Series Thread: 1st Round: 2) Nuggets vs 7) Lakers

[DJ]

I def think you are to something and I have seen this more often than not this year and for the better part of James's Lakers tenure. I thought it was just me but that pattern has been open and often for some time. Maybe this is the reason players like Reaves, Hachimura, and DRuss just disappear in games. They may be figuring James isn't going to trust them down the stretch, so why bother.

Hachimura played really well the last few weeks of the season but he is inconsistent.

 

[Retroram52]

Well, James may have a contention in the DRuss play, but wouldn't it be more beneficial in the long term to focus in on your TOs and the three missed lay-ups as well as maybe trusting ALL of your teammates help you win games late in the game??

LeBron James takes a shot at the officiating after the Lakers’ Game 2 loss

Lebron James wasn't just mad the Lakers blew a 20-point lead and lost Game 2 to the Nuggets on Monday -- he was also mad at the referees.

www.yahoo.com

 

[Jordan23]

17 Denver free throws to 13 for LA. i think we can put the lakers whistle comment to bed.

One game lol

 

[Black Adam]

Well, James may have a contention in the DRuss play, but wouldn't it be more beneficial in the long term to focus in on your TOs and the three missed lay-ups as well as maybe trusting ALL of your teammates help you win games late in the game??

LeBron James takes a shot at the officiating after the Lakers’ Game 2 loss

Lebron James wasn't just mad the Lakers blew a 20-point lead and lost Game 2 to the Nuggets on Monday -- he was also mad at the referees.

www.yahoo.com

Yeah, I'm sorry. But Ham and anyone else who complained about the officiating simply is making excuses imho. Bitch move...

 

[Mecca]

Yeah, I'm sorry. But Ham and anyone else who complained about the officiating simply is making excuses imho. Bitch move...

Agree.

Look, the Lakers had a really good season.

The 7th seed isn’t as much a reflection on their talent as much as it’s a reflection on how crazy the west was this year.

They finished 12 games over .500.

They are a good team.

Denver is simply better.

No shame in that.

 

[shopson67]

Nice to see Lakers fans here not blaming the refs for the most part.. what a thankless job that must be. Don't lose hope. Your team has lost 2 games by a bucket and hasn't played at home yet. Not that I'm rooting for them as a very long time Lakers hater, but it's not over yet..

There are always bad calls (still don't understand how they reverse a call where DLo clearly got hit in the face), but they weren't the reason the Lakers tanked a 20 point 2nd half lead. Just like game 1, they got lazy on offense and went away from what was working. Once the Nuggets start going downhill, it's tough to level things out again.

 

[Jordan23]

Lakers split at home and lose game 5 and fall 4-1. They let their best chance get away last night. You won’t be getting that production next game from DLo or I doubt it anyway.

 

[shopson67]

Hachimura played really well the last few weeks of the season but he is inconsistent.

Ideally he's coming off the bench, not starting. That's Vando's starting spot. He seems too hyped up or nervous these first 2 games.

 

[msgkings322]

I just don’t see how the Lakers can give a better overall effort than they did last night.

The hope is at home the other team isn't as good and you win close ones instead of losing them

Still gotta find a way to win one in Denver of course

 

[shopson67]

I’m curious as to why the Lakers appear to stop running plays in the 2nd half.

Are they panicking and just resorting to one on one hero ball or is it scheme?

I think they are likely overworking Lebron and AD in the first half, then trying to back off the pedal and stretch their minutes out in the 2nd half. If it's not that, then maybe it's just Ham being Ham. Just shove your hands deeper in your pockets and stare blankly at the court until something changes lol.

 

[shopson67]

They don’t use Gabe right at all. He had way more freedom in Miami while in LA he is basically just sitting in a corner

He's only been active for a short time. Unfortunate side effect of missing almost the entire season. They did that with Dinwiddie when he was first working his way into the rotation too.

 

[Wamu]

If someone would have said Murray would go 18-48 (4-14 from downtown) in the first two games and the Nuggets would be up 2-0 I would have said no way.

 

[shopson67]

One game lol

The Lakers whistle crap is pure nonsense and laziness anyway. The Lakers get to the line because they push the issue in the paint and in transition and are dead last in the league in 3 point attempts per game. They also play very lax defense giving up a lot of open shots.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Agree.

Look, the Lakers had a really good season.

The 7th seed isn’t as much a reflection on their talent as much as it’s a reflection on how crazy the west was this year.

They finished 12 games over .500.

They are a good team.

Denver is simply better.

No shame in that.

And close to the season I believe everyone here said Denver is probably the worst matchup for LA. LA has fought like hell in both those games but Denver just knows how to beat LA and LA doesn't have enough ammo. No shame in that. Denver is now a very experienced team with a great combo of youth, swiss army knives and two superstars. When Murray is on, that guy plays like a superstar. Very similar to Kyrie.

 

[shopson67]

If someone would have said Murray would go 18-48 (4-14 from downtown) in the first two games and the Nuggets would be up 2-0 I would have said no way.

Well, all you have to do is divert your eyes to other names on that box score, especially Jokic.

 

[Shanemansj13]

If someone would have said Murray would go 18-48 (4-14 from downtown) in the first two games and the Nuggets would be up 2-0 I would have said no way.

MPJ was the ultimate key to that game imo. Jokic is going to do what he does but MPJ hit big shot after shot that kept Denver in that game. Then Murray caught fire late in the game. Overall Murray has not been playoff Murray but it didn't matter much bc he couldn't miss late. They have a great strategy vs LA

 

[shopson67]

And close to the season I believe everyone here said Denver is probably the worst matchup for LA. LA has fought like hell in both those games but Denver just knows how to beat LA and LA doesn't have enough ammo. No shame in that. Denver is now a very experienced team with a great combo of youth, swiss army knives and two superstars. When Murray is on, that guy plays like a superstar. Very similar to Kyrie.

Murray is great as a 2 or 3. Jokic clearly is the 1 for the Nuggets, and their perimeter shooting supports Murray and Jokic very well.

 

[SpringStein]

Lakers split at home and lose game 5 and fall 4-1. They let their best chance get away last night. You won’t be getting that production next game from DLo or I doubt it anyway.

And hopefully not another 0-20 for the Nuggets from three point land from everyone not named MPJ or Jokic!

 

[Wamu]

Well, all you have to do is divert your eyes to other names on that box score, especially Jokic.

If MPJ can be a reliable third scorer throughout the playoffs that'll just make the Nuggets that much tougher to beat.

 

[Wamu]

MPJ was the ultimate key to that game imo. Jokic is going to do what he does but MPJ hit big shot after shot that kept Denver in that game. Then Murray caught fire late in the game. Overall Murray has not been playoff Murray but it didn't matter much bc he couldn't miss late. They have a great strategy vs LA

Murray was on fire late in that game. Game three should be interesting. With how games one & two went wouldn't be surprised if it's tied up after four.