LAKERS PATH TO #18:
Play-In: Lakers > Pelicans
Round 1: Lakers > Nuggets in 6
Round 2: Lakers > Timberwolves in 6
Conf Finals: Lakers > Thunder in 6
NBA Finals: Lakers > Celtics in 6 pic.twitter.com/KTe2ik1FFZ— LakerTom (@LakerTom) April 15, 2024
LAKERS PATH TO #18
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April 15, 2024 6 Comments
This could be a history making playoff run for the Los Angeles Lakers. Healthy and dominant LeBron James and Anthony Davis plus great starting lineup with Russell, Reaves, and Hachimura.
That DEN series is gonna come down to late game execution just like it always does. That’s how they keep beating us and I’m not sure if that’s changed at all. You almost have to be up by 20 in the 4th to take them out. Playoff style ball gives them an even bigger advantage…they’re just devastating in the half court
If we are healthy and side guys do great. It can’t be LBJ & AD scoring 70 every game. Dinny, DLO, Reavsy, Huchi, and others carry some big load.
There were three issues last year that were major in helping the Nuggets close out games against the Lakers.
The first was the elite clutch play of Jokic and Murray, who set records for upping their regular season play in the playoffs while the Lakers two superstars were hampering with injuries.
The second was Denver’s positional size advantage with 7′ Jokic neutralizing AD and a pair of 6′ 10″ forwards in Gordon and Porter who dominated our 3-guard starting and closing lineups.
The third factor was just luck. The uncanny and impossible Jokic shots that went in at the most inopportune times for the Lakers. They were definitely a big factor in how we lost 4 straight games.
This year we will have a healthy and thriving James and Davis, a lot more size with Hachimura instead of a third guard, and just maybe the basketball gods know exactly what they are doing by having the Lakers meet the Nuggets in the first round.
Good points but….
Joker & Murray haven’t slipped since last year and the entire team benefits from another year of continuity. There’s nobody in the league (guard, forward, center, whatever) I’d rather have on my team in the final 5 minutes with the ball in his hands than Joker at the elbow. He’s just surgical in that situation. Lebron & AD in that series?
LBJ: 42.7 min 27.8 pts 9.5 reb 10 ast
AD: 41.2 min 26.8 pts 14.0 reb 2.8 blk
Not too far off their numbers this season.
They still hold a size advantage and we only started 3 guards in Game 1. JV started games 2 & 3 and Rui game 4. They also bring athletic size off the bench with Braun & that kid Watson.
As for luck….I was always told that luck favors the prepared.
Look…I ain’t saying we can’t win; just that not a whole lot has changed since we’ve gone 0-8 against these dudes.
Let’s hope a healthier James and Davis and better outside shooting and more size with Rui will make a difference. I’m worried because it’s going to be hard to beat the Pelicans again on the road.
After 8-0, Lakers are overdue for some breaks and return to norms for the Nuggets. We need Bron’s defense on Gordon and Rui’s on Jokic and AD’s on Porter to match size and control paint and boards.
I think we have a better shot to win in first round when we’ve been playing very well.