely wound them.

In his presser, Redick didn’t hesitate to admit, “The fact is we don’t have quote unquote rim protection. So if you give a blow by, we’re going to give up something. We’re going to give up a three or we’re going to give up a shot at the rim by him.” The Timberwolves scored 56 points in the paint tonight, a 30-point advantage in that category.

They exploited the Lakers’ poor length. Hayes is tall, but isn’t recognized as a rim protector by any means. So McDaniels attacked early, and Edwards took over late in the game. The 24-year-old had an awful outing, playing just 8 minutes and recording a -13 net differential in that span.

Redick is still backing his center. “We will look at everything but still believe in Jaxson,” he told the media. But that belief comes with a caveat. The Lakers’ defense is either going to be extremely effective or it’s going to fall apart. In the good times, Redick doesn’t think there are many problems.

“Think it’s just we’ve done it all year. When we’ve been at our best, we have been able to be physical on the ball and not a lot of blow bys and also have sort of a cover mentality, multiple effort. And it was there at times tonight. Our guys they exerted a lot of effort. They played with heart,” he said.

But without a defensive anchor like Anthony Davis surveying the paint, if the defense gives open lanes, it leaves the Lakers wide open. It’s a highly risky tactic to bank on. But it’s go big or go home. With all the resources he has, maybe JJ Redick thinks this is the best exchange.

All eyes are on Luka Doncic’s health

The Lakers do have a defensive problem. But they don’t have a poor defense. Their players expend themselves and cover spaces very quickly. But its effectiveness correlates with a sound offense. Since trading for Luka Doncic, the All-Star guard has been the commanding presence to direct the tempo and pace at which the Lakers play.

In the first two games of the series, his performance was exceptional. However, worries are setting in. Before Game 3, Doncic suffered from a stomach flu, which had drastic implications. The Slovenian didn’t look like himself, only scoring 17 and committing five turnovers in the process.

The Lakers hugely rely on his playmaking skills and scoring acumen to knock over opponents. But with his body weakened and a tyrannical Timberwolves defense hounding him all night, there was no escape. So far, he is receiving some treatment for his flu. There’s no timeline on how long it might take for him to recover.

The Lakers can hope that two days of rest will allow Luka Doncic to return to optimal status. Because if he continues to be bothered by the flu, the Timberwolves hold the cards in their hands. It’s a time of anticipation for LA. Doncic is one of the premier postseason attractions because of the way he can dictate the outcome of games.

And although LeBron James did take over, scoring 38 points on great efficiency, it’s Doncic who holds the keys for this series.