It requires the heart of a lion to stand against what’s dearest to you. But when the controllable things lose control, someone’s got to speak up. The Los Angeles Lakers were supposedly a strong contender against the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, five playoff games later, the only thing one could say is “Really?” It’s rather surprising how head coach JJ Redick’s strategies (that is, if any) crumbled like stale bread. And when criticism took hold, JJ felt the heat. But, on the other hand, Magic Johnson is cheering them on.

The Lakers legend couldn’t resist his urge to congratulate the Minnesota Timberwolves for moving to the next round after pinning down his team 4-1. Commending Alex Rodriguez, ANT, and everyone on the team, Magic Johnson also tweeted: “The reason the Lakers lost was because they played awful on defense, they were too small, and the Timberwolves dominated them in the paint.” Undoubtedly, this raised some eyebrows as the franchise’s very own icon didn’t defend them.

Moreover, Johnson didn’t stop at this. He soon dropped two more tweets aimed at ESPN employees. They had broken down LA’s stats, failures, and JJ Redick’s coaching flaws. In the first tweet, Magic Johnson addressed Mike Greenberg. He called him a fellow point guard. Magic praised him for highlighting the Lakers’ struggles and explaining why they lost.

Meanwhile, Johnson appreciated Kendrick Perkins for his detailed descriptions and for calling out Redick’s strategies. In the next tweet, Johnson praised Jay Williams and Brian Windhorst for exposing the Lakers’ deep-rooted flaws. Here, Magic Johnson didn’t just show a clarity of emotions but also hit the siren on his team for their evident mistakes on the court and bench.

Johnson’s emphasis on defense isn’t a first-time story. After Game 1, the 65-year-old pointed out that defensive failure and a lack of physical game were the cause of the downfall. Another major reason for losing the series was the Lakers’ lack of a reliable center. Jaxson Hayes, who played during the regular season, averaged just 7.8 minutes per game and couldn’t crack JJ Redick’s rotation in Round 1. But the question here is, what has JJ Redick done to curb the flaws? According to Big Perk, nothing.

Kendrick Perkins grills JJ Redick as Magic Johnson commends ESPN employees for their honest take on Lakers’ loss

Perkins didn’t mince words as he sat at the desk at ESPN’s studio to dissect the Lakers and their horrible end to the 2024-25 NBA season. The legend asked, “Did JJ Redick make any adjustments in this series to adjust to the Minnesota Timberwolves? No. To the size, the athleticism, the length? No. Absolutely not.” According to Big Perk, Redick was hellbent on playing his smallball lineup, leading to being stuck in a place of no return.

Leaving, LeBron James, “Forty-year-old senior citizen, at the five position to battle with Rudy, Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Jaden McDaniels.” By the time Q4 began, Bron was exhausted; he looked exhausted. He was failing to give anything offensively. Thus, JJ Redick’s defensive tactics, like the 2-3 zone and trapping Anthony Edwards, failed early in the series. “Anthony Edwards had it all figured out,” Perkins commented.

“At what point are you, as the head coach, going to make adjustments? Especially when you’re down in the series. But instead, you’re trying to prove to the rest of the world that your way is going to work. And it didn’t. You tried to pick on Rudy Gobert. You tried to pick on him in the pick-and-roll. That didn’t work.” Interestingly enough, the opponent shot 28% from the field when Rudy was the primary defender.

Well, JJ Redick’s refusal to adapt doomed the Lakers. Magic Johnson didn’t sugarcoat the truth, while Kendrick Perkins hammered home the glaring mistakes. Moreover, LeBron James was left to fight alone, and the team crumbled under poor decisions. The Lakers’ loss wasn’t just a defeat, but a failure of leadership and strategy. Moving into the offseason, what awaits the Purple and Gold is a mystery yet to unfold.