WCF Nuggets v Lakers | Game 4 Recap

Nuggets 113 @ Lakers 111 | Crypto.com Arena | Los Angeles, CA | DEN wins series 4-0

Nuggets Complete First Sweep in Franchise History

The Denver Nuggets have advanced to the NBA finals for the first time in their history! The

team secured their spot after sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.

When the series started all, you heard was how this wasn't the same Lakers squad the Nuggets

played to a 2-2 stalemate in the regular season. They were 100% correct, this Lakers team

couldn't win one, let alone two games against this motivated Nuggets squad.

Now I want to be completely fair, this Lakers squad and Lebron James specifically did everything they could to win every one of these games they lost. James scored a game-high 40 points (only 9 in the entire second half) and ended the game one assist shy of a triple-double. They are undefeated in moral victories, this is undeniable. They are 3-0 in adjustments after a loss, everyone must give all of Laker Nation this irrefutable fact, they countered, a lot. Now what the rest of the basketball world needs to acknowledge is, this Nuggets squad is a problem. They play the most entertaining brand of basketball you could ask for. Fast pace, great defense, spacing, and scoring at all levels.

How could you ask for a better game clinching victory? Or series as a whole? If this was reversed and the Lakers swept there would be no one outside of the mountain time zone that would have flinched. They would be showering Lebron and Anthony Davis with pure adulation. No one would be asking Nikola Jokic if Lebron James proved anything to him in the series. Yet we had to sit through a post-game coverage that talked about how surprised they were with Jokic and Murray's play. And hear professional journalists ask Lebron James what "if anything" did Nikola Jokic prove to him in the sweep Jokic helped complete. To Lebron's credit, his answer was well said with "Nothing, I know how great the Joker is"

After a night that had ESPN analyst Mike Wilbon make an impassioned close-up plea that 25- year old superstar Jamal Murray was absolutely, positively, incapable of sustaining the pace when he had 30 points at half in game three and would cap out at 40 points max. The same human, on the same network, was asked the same question by the same host on the same halftime show about the 38-year-old Lebron James being able to sustain the pace of 31 points after 24 minutes of game four. Wilbon responded simply, "Yes", almost as if it was ridiculous to ask the question. But this is what Nuggets Nation has come to expect.

The post-game narrative was not centered around Nikola Jokic putting up another triple-double, or Jamal Murray setting several scoring records of his own in these playoffs and WCF. No mention of Aaron Gordon splashing his first three triples of the series on route to a series high 22 points while pitching in 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks to assist in the series clinching win. He did all of this while almost exclusively guarding Lebron James into his worst scoring performance in a four-game series of his career. All kinds of pundits talked about how Anthony Davis continued his stellar defensive play with 3 blocks but failed to mention the former back-to-back MVP had 3 blocks as well. But you definitely heard about Jokic's five personal fouls and how he "put his team at risk"; with more than 5 minutes to go in the fourth. But enough focus on the coastal bias and lets focus on the team that actually won the game, and Eastern Conference Championship for the first time in the organization's existence.

The Nuggets were led by standout performances from Nikola Jokic (averaging a triple-double in the playoffs) and Jamal Murray (four straight 25+ point performances this series), the Nuggets have proven to be a formidable force in this year's playoffs. While many doubted their ability to make it this far, the squad has come together and exceeded expectations. You won't hear this in the Nuggets locker room as Coach Malone has said many times and reiterated it in his post-game interview on SportsCenter where he said, "Our goal is not to be Western Conference Champs, but NBA Champs"; They can keep the big picture in view while not losing sight of the moment.

They also must have the two most likeable superstars in the Serbian born Nikola Jokic alongside the Canadian born Jamal Murray. Be it them being products of their environment, but these two are the most unselfish and genuine humans I have ever seen blessed with so much talent. Jokic would rather a jaunt through the woods behind one of his prized horses over a post-game party broadcasted on IG Live. Murray has the true boy next door innocence about him you may wish he was dating your daughter. I don't, but I'm a curmudgeon when it comes to mine. But this isn't about my parental views, it's about two superstars with a parental air of authority, complete and absolute. No one in the Nuggets locker room questions what voices matter above all else and who's lead to follow. Much like a well-run household, Jokic and Murray rule with a firm but loving hand guiding the rest of roster to their best chance of success.

We saw this entire series a new guy steps up when needed. Monday night it was Michael Porter Jr. securing a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope pitched in 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block. Bruce Brown only had 6 points off the bench, but with all starters going at least 39 minutes, not much was left for him. Those 6 points were clutch coming late in the second half.

This historic achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Nuggets organization. The 15-point deficit at halftime is the largest playoff comeback in Nuggets history. This is also the first sweep in any round in Nuggets playoff history. From the Kroenke family down to the 15th player on the roster. This organization wants that trophy with every fiber of their being. While this is uncharted territory for this Nuggets team, the Kroenke's have a championship pedigree that spans almost every other professional sports league at this point (L.A. Rams [NFL]/Colorado Avalanche [NHL]/Colorado Rapids [MLS]/Colorado Mammoth [MLL], Colorado Crush [AFL]). They know how to win, and they know what a championship roster looks like. From the front office to the coaching staff to the players on the court, everyone has played a vital role in securing their spot in the finals.

The Nuggets have proven their doubters wrong and shown that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible. As the team prepares for the finals, they will not forget the support of their fans and the entire organization behind them. The city of Denver is rallying behind their team and eagerly awaiting the chance to celebrate a championship. Will the Nuggets make history and bring home their first NBA Championship? Only time will tell.

As the Nuggets prepare to take on the Miami Heat or the Boston Celtics in the NBA finals, fans around the world will be watching to see if this underdog mentality can help them make history once again.