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

[Dr Aki]

I don't think Denver are going to let McGee/Dwight single cover Jokic.

I think they're going to try to force a switch onto Murray the way we saw the Rockets try to force a switch before we simply just went small.

[Dr Aki]

[lazybatman]

Can we add a poll to this thread? I wanna vote Lakers 4-0.

[lazybatman]

We got this! Let Murray do his thing and stop the Joker... Lakers in 6.

Don't double Jokic, he will pick you apart. Play him straight up and he will score some points, but that's fine. Gear defense towards taking away Murray's scoring opportunities. I can't see the Nuggets winning unless he has big scoring games.

We shouldn't need to double him. AD, Dwight, Lebron and Morris should be able to guard him straight up, except when he's posting up in the paint. Then help on the turn, if your guy's not a cutter.

[lazybatman]

Need Dwight to do what he did against Jokic in the regular season and try to shut him down cause we can't exactly double him otherwise he will tear us apart. Both Dwight and McGee will be crucial to stopping Jokic really.

I'm worried about Murray cause we all saw how Lillard could light us up. Playoff Rondo needs to continue to show up and try and shut him down or at least someone needs to bait him into foul trouble or a suspension. We can't have Danny Green or KCP shooting bricks either in these games cause you know the nuggets role players and bench guys will show up and play.

I don't know what answers they will have for A.D and Lebron (since they didn't really have to play a big as great as A.D nor a ball handler as great as Lebron in their last series).

We ought to win this in around 6 games if all goes well but i wouldn't be shocked if we're in for an absolute dogfight of a 7 game series. A team that mentally prepared isn't going to go down without a fight.

And here I was hoping we could keep Rondo fresh for the finals.. Can't disagree with anything in your post though. Just think this'll be a one sided series where we hopefully don't need Rondo.

Heat giving me the fits thus far though. Riley waiting for revenge on Lebron.

[Hans1984]

Could be a difficult series especially since we know how lackluster the lakers will play in game 1.

[Spanish_Laker]

Please show up in Game 1. No more "feel-out" games BS.

[Beethoven]

These guys haven't played bball for about 2 weeks now ??
Can't go anywhere outside the bubble?
I hope they don't have cabin fever.

[LAKESHOW]

In that case kcp and green better be living in the gym shooting 3s

[Kilroy]

Reminds me of that Prince song... Purple Reign...

[zuju]

How hilarious are guys on the general board believing that doubling james and ad could limit us as a whole while us doubling joker and murray will have to pay

[BEazy]

I'm enjoying the Celtics struggling. This playoffs have been full of pleasant surprises for Lakers fans.

[Danny Darko]

I'm enjoying the Celtics struggling. This playoffs have been full of pleasant surprises for Lakers fans.

I was looking forward to Nuggets fans being angry that we were already talking about how we'd beat the **** out of the Celtics in the Finals.

[Beethoven]

^let's not do like the hobos did.

[mcscotty]

Need Dwight to do what he did against Jokic in the regular season and try to shut him down cause we can't exactly double him otherwise he will tear us apart. Both Dwight and McGee will be crucial to stopping Jokic really.

I'm worried about Murray cause we all saw how Lillard could light us up. Playoff Rondo needs to continue to show up and try and shut him down or at least someone needs to bait him into foul trouble or a suspension. We can't have Danny Green or KCP shooting bricks either in these games cause you know the nuggets role players and bench guys will show up and play.

I don't know what answers they will have for A.D and Lebron (since they didn't really have to play a big as great as A.D nor a ball handler as great as Lebron in their last series).

We ought to win this in around 6 games if all goes well but i wouldn't be shocked if we're in for an absolute dogfight of a 7 game series. A team that mentally prepared isn't going to go down without a fight.

And here I was hoping we could keep Rondo fresh for the finals.. Can't disagree with anything in your post though. Just think this'll be a one sided series where we hopefully don't need Rondo.

Heat giving me the fits thus far though. Riley waiting for revenge on Lebron.

No worries about the Heat. Bron owns the East.

[EArl]

Can we add a poll to this thread? I wanna vote Lakers 4-0.

Ask and you shall receive.

[tamaraw08]

I"m going to add Mike Malone to this. He won't be as predictable as D'antoni, Malone can coach. Vogel's got himself a X's and O's chess match.

I really think it’s dangerous to get too cute and diagram an elaborate match up zone against this team. Yes Frank looked like a genius trapping Harden and Dame but it may backfire if you create confusion among the team especially if you don’t adjust to your plan B and C in s timely manner.

Between Vogel, Kidd and Rondo we will surely have a custom designed defense for Murray’s general offensive tendencies, too. Can’t wait to see him look lost, too. Just like we did for Lillard, and for Harden.

Murray’s second biggest strength is his speed. We can use his quickness against him. He can be siphoned and fish-trapped if we play crisp rotating team defense. His natural scoring talent is superb. We’ll have to minimize his impact by reading him well; brains and team defense. His drive, stop and pop game is easily decipherable on film. Help could come from the three point line and blindside him on the common pop-up shots when he drives etc.

I’m not too worried about Murray scoring 50. I’m more worried about Jokic having 15 assists.

Again, just because the Lakers' defensive schemes looked great vs Portland and Houston doesn't mean they will automatically work vs Denver. Yes, Vogel can tweak here and there but this Nuggets team system is not identical esp with Houston, maybe some similarities with Portland's high PnR with Dame and Nurkic but Jokic is a much BETTER passer than Jusuf. There is NO PERFECT defensive formation bec they always have weak points. It's a matter of the offense finding them and adjusting..
For some who think that Lebron will simply bully his way like he did vs Portland and Houston, let me remind them that Millsap the physique to stand his ground vs James. Grant is long too.
Another concern is their bench, Morris and Craig are capable scorers, esp Porter Jr, who is big and athletic. Malone didn't play this kid a ton of mins bec of inexperience but he is gaining a lot of confidence.
I also wonder how much Vogel has changed their sets bec, Troy Daniels is for sure feeding the Nuggets coaching staff the offensive schemes of his former team.

[EggIsCooling]

The worst thing going for the Nuggets is that the Greek Freak just won his second MVP! Lebron is going to go off for the remainder of the playoffs!

[LAKESHOW]

I have no doubt about Denvers scoring capability. But I don't see them defending Lebron. Lebron should foul out half the team by the 4th quarter. The Nuggs will have to compensate and overplay Lebron with doubles and Giannis type walls. Once that happens, we will make them pay

[Jedi32]

Btw, gotta love Kuzma’s marginalizing dismissal of the Clippers. Lol.

I'm assuming you mean this?

Read on Twitter

Perfect answer. I couldn't agree more