Around The NBA: 2019-20 RESTART

[Ice Man]

But the Lakers play 6'8" Lebron, 6'10" AD, and 6'10" Dwight Howard all at the same time. They are not only tall, they are athletic and bruising. DEN never plays Jokic and Plumlee together. It's either a thin rookie, MPJ, at 6'9", or the 6'8" Paul Milsap.

I think Malone would be advised to try Jokic and Plumlee together, given how (as DASMACKDOWN correctly noted) Denver got manhandled in Game 1. That's not specifically an argument against "play five 6' 8" guys" (although like all such arguments, it should be regarded as a general principle, not as a hard-and-fast rule), but rather a recognition that Denver is unusually soft inside and the Lakers unusually tough inside, when they don't play AD at center.

[Jimako10]

Denver wins game 2, book it. This was their rest game after another grueling 7 game series.

[Ice Man]

Denver wins game 2, book it. This was their rest game after another grueling 7 game series.

I would love for you to be correct, but that is not how I would bet.

[jc23]

Anthony Davis is such a matchup nightmare

[R3AL1TY]

If the Nuggets win this game, it will be a miracle because the Lakers are getting a lot of calls and non-calls go their way.

It's sickening. So sick of watching Lebron just put his shoulder down and barrel into everyone. '



I will say this. Rondo is putting on a clinic. Still a lot of game left in him. Lob city. pin point passes into the post, skip passes across the top right on the money, high bounce passes, doing it all.

I am too, and have been for the past 10 years or more. They won't let you guard Lebron. You get in front of him, he puts his shoulder down and rams into you, and you get the foul for blocking. You don't get in front of him, he just waltzes to the rim. He's like a steamroller out there- anything in his way, he just flattens. Kudos to him, that he's 6'9", 260, and has the agility to do that, but I'll never put him in the same category as MJ or Kobe as far as talent goes, because does most of his damage with brute strength, just like Shaq.

Ever since he went pass the age of 30, he plays more like a running back out there that gets away with offensive fouls. He really has no moves to get around players, but his passing ability and some of his athleticism is still there.

[dougthonus]

Denver wins game 2, book it. This was their rest game after another grueling 7 game series.

They had 4 days off after game 7. No reason they should haven't have been fresh and certainly no reason to think they will be fresher tonight than they were Friday. The Lakers were more likely to be rusty than the Nuggets tired IMO on that game.

Nuggets may or may not win tonight, but I see no reason to be more confident about game 2 than game 1 or game 3.

[PaKii94]

Denver wins game 2, book it. This was their rest game after another grueling 7 game series.

They had 4 days off after game 7. No reason they should haven't have been fresh and certainly no reason to think they will be fresher tonight than they were Friday. The Lakers were more likely to be rusty than the Nuggets tired IMO on that game.

Nuggets may or may not win tonight, but I see no reason to be more confident about game 2 than game 1 or game 3.

It's heat celts tonight

[dougthonus]

Denver wins game 2, book it. This was their rest game after another grueling 7 game series.

They had 4 days off after game 7. No reason they should haven't have been fresh and certainly no reason to think they will be fresher tonight than they were Friday. The Lakers were more likely to be rusty than the Nuggets tired IMO on that game.

Nuggets may or may not win tonight, but I see no reason to be more confident about game 2 than game 1 or game 3.

It's heat celts tonight

My bad, (though replace tonight with Sunday and my opinion doesn't change).

[Jimako10]

Denver wins game 2, book it. This was their rest game after another grueling 7 game series.

They had 4 days off after game 7. No reason they should haven't have been fresh and certainly no reason to think they will be fresher tonight than they were Friday. The Lakers were more likely to be rusty than the Nuggets tired IMO on that game.

Nuggets may or may not win tonight, but I see no reason to be more confident about game 2 than game 1 or game 3.

Game 7 was on the 15th, got 2 days of rest, and played the lakers yesterday on the 18th. Their energy with the clippers evaporated in the 2nd quarter of game 1 as well. This is just a hot take but game 1 felt more like a feeling each other type game where Denver is going to make some adjustments based on what they saw. If anything I think it will be a much closer game than the spread (7-8 points).

[dougthonus]

Game 7 was on the 15th, got 2 days of rest, and played the lakers yesterday on the 18th. Their energy with the clippers evaporated in the 2nd quarter of game 1 as well. This is just a hot take but game 1 felt more like a feeling each other type game where Denver is going to make some adjustments based on what they saw. If anything I think it will be a much closer game than the spread (7-8 points).

Based on the last 2 posts, my calendar skills are very poor.

[R3AL1TY]

To me Denver had energy early on, but once the whistle wasn't in their favor and their key players got in foul trouble, they played out of rhythm and couldn't make runs. They still ended up scoring over 110 points, but the free throws the Lakers had + AD were the differences of the game.

For them to have a chance, they will have to run up the score on the Lakers early on to withstand moments calls don't go their way or withstand Lakers going on runs.

[Ice Man]

For them to have a chance, they will have to run up the score on the Lakers early on to withstand moments calls don't go their way or withstand Lakers going on runs.

I liked at the start of the second half when Jokic legitimately was called for wrestling with Howard under his own basket (dumb play by Jokic). The ball was inbounded, a Laker sprinted through a stationary Jokic, sending him sprawling. Play on!

It might just be my imagination playing tricks on me, but it always seems that LeBron's teams get the most ridiculous non-calls. That one was a doozy. Marcus Smart gets 3 charges called on opponents per game and nobody ever hits Smart as hard as Jokic got nailed on that non-call.

[Jimako10]

For them to have a chance, they will have to run up the score on the Lakers early on to withstand moments calls don't go their way or withstand Lakers going on runs.

I liked at the start of the second half when Jokic legitimately was called for wrestling with Howard under his own basket (dumb play by Jokic). The ball was inbounded, a Laker sprinted through a stationary Jokic, sending him sprawling. Play on!

It might just be my imagination playing tricks on me, but it always seems that LeBron's teams get the most ridiculous non-calls. That one was a doozy. Marcus Smart gets 3 charges called on opponents per game and nobody ever hits Smart as hard as Jokic got nailed on that non-call.

It's called the Scott Foster effect. I'm assuming he's not refereeing game 2 as well.

[R3AL1TY]

For them to have a chance, they will have to run up the score on the Lakers early on to withstand moments calls don't go their way or withstand Lakers going on runs.

I liked at the start of the second half when Jokic legitimately was called for wrestling with Howard under his own basket (dumb play by Jokic). The ball was inbounded, a Laker sprinted through a stationary Jokic, sending him sprawling. Play on!

It might just be my imagination playing tricks on me, but it always seems that LeBron's teams get the most ridiculous non-calls. That one was a doozy. Marcus Smart gets 3 charges called on opponents per game and nobody ever hits Smart as hard as Jokic got nailed on that non-call.

I remember that play when Jokic fell after being ran into. Even my son was like, "so Denver isn't going to get a call?" That "and 1" play Lebron did when he lowered his shoulder into Murray was a bad call too. Howard was also doing some sneaky tactics to get guys in foul trouble. He would wrap his arms around Jokic or Plumley's arms when going after rebounds then flail his body in a motion to look like they're grabbing him.

But that's how the NBA has been for a long time though. The bigger the name of a player, the more you expect them or their teams to get away with some stuff.

[MrSparkle]

Yeah, I didn't come away thinking Nuggets are out-matched. If they come back with a clear head next game and Lakers' 3P shooting cools off, along with Howard's energy, it should be close or in Denver's favor.

Exactly as I expected, the 8-man line-up got Jokic (and Murray and Millsap) up to 3 fouls each with like 8 minutes left in the first half. Now granted, it really rattled Denver and they started chatting with refs and trying to sell calls more than they should have, but they weren't in position to win that game after Jokic's 3rd foul.

Of course Lebron and Lakers fans cry opposite, but the thing that really rubbed me the wrong way was Howard, Caruso, Lebron, Morris were able to play very physically from the second they stepped on court. Good defense IMO, but if you allow it, let the other team (A) get a little bit of lee-way with what an offensive foul is, or trying to win position. And (B) don't go and whistle touch fouls on the other end.

At least 3 of those first 4 Jokic fouls were bogus compared to way they were being defended. I mean, Jerian Grant could front up Lebron very physically and play him in an old-school way, but he'd be whistled out the game on each possession, so I don't see why Howard was allowed to do things positionally off-the-ball that most defenders can't do anymore.

But Lakers did have more bounce. Howard looked like he was resentful of Jokic's superstardom and wanted to teach him a lesson about being a contending center. Rondo continues being a playoff revelation, 4 years after being cast-out by the Bulls. Anyone else notice that Markieff Morris has been quietly better and more efficient than his better paid brother? I know Lebron has gotten flack for his GM'ing skills in the past, but I think he did a good job recruiting and picking this particular group of Lakers. Only thing is the Ingram/Kuzma decision; I don't know if it was actually even up for debate with NOP, but my sense was Kuzma was regarded the better "win-now" fit, but turns out he's regressed and been an inconsistent bench scorer.

[dumbell78]

For them to have a chance, they will have to run up the score on the Lakers early on to withstand moments calls don't go their way or withstand Lakers going on runs.

I liked at the start of the second half when Jokic legitimately was called for wrestling with Howard under his own basket (dumb play by Jokic). The ball was inbounded, a Laker sprinted through a stationary Jokic, sending him sprawling. Play on!

It might just be my imagination playing tricks on me, but it always seems that LeBron's teams get the most ridiculous non-calls. That one was a doozy. Marcus Smart gets 3 charges called on opponents per game and nobody ever hits Smart as hard as Jokic got nailed on that non-call.

It's called the Scott Foster effect. I'm assuming he's not refereeing game 2 as well.

He set the tone when he t'up Murray after that double team no call in the 2nd quarter. Few minutes later Milsap, Jokic and Murray where all on the bench with 3 fouls. Game over.

Now some ESPN dummy will try and point out the FT disparity wasn't bad as it was 37 to 28 in favor of the Lakers but if you watched the game, you saw it clearly....Lakers benefited from Foster and his crew.

[StunnerKO]

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[DASMACKDOWN]

I predict both conference series end in sweeps. Heat Lakers finals.

[dumbell78]

I predict both conference series end in sweeps. Heat Lakers finals.

No way, I would be shocked if that happened.

[MrFortune3]

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That's a bit much

The real tragedy is Haynes putting Simmons #2 on his ballot.