WCF: Lakers vs Nuggets 4-1 Lakers win series!

[iamworthy]

Not sure why we didn't at least try JR Smith in there down 20... It's not like Green or Kuz were really winning the world on D anyway.
We brought him here to hit big 3s in the playoffs and yet we didn't play him the one game we needed him...
THT is athletic and can straight shoot the ball too... Why not Vogel?

So here's my crazy theory... Message to Giannis game... "No Bro... We need you... You complete us."

I'm honestly not sure how many more games like this LeBron has in him... He completely ran out of gas, and his shooting is really concerning right now. Judging by tonight, he's got 1 spot on the court he can hit jumpers from.
So maybe we need Giannis to pair with AD, more than we think?

I actually didnt think lebron had a good game. Seems like he coasted all night. I know he got his numbers though.

[Spanish_Laker]

Vogel should stop switching, stop switching every time Jokic sets a screen, he gets a favourable mismatch on a guard and it is an easy basket down low or a kick to a wide open 3 point shooter. Stay home!

[Spanish_Laker]

^we have a lot of dire issues. Not sure this is our year.

Bro we just destroyed two of the hottest teams (POR, HOU) in the NBA featuring unique superstars and we are up 2-1 against a very good team. We lost because we shot terribly from 3 and we didn't box out/rebound at all, plain and simple. We should be fine.

[Beethoven]

Ok

[Kilroy]

Not sure why we didn't at least try JR Smith in there down 20... It's not like Green or Kuz were really winning the world on D anyway.
We brought him here to hit big 3s in the playoffs and yet we didn't play him the one game we needed him...
THT is athletic and can straight shoot the ball too... Why not Vogel?

So here's my crazy theory... Message to Giannis game... "No Bro... We need you... You complete us."

I'm honestly not sure how many more games like this LeBron has in him... He completely ran out of gas, and his shooting is really concerning right now. Judging by tonight, he's got 1 spot on the court he can hit jumpers from.
So maybe we need Giannis to pair with AD, more than we think?

I actually didnt think lebron had a good game. Seems like he coasted all night. I know he got his numbers though.

Yeah, I said that too, in the GT... Despite the numbers, I thought he played like crap... But he also tried to will us to victory and got gassed, took some ill advised jumpers and came up short... So I'm just saying that I was surprised how much it took out of him, and concerned that maybe the grind of the playoffs in the bubble is taking it's toll.

Another wild-ass theory I thought of is maybe LeBron got a little bent about all the love for AD after his last second shot in Gm2... All the "AD's the best on the team" hot takes... And decided to let AD win it or loose it next game to sort of teach him a lesson... The reason I say that is because, like I mentioned in the GT, we ran everything through AD last night, sometimes twice... It was predictable and AD played like crap on top of that... I don't think we've force fed AD that much all season, so it made me wonder what we were doing.

I didn't think AD and LeBron played that well in GM 2 either if I'm honest... Hope they figure it out and it's not the same kryptonite Denver found for the Clips working on us...

[Hans1984]

What the **** was that ? Did they forget they are in a playoff game ? What a sh.tshow all around
The whole team should be embarassed by their performance but they probably don't even care...

[EArl]

^we have a lot of dire issues. Not sure this is our year.

Bro we just destroyed two of the hottest teams (POR, HOU) in the NBA featuring unique superstars and we are up 2-1 against a very good team. We lost because we shot terribly from 3 and we didn't box out/rebound at all, plain and simple. We should be fine.

Exactly. I think this is our best shot at a title. Its only going to get harder as Lebron gets older. ppl make it seem like were down.

[LAKESHOW]

Hero just dropped 37. Do we have anyone from our bench who can get that hot on a given night?

[TylersLakers]

We have to make line-up changes, and I think I'd start the game off going small. I'd also play Dwight 20-22 MPG.

KCP
Kuzma
LeBron
AD
Morris

Caruso
Rondo
Green
Howard

That's it. No McGee.

[TylersLakers]

Hero just dropped 37. Do we have anyone from our bench who can get that hot on a given night?

If Kuzma's aggressive, he can get 25-30. He's gotta get back to being assertive and confident.

[stan francisco]

Mike Malone made some good adjustments to disrupt our default LBJ game, and he waited with some of the adjustments until the fourth. Tricky coach.

PJ says playoffs are all about adjustments. Nuggets adjusted after game one, we still won game two. Time for Frank to react to Malone’s revealed hand.

I say we lead by 3-0 after tonight if the coaching staff does their job.

I’d play LeBron more in the post tonight to offset their defensive plan. Let Caruso, Rondo, AD bring the ball up. Feed it to Bron in the post instead. They can’t build their wall under the basket They’ll soon have to put Millsap on him in the post. At that point, we got them. Markieff, Green, Caruso, Kuzma, AD will be open from the three and for cuts all night.

Go Lakers!

Vogel’s defensive scheme for Murray worked well, but I’d anticipate adjustments coming. I’d try to add a wrinkle to the Jokic coverage by playing AD on him up high and I’d start Howard to cover Jokic down low. We should be fine tonight.

I agree with most of what you said esp about Vogel needs to make adjustments but I'm not sure why Malone will be more worried about the Laker's shooters rather than clog the lanes so AD and Lebron can't operate inside.
But take a look at what happened after the Lakers built an 8 pt lead with 3:03 left. Jokic went on a tear including a "lucky tip in" and ESP with a very high % 5 foot hook over a skinnier Davis.
2:16 LeBron James misses 25-foot three point jumper 94 - 100

1:46 Rajon Rondo misses a WIDE OPEN 24-foot three point jumper 96 - 100



56.5 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses open 25-foot three point jumper 99 - 100

26.7 Anthony Davis makes 13-foot driving floating jump shot (LeBron James assists) 101 - 102

6.9 Alex Caruso misses a WIDE OPEN 26-foot three point jumper 103 - 102


Anthony Davis makes contested 26-foot three point jumper (Rajon Rondo assists) 103 - 105

Morris, James and Rondo have had hot shooting games but they are very streaky, Caruso is shooting 26% from 3. AD has been good from 3, but I trust him more inside esp when he shoots 82% inside 3 feet. Morris before eliminating Houston in game 5 failed to hit above 25% from 3 in 6 of 9 games. James, Green,Caruso, Kuzma has been been shooting under 31% from 3 vs Denver this playoffs. As a Laker fan, I'm hoping that a couple of them would find their shot soon.
And btw, why would Denver try to form a wall again if they put the bulky Millsap on Lebron? I think they clog the lanes more bec of AD's supremacy inside and James ability to attack the basket.

Good points.

James collapsing their defense into the post makes our 3pt shooters better. Inside out via LBJ, like Malone uses Jokic. AD has a great mid range game, not worried about clogging and tag teaming down low.

[stan francisco]

Mike Malone made some good adjustments to disrupt our default LBJ game, and he waited with some of the adjustments until the fourth. Tricky coach.

PJ says playoffs are all about adjustments. Nuggets adjusted after game one, we still won game two. Time for Frank to react to Malone’s revealed hand.

I say we lead by 3-0 after tonight if the coaching staff does their job.

I’d play LeBron more in the post tonight to offset their defensive plan. Let Caruso, Rondo, AD bring the ball up. Feed it to Bron in the post instead. They can’t build their wall under the basket They’ll soon have to put Millsap on him in the post. At that point, we got them. Markieff, Green, Caruso, Kuzma, AD will be open from the three and for cuts all night.

Go Lakers!

Vogel’s defensive scheme for Murray worked well, but I’d anticipate adjustments coming. I’d try to add a wrinkle to the Jokic coverage by playing AD on him up high and I’d start Howard to cover Jokic down low. We should be fine tonight.

I agree with most of what you said esp about Vogel needs to make adjustments but I'm not sure why Malone will be more worried about the Laker's shooters rather than clog the lanes so AD and Lebron can't operate inside.
But take a look at what happened after the Lakers built an 8 pt lead with 3:03 left. Jokic went on a tear including a "lucky tip in" and ESP with a very high % 5 foot hook over a skinnier Davis.
2:16 LeBron James misses 25-foot three point jumper 94 - 100

1:46 Rajon Rondo misses a WIDE OPEN 24-foot three point jumper 96 - 100



56.5 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses open 25-foot three point jumper 99 - 100

26.7 Anthony Davis makes 13-foot driving floating jump shot (LeBron James assists) 101 - 102

6.9 Alex Caruso misses a WIDE OPEN 26-foot three point jumper 103 - 102


Anthony Davis makes contested 26-foot three point jumper (Rajon Rondo assists) 103 - 105

Morris, James and Rondo have had hot shooting games but they are very streaky, Caruso is shooting 26% from 3. AD has been good from 3, but I trust him more inside esp when he shoots 82% inside 3 feet. Morris before eliminating Houston in game 5 failed to hit above 25% from 3 in 6 of 9 games. James, Green,Caruso, Kuzma has been been shooting under 31% from 3 vs Denver this playoffs. As a Laker fan, I'm hoping that a couple of them would find their shot soon.
And btw, why would Denver try to form a wall again if they put the bulky Millsap on Lebron? I think they clog the lanes more bec of AD's supremacy inside and James ability to attack the basket.

Btw, the moments marked in red is when I screamed “NOOOOO!!!”, lol.

We should go through AD every possession. Good things happen when he gets the ball.

[mcscotty]

I feel like the team might have got into Lebron's wine stash after Game 2. Hopefully they'll be firing on all cylinders tonight.

[Spanish_Laker]

Must win today. We can't afford to go 2-2 on these Nuggets. Keys to the game:

1. Rebound: we must win the rebounding battle every game with the personnel we have
2. Shoot at a pro level: we have to shoot 35% or better. Stop shooting like amateur players.
3. Stop switching: it is benefiting Denver since it is either a Jokic mismatch on the post or a guard shooting an open 3.
4. Attack the rim: no more midrange shots or contested 3s, go to the hole, force FTs and wipe open shots.

[Hoopz Afrik]

I think they'll make it a point to get downhill and in the paint this game. I saw Vogel griping about the officiating especially with respect to LeBron. The boys just gotta man up and cease control early. No different than the other two series. Lock in and lockdown.

[Beethoven]

Let's get this one tonite.
Please..
This should be DEFCON 2 at least for the team and coaching staff.

Once Denver tastes blood they will NOT relent.



We also do not want to become the laughingstock the hobos have become (or continually is being lol)

[teksablabb]

A detailed analysis of the back and forth chess match in the series:

Watch on YouTube

[tamaraw08]

Hero just dropped 37. Do we have anyone from our bench who can get that hot on a given night?

Danny Green ....
okay I must admit I’m losing patience with this guy. KCP has been consistent and I cringe to think he’s going to cool down. Morris, Rondo and even Caruso (for 1-2 quarters) have had good shooting nights and I’m not sure they’ll do it again because they’re not pure shooters.
Lebron might be due, Call me crazy but I like Caruso’s shooting form..

[Kilroy]

I think they'll make it a point to get downhill and in the paint this game. I saw Vogel griping about the officiating especially with respect to LeBron. The boys just gotta man up and cease control early. No different than the other two series. Lock in and lockdown.

Yeah, but not in the paint... We need the make the whole court downhill for us...
Half court offense isn't really doing it for us right now... LeBron Dribbles too much...

Denver has no real answer for our transition offense... We need to get out and run full court...

Starts with our D... Need Blocks, rebounds and steals and breaks. Jokic needs to be completely gassed by halftime... We did it in the first 2 games, not sure what happened in the 3rd...

[BEazy]

All I can think about is revenge. Let's buckle down and get this W today.