“No Center, No Chance”: Charles Barkley Rips Lakers’ Lineup Strategy, Questions Luka and LeBron’s Playoff Chemistry After Disappointing Showing Against Timberwolves

“No Center, No Chance”: Charles Barkley Rips Lakers’ Lineup Strategy, Questions Luka and LeBron’s Playoff Chemistry After Disappointing Showing Against Timberwolves

NBA Hall of Famer and outspoken analyst Charles Barkley didn’t hold back during Thursday night’s postgame coverage, launching into a fiery critique of the Los Angeles Lakers following their humbling loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Barkley, never shy about voicing his opinion, zeroed in on two major issues: the Lakers’ refusal to anchor their lineup with a proper center, and the shockingly poor chemistry between Luka Dončić and LeBron James in the postseason.

“You can’t win in the playoffs without size — I don’t care what year it is,” Barkley said bluntly. “This center-less thing the Lakers keep trying? It’s costing them everything. It’s costing them games, it’s costing them rhythm, it’s costing them defense — and it’s going to cost them their season.”

Against Minnesota’s dominant frontcourt — led by Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert — the Lakers struggled to control the paint, getting outrebounded and outmuscled at nearly every turn. Without a reliable big man to protect the rim or set hard screens, the Lakers’ gameplan fell apart quickly, and Barkley believes the coaching staff needs to stop experimenting and start adjusting.

“You’re playing grown men in the paint. You need a real center. This small-ball nonsense gets you beat by teams with length and toughness,” Barkley fumed. “If you think you can float through the West without size, you’re out of your mind.”

But Barkley didn’t stop there. He turned his attention to what many had hoped would be the postseason’s most electrifying duo: Luka Dončić and LeBron James. Instead, the partnership has looked disjointed, with both players struggling to find rhythm and cohesion on the floor.

“The chemistry is off. I mean way off,” Barkley said. “That was not what everybody expected. We were talking about LeBron’s playmaking and Luka’s scoring being unstoppable — but they’re stepping on each other’s toes. It’s like they don’t know who’s running the show.”

Fans and analysts alike were eager to see what the pairing of two high-IQ superstars could produce in the high-stakes environment of the playoffs. But instead of synergy, there’s been hesitation, miscommunication, and a glaring lack of fluid ball movement — not to mention defensive lapses.

Barkley’s assessment: this isn’t just an adjustment period — it’s a red flag.

“It ain’t just timing, it’s roles. You’ve got two guys who are used to controlling the ball for 40 minutes. Someone has to sacrifice — and right now, neither of them looks willing to.”

As the Lakers stare down elimination threats and criticism mounts, the message from Barkley is clear: this isn’t the time for stylistic experiments or ego balancing acts. It’s time to get real — or go home.