Rallying behind the swarming ‘small ball’ defense that won their 17th championship, the Los Angeles Lakers held the Denver Nuggets to 35 points in the second half and under 100 points for the first time this season.
With a lock down second half, the Lakers’ top ranked defense dismantled the Nuggets’ offense, shut down Denver superstars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, and turned a 12-point halftime deficit into a 114–93 blowout. Aggressively hedging, trapping, and doubling Jokic and Murray in the second half, the Lakers’ scrambling ‘small ball’ defense held Nikola to just 13 points on 6–16 shooting and Jamal to 20 points on 7–17 shooting.
After struggling over the last four games of a long road trip, the Lakers and LeBron James were ready to make a statement game against the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic, whom they beat 4–1 in last season’s conference semifinals. Fresh from breaking the red hot Utah Jazz’s 11-game win streak and buoyed by Nikola Jokic’s career best 47 points, the Nuggets were seeking a major revenge and redemption game against the world champion Lakers.
Unfortunately, the Lakers were the team to make a statement. After the high powered Nuggets’ offense scored 58 points in the first half, Frank Vogel turned to the Lakers’ ‘small ball’ defense that won the championship. Essentially benching starting center Marc Gasol 5 minutes into the second half, Vogel then unleashed the swarming, trapping, and doubling small ball defense the Lakers had surprised teams with to dominate the playoffs.
With the more mobile Anthony Davis and Montrezl Harrell playing center, the Lakers’ defense suffocated the Nuggets’ offense and created a chaos of turnovers and missed shots that triggered waves of Lakers fast break points. The killer was a 15–0 Lakers’ run to finish the 3rd quarter that transformed a 12-point Lakers halftime deficit into an 8-point Lakers lead that grew as big as 25 points as both teams emptied their benches to close the game.
The Lakers’ top ranked defense had a defensive rating of 96.9 for the game and 72.9 for the second half. The turnover fueled Lakers’ offense posted an offensive rating of 117.5 for the game and then 138.8 for the second half. LeBron James recorded his 94th career triple double and single handedly put an end to the budding Nikola Jokic for MVP campaign with a dominant 27-point, 10-rebound, and 10-assist totally MVP worthy performance.
Game balls to LeBron for his triple double, Dennis for his 21 points and inspiring loose ball double dive, THT for his 17-point, 3-rebound, 2-assist, and 3-steal masterpiece, and AD, Trezz, and Kuzma for energy at both ends. While the Lakers are regaining their championship mojo, there are still questions: Has Marc Gasol become this season’s JaVale McGee? When will Anthony Davis start to play like the second best player on the planet?
For now, the Lakers proved they can still ‘flip the switch’ into championship mode. The challenge will be to stay focused with big games looming this month against the Nuggets in Denver, the Nets in LA, and the Jazz in Utah.
What was special about last night’s game was we finally got to see the Lakers’ scrambling ‘small ball’ defense that worked so well with AD, Morris, and LeBron and two guards in the playoffs work with AD, Trezz, and LeBron and two guards.
So while Marc Gasol continues to transform himself into this season’s version of JaVale McGee, a player who may become unplayable in the playoffs, we find that Trezz continues to show defensive mojo that the Clippers were never able to unlock. Best defensive rating on the team last night for Trezz and worst for Gasol.
The other revelation is the THT, Kuzma, Trezz, and AC combo with LeBron shone again. And Dennis Schroder had a great bounce back game with an inspired loose ball double dive that won over any Lakers fans questioning his dog and value to this team. So so game by AD and AC, two of our stalwarts, but we once again are back to seeing our deep and talented roster fill the holes. 7 players in double digits.
Oh yeah, don’t forget the old man, who posted his 94th Triple Double highlighted by a half dozen sizzling Sports Center passes. LeBron creating real separation in the MVP race. Lakers show the Nuggets how far they still have to go to match the Lakers. Has to be disheartening for them and frightening for the rest of the league. Lakers in a league of their own.
Marc just slows us down. : (
He hustles and anticipates well and is smart but yes, he’s not a great fit for the way we want to play defense. Has the same defensive liabilities that Dwight and JaVale did. Fish out of water trying to defend smaller players on the perimeter.
Man, that was a great and entertaining game. First of all, I would like to shout out to LeBron James who has discovered the fountain of youth; Dennis Schroeder who continues to amaze me with his huzzle plays; the “small ball” defense crew – Kyle Kuzma, THT, Trezz, Caruso, KCP and everyone that contributed to this win.
With the way the “small ball” defense crew was playing, we didn’t even need Anthony Davis to do much except to play a supervisory role like he did while the crew goes to work. Marc Gasol? I am still not worried about him yet. He brings a lot of little things to the table. All he needs to do is make his shots, stay out of foul trouble and he will be fine.
The first half looked more like the Lakers were trying to feel the punches the Nuggets were throwing at them right out of the gate while the Lakers were being patient and in turn, throwing body-blowing jabs to keep them at close distance.
By the end of the third quarter, the Nuggets were completely confused, dazed and soft like a pillow. Then the Lakers went to work. At this point, the Nuggets were sensing a fast-moving and deadly avalanche that was approaching them from those Colorado mountains and they only got less than a minute window to escape or else they would be buried alive. By the fourth quarter, it was too late and the Lakers buried them alive. What a way to whoop an ass!
Aloha Jamie
i completely agree. i was more frustrated with this win, than I was with the 76er loss. at least it was a one point loss to a to a contender on the road. there was no excuse for what we saw as we gave up a 17 point lead to the worst record in the NBA. you are right , dennis should have had the ball more. Lebron was tired and resting on offense.