Lakers salivating after hearing Chris Finch's game plan to prepare for Luka Doncic

The Timberwolves are doing what they can to prepare for the Lakers superstar...
Houston Rockets v Los Angeles Lakers
Houston Rockets v Los Angeles Lakers | Katelyn Mulcahy/GettyImages

Luka Doncic is a generational talent and one of the best offensive players and minds that the NBA has ever seen. This makes him a nightmare of a matchup to prepare against.

Doncic's offensive IQ and ability to dissect the game is at such an elite level that even his teammate, LeBron James, who is an all-time offensive machine in his own right, has found it remarkable.

"We [James and Doncic] have the ability to do so many great things. ... [We can] play bully ball, but also have the the brain to be able to manipulate the game as well for the greater good," James told Steve Nash on the season debut of the Mind the Game podcast.

So how does one get themselvese ready to play that kind of player? If you're Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch, you do the best that you can.

Finch explains how Timberwolves are preparing for Doncic

Finding someone that can do what Doncic can is nearly impossible. That makes him an incredibly tough matchup to properly install a defensive game plan for. However, Finch's answer to the challenge is comedic.

"We have our scout team ready," the Timberwolves head coach told members of the media. "Yeah, it's hard to replicate everything he does. We have Joe Ingles kind of simulating some of the things. [It] gives us a comparison on size and IQ for sure, but it's certainly tough. And then obviously you gotta try to simulate LeBron and the other guys around him."

With no disrespect meant to Ingles, who has been a quality role player in the NBA, this strategy misses the mark a bit. The well-traveled NBA veteran is certainly no slouch when it comes to his offensive mind. However, it is far off from rivaling that of Doncic.

Any point made to the overall ability is obvious. Luka's ability to captivate and draw defenses in far exceeds anything that Ingles has ever been capable of.

A scout team is just that at the end of the day. The expectation is certainly not to find someone there capable of simulating a top five player in the NBA. Finch does appear to recognize that, to some extent. However, one would expect a little more than what is being offered to scheme against the guy who sent the Timberwolves packing in last year's Western Conference Finals. The Lakers should be thrilled.