WCF: (1) Los Angeles Lakers vs (3) Denver Nuggets, Part 1

[Homer38]

Also Harris appears to be super important

This is crazy since the nuggets were so bad on defense vs Jazz when Harris was out.

[Plossum]

Lakers in 5. Their D is too good.

[Buckets22]

Lakers in 6:
Game 1 - Lakers
Game 2 - Nuggets
Game 3 - Lakers
Game 4 - Nuggets
Game 5 and 6- Lakers

[Alatan]

The Lakers have some great players but they also have some big weaknesses. It will be tough beating them but it is possible. They dont have great shooters and apart from Lebron their plazmaking is pretty bad. If we manage to pack the paint and double team LBJ or AD when they have the ball we might stand a chance. Since Lakers dont have a great PnR guard wittch is the Nuggets greatest weakness i expect our defense to hold up. Make Rondo, KCP and Kuzma beat us!

[Mickey8]

Lakers in 3.

[Alatan]

Lakers are the worst possible match up for the Nuggets.

Literately no one to check Lebron. Murray will be played the same way Lillard and Harden were. The backcourt is already battle tested there. And unlike the Rockets, they can't take out the Lakers biggest strengths which is their interior defense and one of their better defenders. Dwight Howard and AD are gonna make it hell inside all series for Jokic.

Lakers in 5 for me.

The Lakers are not the worst matcu up for the Nuggets. A great PnR teams is our worst match up and the LA guards suck.
We will try to pack the paint to deter LBJ drives and double either AD or LBJ as we did Kawhi. We will make KCP, Kuzma and Rondo take those cluch, contested thres and see if they go in.

On the offensive side Jokic and Murray are not Harden and WB. Double team any of them and you are sure to pay. And i would not be too confident about guarding Jokic. If Gobert couldnt guard him then i dount McGee or Dwight can. AD can slow him down for sure but it wont be easy.

[Dupp]

Wonder if the Lakers will come out terrible in game 1 like their first two rounds:

[jc23]

Vegas will make you rich if you bet the Nuggets and they win.

[stoo]

Read on Twitter

I feel afraid. I couldn't find a better mix to defend Denver.

Watch on YouTube

[Sgt Major]

AD, Javale and Howard are better than Montrezl and Zubac, but Caruso, Rondo and KCP are not Kawhi, Wayoff P, Beverley and Sour Lou, so the Nuggets' backcourt will have more space and breath. This is gonna be fun.

[fbalmeida]

Mind says Lakers in 7.

Heart is with Nuggets in 4.

[baldur]

AD, Javale and Howard are better than Montrezl and Zubac, but Caruso, Rondo and KCP are not Kawhi, Wayoff P, Beverley and Sour Lou, to the Nuggets' backcourt will have more space and breath. This is gonna be fun.

[NPZ]

Nuggets will have a hard time figuring out how to stop players like Playoff Rondo and Caruso. Those guys are X Factors for the Lakers. LAL has a lot of guys who step up with big shots and big games that the opponent isn't counting on. They all seem to remain too worried about how Brawn and AD are going to damage them.

[trueballer7]

Who knows. Lakers have the clear advantage because of size and experience. Nuggets on the other hand, have gone past so many mental hurdles already, they might have elevated a level or two as a team.

[Jazz9]

Let's see if the Lakers will underestimate the Nuggets too...

[AussieCeltic]

Heart says Nuggets in 7
Head says Lakers in 6

What will the matchups be?

Craig or Grant on Lebron?
Millsap on AD?
KCP on Murray?
McGee/Dwight on Jokic?

Lebron will be able to coast on defense and will play the free safety style D which he’s amazing at. I expect him to take more control then what he’s done previous series.

I think Murray/Jokic can get theirs will need Gary Harris/MPJ to step up to win.

Should be a fun series!

[Liam_Gallagher]

The Nuggets aren't beating the Lakers. They've struggled against them all year, except for the one time LeBron didn't play, which is the only game out of the 4 they played in which Denver won. LAL beat them twice on their home court.

Jokic and Murray are playing well, but stop it. It's LeBron James. He'll never lose a round before the Finals.

[nomansland]

Like Malone said, recent games between these teams have been pretty close. I understand why the Nuggets aren't afraid.

[hedo15]

in normal circumstances lakers in 4

but the east finals will probably go 7 games so the lakers should intentionally drop a game or 2 so that they don't start the finals series rusty against an opponent who went through adversity

[Official]

Unlike the Clippers the Lakers have the size to deal with Jokic and defend the rim. And people continue to disrespect their wing defenders - they just got through Lillard, CJ, Westbrook and Harden. We can deal with Murray.