Lakers vs. Nuggets: Keys to the Series for the Lakers
The stage is set for the Western Conference Finals. The number one seed Los Angeles Lakers will take on the number three seed Denver Nuggets.
The Lakers were able to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets in five games. The Lakers lost each of the first games of the series against the Blazers and Rockets, then won four straight games to end the series.
The Denver Nuggets defeated the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers in seven games. The Nuggets were down 3–1 in each series, but they came back in both series and advanced to the Western Conference Finals.
Most people expected a Battle of LA Western Conference Finals matchup; however, due to the abysmal play by Paul George and Lou Williams, the Clippers were not able to get over the second-round hump.
Jamal Murray’s and Nikola Jokic’s pick and pop is an underrated aspect of their game. The way they defeated the Clippers was by Jokic setting a screen for Murray, popping outside the three-point line, Murray got double teamed by Patrick Beverley and either Montrezl Harrell or Ivica Zubac, and Murray passed to Jokic for an open three because the Clippers bigs did not close out on Jokic in time.
The biggest key to the Lakers’ success has been the dominance of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, as expected. Coach Frank Vogel said that Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee would see more playtime during the Western Conference Finals because the Nuggets have size in Nikola Jokic and Mason Plumlee. After not getting much playtime in the Houston series due to the Rockets ability to shoot the three-ball and their small-ball lineup, Dwight and JaVale will be expected to have a more prominent role against the Nuggets.
The key to success for the Lakers will be to stop the Murray-Jokic pick and pop game. The way to do that will be to have Danny Green guard Jamal Murray and Anthony Davis guard Nikola Jokic. The reason why is because Anthony Davis has proven he can defend point guards like he did last series against Russell Westbrook. If Danny Green is guarding Jamal Murray, that gives the Lakers two options. The first option would be to double Murray and try and force a turnover. The second option would be Green switching on to Jokic and Davis guards Murray. Green is the tallest guard for the Lakers, and he has the length to contest Jokic’s shot.
Another key to this series is to feed Anthony Davis the ball. Whether its Nikola Jokic, Jerami Grant, or Paul Milsap guarding Davis, he has an advantage against each of them. Jokic and Milsap aren’t quick enough to stop Davis, Grant is athletic and may have the best chance to stop Davis, but AD has the advantage in height and skill. It will be interesting to see who guards Davis, but I think it will be Jerami Grant.
During the regular season, Anthony Davis averaged 29.3 points on 54.4% shooting, 9.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.3 blocks, 1.3 steals, and 2.5 turnovers in 37.5 minutes per game. LeBron James knows that Anthony Davis needs to be involved offensively for the Lakers to succeed, and he has relied on Anthony Davis some games to will the Lakers to wins. I expect LeBron, Rondo, and Caruso to feed Davis the ball every chance they get because that will be the easiest way to score against Denver.
If the Lakers stop or slow down the Murray-Jokic pick and pop game, feed Anthony Davis, and LeBron does what we’re accustomed to seeing, which is witnessing greatness each time the Lakers play in a big game, the Lakers will defeat the Nuggets in six games to advance to the NBA Finals, in a quest for their 17th championship. This year is special because they want to win it all for the late great Kobe Bean Bryant.
