(2) Nuggets vs. (7) Lakers First Round Playoff Series Thread

[j3lademaster]

Haven't watched any games this series, but you have to wonder how Anthony Davis can average 32/13 and Lakers can't win a single game?

Empty stats?

I always thought with AD that most his points were not impactful, it was shots that much less skilled players could make, just being a playfinisher.

When he was impactful was when he shot a bunch of midrange shots and worked the post.

AD has played a great series so far. Denver started clogging the lane on him and LA couldn’t make them pay for it by knocking down shots, simple as that.

[j3lademaster]

Just as predicted. The Nuggets just have too much firepower

except they shot a similar percentage overall and from 3. The difference was the glass.

[tpols]

Haven't watched any games this series, but you have to wonder how Anthony Davis can average 32/13 and Lakers can't win a single game?

Empty stats?

I always thought with AD that most his points were not impactful, it was shots that much less skilled players could make, just being a playfinisher.

When he was impactful was when he shot a bunch of midrange shots and worked the post.

How can it be empty stats in such close games?

If AD averaged 25 on 45% instead of 33 on 62% none of these games would be close.

The Lakers are just massive chokers. They've had double digit leads in EVERY SINGLE GAME.

20 point 3rd quarter leads and double digit 4th quarter leads.

It's not a lack of impact... they are literally choke artists. Their the Picasso of giving it up.

We need Kobe back man...

[dankok8]

The choking narrative is overblown. The Nuggets can turn it on in important moments and win the game because they are the better team. Anyways, surprised no one has mentioned it but Denver has seriously struggled shooting the ball in the series so far. 26.9% from 3pt land and their TS% is a putrid 54.5% but they've made up for it by having way more possessions than LA thanks to offensive rebounding and having fewer turnovers.

[FultzNationRISE]

The choking narrative is overblown. The Nuggets can turn it on in important moments and win the game because they are the better team. Anyways, surprised no one has mentioned it but Denver has seriously struggled shooting the ball in the series so far. 26.9% from 3pt land and their TS% is a putrid 54.5% but they've made up for it by having way more possessions than LA thanks to offensive rebounding and having fewer turnovers.

I think a lot of that is Murray who’s been forcing it a bit this series, trying to find that Playoff Murray form.

Once he finally gives up TRYING to be that guy, thats when he probably WILL start playing like that guy, and it should sort itself out.

[Duffy Pratt]

In every game, the Lakers ran out of gas. AD and LeBron were getting beat down the court on every possession and getting beat on defense since they had simply played themselves out.

Gordon had a great game largely because LeBron continually lost him on help or simply didn’t bother to box him out. (And yeah, Rui wasn’t much better here). The Lakers lost because of a lack of energy and heart. Maybe also because LeBron has just gotten too used to not playing D, and he can only bring himself to do it when he might get a highlight out of it (like with a chase down block).

As I said before, the Nuggets were playing rope-a-dope, and the Lakers fell for it three games in a row. They are beating them because they are in better condition. Imagine how bad it would be if Jiker got into shape.

[elementally morale]

Denver wasn't playing well. They had 3-4 quarters when they did and another 2-3 where there were okay. With this performance last year they would've been down 2-1 by now and last year's Denver team would win these games by 20. The score is 3-0, so it is all good but the Nuggets are far from playing championship level at the moment. They are a terrible matchup for the Lakers, but against many other teams in the West this performance won't be enough. At least they play with composure and heart. That's nice. But it's time they showed us some Nuggets basketball for longer stretches than 5 minutes at a time.

[Nowoco]

The choking narrative is overblown. The Nuggets can turn it on in important moments and win the game because they are the better team.

This. I'd love to call the Lakers flat out chokers but that's a distortion of the truth. For the Lakers to win, they need almost everything to go their way for 4 quarters. They can't stop the Nugget's offence when it counts and bear in mind, the Nugget's haven't had great performances from their second and third options. The only reason the Lakers have had big leads to blow is because the Nuggets havent fired on all cylinders. In short, for the Lakers to win any game this series, they needed superhuman performances from their own team and horrible games from the Nuggets. They've played well in patches but that's not going to do it against the best team in the NBA.

[Wally450]

Are we really surprised the Nuggets are up 3-0? Maybe a little surprised considering the leads that the Lakers have blown. But the Nuggets are one of these teams that you'd expect to erase a double digit lead in a couple possessions and make the timely shots down the stretch to win close games. The Lakers simply don't have the firepower.

[hold this L]

This. I'd love to call the Lakers flat out chokers but that's a distortion of the truth. For the Lakers to win, they need almost everything to go their way for 4 quarters. They can't stop the Nugget's offence when it counts and bear in mind, the Nugget's haven't had great performances from their second and third options. The only reason the Lakers have had big leads to blow is because the Nuggets havent fired on all cylinders. In short, for the Lakers to win any game this series, they needed superhuman performances from their own team and horrible games from the Nuggets. They've played well in patches but that's not going to do it against the best team in the NBA.

They absolutely choked game 2 though, that's not up for debate. The other games, the Nuggets are just better.

[Duffy Pratt]

Denver wasn't playing well. They had 3-4 quarters when they did and another 2-3 where there were okay. With this performance last year they would've been down 2-1 by now and last year's Denver team would win these games by 20. The score is 3-0, so it is all good but the Nuggets are far from playing championship level at the moment. They are a terrible matchup for the Lakers, but against many other teams in the West this performance won't be enough. At least they play with composure and heart. That's nice. But it's time they showed us some Nuggets basketball for longer stretches than 5 minutes at a time.

Totally agree with this. They have showed signs of this complacency/lethargy all season. It hasn’t hurt in this series, but they are still a long way from their peak.

[elementally morale]

Totally agree with this. They have showed signs of this complacency/lethargy all season. It hasn’t hurt in this series, but they are still a long way from their peak.

They played well against Boston and Minnesota when they thought 'it mattered'. But many times they play too laid back basketball. They won these games so who am I to criticize, but I think it would've been easier and more decisive if Jokic didn't play entire quarters taking one shot. It's not keeping the defense honest and after 10-15 such possessions it kills the passing lanes because there is no threat from the big man. I think Jokic needs to take more shots. I know, it has worked... but at times barely.

[Hey Yo]

The 2nd quarter is when LA started fukkin up by not being able to capitalize on the stops they were getting. Kept missing shot after shot after getting the defensive stop. Russell couldn't make shit, Reaves was came to the show too late, Rui missing more shots at the rim like LA did a lot as a ream in game 2, bench has been pure ass... etc, etc

[ArbitraryWater]

The 2nd quarter is when LA started fukkin up by not being able to capitalize on the stops they were getting. Kept missing shot after shot after getting the defensive stop. Russell couldn't make shit, Reaves was came to the show too late, Rui missing more shots at the rim like LA did a lot as a ream in game 2, bench has been pure ass... etc, etc

Same shit happened in game 2 tbh but AD and later Bron kept them afoat.

Rui nor Reaves hitting open 3 daggers, was ultimately their dagger.

These dummies are ruining Brons final years.

[red1]

nuggets are winning the ring again.


sucks to get swept again but hey at least its the champs, right?


need to unload dlo ASAP. we all saw this coming. far too inconsistent.


I think this lakers teams has another year of contending in them. AD and lebron can get it done. just need a couple of shooters.


2020 they had good roleplayers like old man rondo and kcp and caruso.


thats the difference between that lakers team which was a top seed in the west all season long, and the lakers teams of the last two years which struggled every close game and struggled to make playoffs.