By most accounts, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers should last at least six games and maybe even longer.
According to FanDuel, the Lakers are -190 to advance. To put that in perspective, the New York Knicks, the other three seed in the playoffs, are -430 against the Detroit Pistons, a heavy favorite.
Don’t tell Nick Wright any of this, though. He sees this as an easy series for the Lakers.
The Fox Sports host gave Minnesota little credit on his “What’s Wright? With Nick Wright” podcast. Instead, he made it sound like the Lakers would play an NAIA school in Round 1.
This is the ideal bracket for the Lakers. … This was the best you could’ve hoped for.
Wright argued that the Lakers would prefer to face the Timberwolves in Round 1 over the LA Clippers, Denver Nuggets, or Golden State Warriors.
He went on to credit Anthony Edwards while throwing shade at Rudy Gobert.
Ant might average 32 a game this series. But that’s fine. Here are the other things that are going to happen. I don’t know how you can credibly play Rudy Gobert the amount of minutes you probably want to play him.
Wright referenced Luka Doncic‘s game-winner against Gobert in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals last year as a reason why Gobert can’t play heavy minutes this time around. Wright also mentioned that Doncic will want to make Gobert cry.
It seems a bit odd to focus on one moment and one shot as to why a defensive anchor and multiple-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year can’t play in this series, but to each their own!
Wright didn’t stop with the criticism of Minnesota’s roster and moved his attention towards another player.
The Lakers no longer have to deal with ‘playoff’ D’Angelo Russell, which is a disaster. Instead, they get to go against ‘playoff’ Julius Randle which is a different type of disaster. That’s nice.
As for a prediction? Wright gave a patronizing answer directed at the Wolves.
I think it is a hard-fought, five-games for the Lakers… My favorite Round 1 bet… This is +120… The Lakers minus a game and a half in the series is +120.
Taking that bet means you’d be picking the Lakers to sweep Minnesota or win in five games. Wright said it won’t be a problem because, in his own words, “Luka is going to light this team on fire.”
Wright certainly isn’t shy when it comes to bold takes that get clicks. This is the latest.
Let’s see how the chips fall.
