The Lake (No)Show

 So I'm looking at the NBA scores this morning, and I'm thinking "This is why the Lakers traded for Luka Doncic," because the L Boys, Luka and LeBron, just completely destroyed  poor Minnesota in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Beat 'em in five, like everyone predicted. Woodshedded 'em. Disposed of 'em, and now it's on to the second rou--

Wait, what?

Whatta you mean they didn't do any of that?

Whatta you mean it was poor Minnesota who woodshedded them? Who disposed of them? Didn't you hear about The Trade? Didn't you hear about the Lakers-in-five prediction from the smart guys, the gurus, the People Who Know Basketball Way Better Than You Do, So Just Shut Up And Listen Already?

Were you not paying attention to Vegas, which had the Luka/LeBron Lake Show the third betting favorite to win it all?

And now it's May 1 and the third betting favorite is already cleaning out its lockers? Is there no order in the world anymore?

(Obvious answer: No)

Well, that's just great. All that hype, and it's Minnesota who wins in five. Who got 27 points and 24 rebounds from Rudy Gobert last night as the Timberwolves closed it out. Rudy Gobert, for God's sake. Like he was Wilt or Shaq or Kareem and not, you know, Rudy Gobert.

Here's the worst part for Luka 'n' LeBron 'n' them: The Wolves not only beat them, they beat them while not even doing what they do best. In fact they were really, really bad at what they do best.

That would be shooting the 3-ball, at which Minnesota Timberwolves were one of the best teams in the NBA this season. Not last night, though. Last night, they were the Brick City Timberwolves.

Some numbers: In Game 5, Minny fired up 47 attempts from beyond the arc. They missed 40 of them. That was a pathetic 14.9 percent clip, the worst 3-point percentage in a playoff game in NBA history. At one point they missed 18 straight attempt; Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves superstar guard, was 0-for-11 from the arc.

And still they won by seven, 103-96, on the Lakers' home floor.

Luka and LeBron did their part, combining for 50 points, 14 rebounds and 15 assists. And it's not like they didn't step up their respective games in the playoffs; Luka averaged 30.2 points against the Timberwolves, two above his season average, and LeBron averaged 25.4, one above his season average. Luka also averaged 7.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists, while LeBron average 9.0 boards and 5.6 assists.

And still they lost.

Got smoked by 22 in Game 1 at home, won Game 2, then lost the last three. Which means now all we have to watch are Oklahoma City and Cleveland and the Knicks and the Celtics and the Pacers, and maybe Steph and the Warriors. Gee whiz.

It also means something else.

I'm no longer saying "This is why the Lakers traded for Luka Doncic."

Now I'm saying this: "Well, THAT didn't work."