WCF Nuggets v Lakers | Game 1 Recap & Review

Game 1- Nuggets 132 vs Lakers 126

Before we get into this game 1 recap, while still trying to be objective about this Western Conference Finals between the Nuggets & Lakers, this is going to be more personal than the series & game 1 preview written and posted the other day. By more personal, I mean I am going to be saying “I” a lot more in this one. I

am a Colorado native, I still think I can fit into my old Antonio McDyess burgundy and navy jersey that I wore to basketball practice in 6th grade, BUT, I’m hopefully going to be more objective than the alternative. Okay, now for the opening ceremonies. Game 1 of the WCF was probably more unexpected for some, maybe not for others, and for the goofballs it was right on point. But the ending, I think we can all agree, had us all on the edge of our seats. And if you’re like me, so nervous that you can’t eat or sit down.

Before this series tipped-off, many national media outlets were impressed that the Lakers are where they are after starting the season 2-10 and had a low percentage chance of making the postseason. First, that narrative is a tad overrated. This isn’t football, where if you start the season 2-10, your season is pretty much a wrap. The old cliché about basketball is a game of runs, is very true. But also a basketball season is a sport of runs. If you can rattle off 6-8 wins even in a 10-game stretch, that 2-10 record looks a little bit better doesn’t it? Back to that cliché, did we all expect the Nuggets to win game 1 by 20 points? Maybe for some after a very impressive first half. Or did we expect a team that features LeBron James, Anthony Davis and co. to not roll over and take it on the chin and prepare for game 2. I think I’ll take the latter. Nuggets’ head coach Michael Malone in his postgame press conference acknowledged as much saying “We’re not going to

beat every team by 20 points…they’re in the WCF for a reason…they made their run and we withstood it…”

Lakers Takeaways

Some takeaways that I noticed for the Lakers I even stated in my series/game 1 preview, and that was “which Anthony Davis will show up?” Well, the very, very good Anthony Davis showed up. In games and series past, AD has been Nikola Jokic’s kryptonite, and all of the talk that AD had help in the bubble

with Dwight Howard and Javale McGee helping him with Joker I think really added and extra chip to his shoulder. I really didn’t see any way that Jokic could stop Davis, but I think it’s safe to say that Jokic has been known to figure out in a short time period his defenders. I’ll be honest in saying I did not expect THAT great of a game from Joker with AD as his primary defender, but at the same time it did not surprise me because of his high basketball IQ. And like AD, I think all we can do is just shrug your shoulders, smile at him and wonder how in the hell did he do that. The Rui Hachimura defending Jokic for most, if not all of the 4 th quarter, really paid off for the Lakers, but again, I warn LA fans that Jokic will figure out Rui, if he hasn’t already. The story circulating around that the Lakers “showed their hand too early” with Rui guarding Joker is a bit much. I get that from game-to-game you must make adjustments, but it seems that in-game adjustments just apparently flew out the window and are not allowed. It’ll be interesting to see if Darvin Ham, who has made fabulous in-game and between-game adjustments this entire postseason, shakes up the starting lineup again. Will he keep the smaller 3-guard lineup, throw Jarred Vanderbilt back in, or start off with Rui on Joker. AD is at his defensive best when he is able to roam the paint, be a free safety, and come help on Joker and potentially get a blocked shot. Based on how the Nuggets started game 1, I think you’ll see more length to start the game.

The final takeaway(s) for the Lakers is probably what made this game closer than what we witnessed in the first half. As this was a tale of two halves, the first half Denver scored 72, in the second the Lakers scored 72. Yes, Austin Reeves made a huge, clutch three, but we’ll get to him in a second. Jamal Murray cannot guard LeBron James. He can’t guard a 18 year-old nor a 38 year-old LeBron James. I’m not going to use Murray’s being sick or ear infection or whatever as a crutch. A 100% healthy,

even pre-knee injury Jamal Murray cannot guard LeBron James. This is not a shade to Murray in the slightest, as he can’t help how tall he is or how big and strong LeBron is. Maybe if he wasn’t sick he’d have more confidence in wanting that matchup, but he still wouldn’t be able to stop him. The fact that most of these switches the Lakers were running to get Aaron Gordon off of LeBron, happened for no real reason on Denver’s part. There was even a time later in the game where LeBron had the ball at the top of the key, and Murray waved at Gordon for them to switch, and Gordon waved him off. LeBron subsequently drove to the rim and got a bucket. Also, if you’re a Nuggets fan watching the Lakers only down 3 with the ball in LeBron’s hands about to shoot a 3, this is why I

don’t/can't eat during games. I’m the same amount of nervous with a 30-point lead as I am with a 2-point lead. But you’re almost half-expecting Bron to hit that clutch shot like many times before. Or do you want him to look for Reeves who previously hit that clutch three and was 5-9 from three in the game? I think it’s honestly a coin-toss when it comes to Bron’s playmaking thoughts.

Nuggets Takeaways

KEEP AARON GORDON ON LEBRON NO MATTER WHAT. It’s really that simple. I get you don’t want Gordon running through screens and getting fouls and it’s not always easy to slip through a screen, but you cannot leave Jamal Murray all by himself on LeBron island. Or you tell Gordon to not waive off Murray when he wants to switch back. If the Lakers do stick Rui on Joker, Denver will have to run some pick-and-rolls with Gordon on the perimeter to keep Anthony Davis from patrolling the paint. AD is going to leave AG by himself 99.9% of the time is he’s hide open for 3. Gordon had a few good, wide open shots, but he needs to make two or three to try and keep Davis honest and make him leave the paint at least once in a while. This might be a popular or unpopular opinion, because if something’s broke, you don’t need to fix it right? And if you’re winning, you don’t change anything. I’m not sure when the hockey stat of +/- came into basketball, but it’s pretty telling if you look at Jeff Green’s +/-. I love uncle Jeff, but he cannot hang with LeBron James, much less any of the Lakers that they throw out there. I don’t have an answer as to who you replace him with in the rotation, but he looked lost in game 1. I understand he has probably more experience than the rest of Denver’s bench put together, but some young, fresh legs that is capable to keep up and body up. Not only that, playing someone who the Lakers haven’t really seen before, may throw a wrench into their game plan because they haven’t prepared for it. But LA is experienced and savvy themselves, so that may not work either.

In my previous series preview, we talked about how the officiating may play a part in this game. Overall, the refs were pretty consistent and called a even, fair game. Letting the players play, especially in the playoffs. The question will be “can either team sustain this play?” I think it’s safe to assume that Nikola Jokic has been pretty consistent in these playoffs and will continue to be, but we will see if

the Rui assignment or another “trick up their sleeve” can slow down Joker. Anthony Davis as had some pretty up and down games. In this postseason we’ve seen 30-20 games followed by 12-7. So what will see him follow up with after a 40-10 game. After the LeBron’s and AD’s, and the Joker’s and Murray’s; this game will have to come down to the supporting casts. Can Austin Reeves throw up 23 again? Can KCP drop another 20+? D’Angelo Russell cannot have another 4-11 game with only 8 points. Which is why he stayed 45 minutes after the game, in full uniform, practicing his 3’s. Can Rui put up numbers like he did in game 1 and against the Grizzlies? Either way, still look for AD & Joker to continue to try and trade buckets.

Bruce Brown has been the full of attitude-lightning rod that this Denver team never knew it needed. His “reckless abandon” mentality has been really effective for the Nuggets. MPJ might have played his best game as a Nugget in game 1. When he is engaged on defense, blocking shots and diving on the floor for loose balls? Something is happening for Denver. The small lineup for LA will not work if MPJ is knocking down corner threes with a hand touching his nose. Aaron Gordon needs to get you 15+ points and close to 10 rebounds a game to take some pressure off Jokic & Murray and for the other role guys to be effective. AG has been brilliant on defense this entire season and post season, so we’re not expecting too much for him on the offensive side, but it would be a major help if he knocked down one of those open 3’s or continuing to cut to the rim for dunks or drawing fouls. Again, this should be a fun, physical, fast-paced series.

Game 2 | May 18 th @ Ball Arena | Denver, CO | 6:30mst Tip-off