2024 NBA Playoffs: West 1st Round: #2 Denver Nuggets vs #7 Los Angeles Lakers (DEN WINS 4-1)

[LaLover11]

I didn't watch the game.

What was the adjustment the Lakers made to reduce Aaron Gordon to 7 points (3-7 FG)?

Watching the Post Game interview from the Laker Players. They mention they had extra film sessions about keeping a body on Gordon to Limit easy points

[Hans1984]

Well, at least no sweep. I take it.

[lambchop]

I didn't watch the game.

What was the adjustment the Lakers made to reduce Aaron Gordon to 7 points (3-7 FG)?

Watching the Post Game interview from the Laker Players. They mention they had extra film sessions about keeping a body on Gordon to Limit easy points

Also interesting how the Lakers copied the nuggets offense. It was D-Lo with AD in the pick n roll or AD mid to high post action, while LBJ was in Gordon's dunker spot for cuts and easy finishes.

[AmIWrongDude]

I didn't watch the game.

What was the adjustment the Lakers made to reduce Aaron Gordon to 7 points (3-7 FG)?

Don’t let him get wide open dunks.

LA’s plan last game seemed to be to play off Gordon to help on Jokic and Murray and they learned the hard way it wasn’t a viable strategy.

Overall Denver just didn’t seem to have it in game 4 though

[pontius]

The Nuggets have shot 27.6% from three this postseason. Only the Cavs are shooting worse.

[tsherkin]

Welp. That didnt end as I expected. Bench was useless, Murray sucked, and LA's O was clicking.

[K9J]

Congrats to the Lakers for averting the sweep. They did two things they haven't done all series: outrebound the Nuggets and committed less turnovers. AD getting 23 rebound was the the difference maker here. It really should be 2-2 instead of 3-1. The game 2 choke job is what will haunt them.

Other points:
- Jokic was embarrassing defensively. He just showed no effort at all on that end. The Lakers had 72 points in the paint. Everyone was attacking the basket and scoring at will with no resistance at all. It was easily the worst performance he's had in a very long time because he did absolutely nothing on defense.
- The Nuggets bench finally got outplayed by the Lakers bench. I knew the honeymoon phase wasn't going to last long. Sure enough, it didn't.

Oh well, got to close it out in game 5.

Jokic is embarrassing defensively always in what lakers did in game 4..i mean he is underrated as a defender static, he is good in the post or when he is under the rim waiting the ball handler, but always in move plays/drives/pick&roll, the typical play when reaves turn, stop,or move on slowly with the ball, jokic mostly of those plays stay in no man's land, he doesn't even raise his arms to try to disturb bombs, hooks or shots at 2 -3 meters...

Only Aaron Gordon has the ability to change shots in the paint in denver..lakers could get every possession easy shots / layups in the paint, the problem is when lakers outplayed first half, and then started to try circus shots, stepbacks or whatever contested with 5 open guys and no one to catch offensive boards..the first game davis shoot about 4 threes in second half..one of them with deandre jordan in front of him...this doesnt make any sense

Second game lakers outplayed driving the paint, and then denver adjust in second half and put jokic on rui, gordon with davis, and kcp with lebron...easiest matchups to drive or post but davis did a TO and just lost confidence and move to the corner to be passive...rui get a ball in wing left and hit a three with jokic hand in his face...when if he fake and drive fast with first step he could have made a layup or pass to the dunk spot or cut of another player..

lakers just have to penetrate/drive 48 min..and when denver close the paint pass out and hit the open threes

[FreeBird23]

I feel like the Nuggets didnt really try on the last two games.
I would not be surprised if game 5 is a blowout by Denver.

[Wolfgang630]

The Nuggets have shot 27.6% from three this postseason. Only the Cavs are shooting worse.

I just don’t get how they’re so bad……

[LaLover11]

The Nuggets have shot 27.6% from three this postseason. Only the Cavs are shooting worse.

I just don’t get how they’re so bad……

Maybe just maybe it's the Lakers Defense and their shooters having to Guard LeBron posting them up and getting them exhausted/bruised up.

Nobody in the League has the speed and strength like LeBron currently in the West. Giannis is the only one but he's more straight like offense vs Post Up LeBron

Kawhi is the only one that can cause damage like that but he's currently really injured.

I've noticed LeBron learned to get the ball deeper in the paint this recent game vs staying in the perimeter game 1-3. Notice how Once LeBron saw Gordon wasn't on him he went straight to work

[lambchop]

The Nuggets have shot 27.6% from three this postseason. Only the Cavs are shooting worse.

I just don’t get how they’re so bad……

Maybe just maybe it's the Lakers Defense and their shooters having to Guard LeBron posting them up and getting them exhausted/bruised up.

Nobody in the League has the speed and strength like LeBron currently in the West. Giannis is the only one but he's more straight like offense vs Post Up LeBron

Kawhi is the only one that can cause damage like that but he's currently really injured.

I've noticed LeBron learned to get the ball deeper in the paint this recent game vs staying in the perimeter game 1-3. Notice how Once LeBron saw Gordon wasn't on him he went straight to work

Good observation. It was an "awesome shooting performance" by LBJ, however, the shots weren't that difficult. He immediately posted up smaller dudes and when he had AG on him, he opted for the pick n roll and was then able to get exploit those Denver switches or simply use his speed against Jokic.

We'll see how Denver adjusts.

[AleksandarN]

This is a crazy stat

Read on Twitter

[KyRo23]

I just don’t get how they’re so bad……

Maybe just maybe it's the Lakers Defense and their shooters having to Guard LeBron posting them up and getting them exhausted/bruised up.

Nobody in the League has the speed and strength like LeBron currently in the West. Giannis is the only one but he's more straight like offense vs Post Up LeBron

Kawhi is the only one that can cause damage like that but he's currently really injured.

I've noticed LeBron learned to get the ball deeper in the paint this recent game vs staying in the perimeter game 1-3. Notice how Once LeBron saw Gordon wasn't on him he went straight to work

Good observation. It was an "awesome shooting performance" by LBJ, however, the shots weren't that difficult. He immediately posted up smaller dudes and when he had AG on him, he opted for the pick n roll and was then able to get exploit those Denver switches or simply use his speed against Jokic.

We'll see how Denver adjusts.

True, but you just described a lot of what makes Jokic so good on offense. Unless it's a bail out 3, none of Jokic's shots are very tough either. It's basically posting up a smaller dude, hook, up and under, what have you. No need to out "awesome shooting performance" in quotes

[Lost Angel]

that game 2 buzzer beater hurts a lot more now that Lakers aren’t getting swept. Literally seconds away from being a 2-2 series

Lakers take Game 5 and 6 but lose game 7

[lambchop]

Maybe just maybe it's the Lakers Defense and their shooters having to Guard LeBron posting them up and getting them exhausted/bruised up.

Nobody in the League has the speed and strength like LeBron currently in the West. Giannis is the only one but he's more straight like offense vs Post Up LeBron

Kawhi is the only one that can cause damage like that but he's currently really injured.

I've noticed LeBron learned to get the ball deeper in the paint this recent game vs staying in the perimeter game 1-3. Notice how Once LeBron saw Gordon wasn't on him he went straight to work

Good observation. It was an "awesome shooting performance" by LBJ, however, the shots weren't that difficult. He immediately posted up smaller dudes and when he had AG on him, he opted for the pick n roll and was then able to get exploit those Denver switches or simply use his speed against Jokic.

We'll see how Denver adjusts.

True, but you just described a lot of what makes Jokic so good on offense. Unless it's a bail out 3, none of Jokic's shots are very tough either. It's basically posting up a smaller dude, hook, up and under, what have you. No need to out "awesome shooting performance" in quotes

It's not meant to criticize bron. I was actually applauding him for an extremely cerebral game. Over the years I've seen bron work very hard to score 30 on elite efficiency. An example would be those ECF games in 2018 against the Celtics. But yesterday night he played completely within the flow of the game. There were few plays where he had to "impose his will". Impressive stuff.

[Michael Jackson]

Maybe just maybe it's the Lakers Defense and their shooters having to Guard LeBron posting them up and getting them exhausted/bruised up.

Nobody in the League has the speed and strength like LeBron currently in the West. Giannis is the only one but he's more straight like offense vs Post Up LeBron

Kawhi is the only one that can cause damage like that but he's currently really injured.

I've noticed LeBron learned to get the ball deeper in the paint this recent game vs staying in the perimeter game 1-3. Notice how Once LeBron saw Gordon wasn't on him he went straight to work

Good observation. It was an "awesome shooting performance" by LBJ, however, the shots weren't that difficult. He immediately posted up smaller dudes and when he had AG on him, he opted for the pick n roll and was then able to get exploit those Denver switches or simply use his speed against Jokic.

We'll see how Denver adjusts.

True, but you just described a lot of what makes Jokic so good on offense. Unless it's a bail out 3, none of Jokic's shots are very tough either. It's basically posting up a smaller dude, hook, up and under, what have you. No need to out "awesome shooting performance" in quotes

He didn’t waste any energy fighting Gordon which is smart and just capitalized on the other matchups. Great game plan.

[KyRo23]

Good observation. It was an "awesome shooting performance" by LBJ, however, the shots weren't that difficult. He immediately posted up smaller dudes and when he had AG on him, he opted for the pick n roll and was then able to get exploit those Denver switches or simply use his speed against Jokic.

We'll see how Denver adjusts.

True, but you just described a lot of what makes Jokic so good on offense. Unless it's a bail out 3, none of Jokic's shots are very tough either. It's basically posting up a smaller dude, hook, up and under, what have you. No need to out "awesome shooting performance" in quotes

It's not meant to criticize bron. I was actually applauding him for an extremely cerebral game. Over the years I've seen bron work very hard to score 30 on elite efficiency. An example would be those ECF games in 2018 against the Celtics. But yesterday night he played completely within the flow of the game. There were few plays where he had to "impose his will". Impressive stuff.

Good points. I wish he would do it more. Seemed he had extra energy as well. His energy may be conserved in different ways as I was always told that posting up used a ton of energy. I think at his age full out sprints and drives use more energy for him rather than posting up

[Ben-N1ce]

D'lo shooting better than Murray in the series even when scoring zero in a game..

[Michael Jackson]

True, but you just described a lot of what makes Jokic so good on offense. Unless it's a bail out 3, none of Jokic's shots are very tough either. It's basically posting up a smaller dude, hook, up and under, what have you. No need to out "awesome shooting performance" in quotes

It's not meant to criticize bron. I was actually applauding him for an extremely cerebral game. Over the years I've seen bron work very hard to score 30 on elite efficiency. An example would be those ECF games in 2018 against the Celtics. But yesterday night he played completely within the flow of the game. There were few plays where he had to "impose his will". Impressive stuff.

Good points. I wish he would do it more. Seemed he had extra energy as well. His energy may be conserved in different ways as I was always told that posting up used a ton of energy. I think at his age full out sprints and drives use more energy for him rather than posting up

Agreed and he was posting up smaller players too which conserves energy. Even a smaller guy like Lou Dort would zap LeBron because of his strength and tenacity but he is choosing smart matchups. Hence not wasting energy on Gordon.

[Liam_Gallagher]

The Lakers have led in 70% of the minutes so far in this series. Absolutely insane.

Serious should be 2-2.