Nuggets – Lakers, act III. After 2020 and 2023, the two teams find themselves in the playoffs and, unlike those two years, it is in the first round and not in the conference final that they cross swords. Make way for the beautiful between Denver And Los Angelesafter the triumph of the first in 2023 and that of the second in 2020, in a series which can turn into a correction as much as Game 7.
On paper, defending champions Colorado start with an advantage, as they collectively seem above the fray in the West, even though they “only” finished 2nd in their conference, but tied with the leader (57-25), Oklahoma City. Still so radiant in the wake of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, Michael Malone's men are aiming for the double and they take the field against their favorite victim for a year: the “Purple & Gold”, defeated eight times in a row by the Nuggets (including five times in the last five minutes), but who have arguments to put forward to create a surprise.
Because the Lakers, more and more efficient offensively, have been riding a great dynamic for a month and, after a once again successful play-in, they are approaching this first round with confidence, seeming to regain their success from December , when they won the In-Season Tournament. Their main elements are almost all spared from injuries (except Jarred Vanderbilt) and the simple presence of the LeBron James – Anthony Davis tandem is enough to hope for the upset…
PRESENTATION OF NUGGETS
The holders: J. Murray, K. Caldwell-Pope, M. Porter Jr, A. Gordon, N. Jokic
The replacements: C. Braun, R. Jackson, P. Watson, Ju. Holiday, Z. Nnaji, D. Jordan…
Absent : V. Cancar, C. Gillepsie
The coach: Mr. Malone
The reigning champions left with an almost unchanged group and a lot of good was done to them, since they finished with the best record in the Western Conference, tied with the Thunder.
On the way to a third MVP trophy, Nikola Jokic is true to himself in excellence, Jamal Murray has never seemed so strong and efficient, Aaron Gordon continues to be the perfect counterpart to the “Joker” in the racket , Michael Porter Jr. is a solid offensive third option and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope still excels as the “3&D” who does the dirty work. A group built for the playoffs and the double, despite a slightly limited bench.
THE STRONG POINT
– A group sure of its strengths. Around Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, who undoubtedly continue to form the best duo in the league, the Nuggets are developing basketball that is polished and attractive to say the least, where everyone knows their role and plays with confidence. The result of their title obtained last year and, very often this season, we saw them escape from difficult situations simply thanks to their collective mastery and the good application of Michael Malone's game plan. The characteristic of these great teams that we very rarely see panic, but rather rely on what they know how to do best, in the wake of their leaders.
THE WEAK POINT
– Less safe rotations. With the departures of Bruce Brown and Jeff Green last summer, the Nuggets lost their two key replacements and Michael Malone often had difficulty finding the right formula coming off the bench, in order to make his five blow (more than ) major. From now on, it is Christian Braun, Reggie Jackson, Peyton Watson and Justin Holiday who must take over from their starters, but the whole seems more fragile than a year ago and this can be detrimental to Denver certain evenings, even if the rotations are reduced in the playoffs.
PRESENTATION OF THE LAKERS
The holders: D. Russell, A. Reaves, L. James, R. Hachimura, A. Davis
The replacements: S. Dinwiddie, G. Vincent, T. Prince, J. Hayes, M. Christie…
Absent : J. Vanderbilt, C. Wood, C. Reddish, J. Hood-Schifino
The coach: D.Ham
Their confidence pumped up for a month, the Lakers consider themselves better than last season and therefore capable of bringing down the reigning champions of Denver at the start of the playoffs.
Provided that Christian Wood, Cam Reddish and especially Jarred Vanderbilt can be available, to even better surround this LeBron James – Anthony Davis axis who must already receive help from D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, his three main supporters since Darvin Ham found his starting five. Enough to hope to go far, but is it enough to really annoy the Nuggets?
THE STRONG POINT
– The dynamics of the moment. Like last season, the Lakers play their best basketball in the spring and, since the All-Star Break, they are in the Top 5 with the best records in the league (18-9), relying on an efficient attack ( 117.3 points conceded over 100 possessions). LeBron James says he is in better shape than a year ago, Anthony Davis remains a weapon of destruction in the racket, D'Angelo Russell has found his basketball and the Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince and other Spencer Dinwiddie represent choice soldiers for the major trio of Los Angeles. Are all the lights green?
THE WEAK POINT
– The inner impact. Rui Hachimura complements Anthony Davis with his ability to swallow up space on quick plays and his play in front of the rim, but he is not a defender-rebounder like Jarred Vanderbilt, which can prove problematic in the playoffs against a well-equipped formation in the paint like the Nuggets of Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon. Be careful not to grant too many offensive rebounds to the reigning champions, who will be able to take advantage of them more than the Pelicans who have already made the Lakers suffer a lot with Zion Williamson. Despite the presence of the indispensable Anthony Davis, who however did not find the key to slowing down Nikola Jokic…
THE KEY TO THE SERIES
– Managing key moments. Faced with this team as disciplined and killer on each side as the Nuggets, the Lakers have too often collapsed in the final minutes for a year, even though they were ahead or tied for almost the entire game. THE Achilles heel of these “Purple & Gold” who have apparently developed a sort of inferiority complex in the face of their new pet peeve, who knows perfectly well how to thwart them and where to press when necessary, unlike them. To Angelenos to learn from their mistakes in the playoffs, because Denver now knows what to do to punish them.
REGULAR SEASON
Denver 3-0
– October 24: Denver – Los Angeles (119-107)
– February 8: Los Angeles – Denver (106-114)
– March 2: Los Angeles – Denver (114-124)
VERDICT
Denver 4-1. The Lakers may start more confident than a year ago, but overcoming the Nuggets' obstacle still seems insurmountable. Especially when no one seems able to hold off Nikola Jokic, despite Anthony Davis or Rui Hachimura, or Jamal Murray, despite D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent or Spencer Dinwiddie. In these conditions, and even if LeBron James is physically sharper than in 2023, it still seems too fair over time against such an experienced armada.
Faced with a Denver team that repeats that it has the best major five in the league, and which is undoubtedly right to think so, Los Angeles should end its losing streak, but it is difficult to see LeBron James and his gang dominating four games out of seven. In particular with a Jokic/Murray axis which knows how to find faults in the Lakers' defense, especially against the limited defenders that are D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves.
Especially since the “role players” of Colorado, like Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are much more reliable and decisive on each side of the floor than those of the “Purple & Gold”.
To hope to win, the Lakers will surely need a very big D'Angelo Russell, surely revengeful after his failed conference final last year, and a significant drop in power from the Nuggets' major five. In this sense, we will have to watch “MPJ”, who could be affected by the problems of his brothers. But compared to the dynamics and the forces present, the Nuggets still seem to have a lot of additional certainties, compared to the Lakers.
CALENDAR
Game 1: in Denver, Saturday April 20 (2:30 a.m., Saturday night to Sunday)
Game 2: in Denver, Monday April 22 (4:00 a.m., Monday night to Tuesday)
Game 3: in Los Angeles, Thursday April 25 (4:00 a.m., Thursday night to Friday)
Game 4: in Los Angeles, Saturday April 27 (2:30 a.m., Saturday night to Sunday)
Game 5*: in Denver, Monday April 29 (to be determined, during the night of Monday to Tuesday)
Game 6*: in Los Angeles, Thursday May 2 (to be determined, during the night of Thursday to Friday)
Game 7*: in Denver, Saturday May 4 (to be determined, during the night of Saturday to Sunday)
* If necessary.
