04/19/24
May 22, 2009
Nuggets Take One from Lakers in LA: The Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 106-103 in the second game of the Western Conference Finals, taking home court advantage back with them for the next two games in Denver.
posted by rcade to basketball at 01:03 AM - 15 comments
The Nuggets are getting worked on the glass. I'm not sure why but the Nuggets bigs just do not match up well with the Laker front line, I saw all the previews saying as much and didn't really believe them. It seems like the Denver bigs have some sort of mental block playing against the Lakers, they seem tentative compared to the last couple series. I think if the Nuggets front line can solve the Lakers then they win this series.
Linas Kleiza saved the series for the Nuggets last night.
posted by tron7 at 10:19 AM on May 22, 2009
I'm not sure why but the Nuggets bigs just do not match up well with the Laker front line
Lakers bigs play little .. by that I mean they rely on quickness, and I think that is what is giving Denver problems.
Denver is the much tougher team overall and I expect Lakers are in big trouble if they don't start getting bigger efforts from guys other that Kobe and Ariza.
posted by cixelsyd at 10:32 AM on May 22, 2009
One step closer to that Denver/Orlando series the league and TV networks have been dreaming about.
Did you see that Kobe/Lebron special before the game that ESPN did? They are really jumping the gun.
posted by bperk at 11:00 AM on May 22, 2009
In case anyone's still following it, I posted an update on the Game Four Nuggets/WWE conflict in the original thread.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:22 AM on May 22, 2009
The Nuggets should have taken Game 1 and the Lakers should have taken Game 2. The opposite results have led to a 1-1 series, but there they are all the same. Karma, I guess.
posted by sbacharach at 01:30 PM on May 22, 2009
Did you see that Kobe/Lebron special before the game that ESPN did? They are really jumping the gun.
Yup. And once again Chauncey is the difference in the game, from my perspective. Great article on him here.
posted by smithnyiu at 04:54 PM on May 22, 2009
Dwight/Chauncey doesnt quite have the same ring as Kobe/LeBron, huh? HAAAAAAAA!
GO MAGIC!!!
posted by setlasmon at 05:03 PM on May 22, 2009
I'm rooting for Chauncey in these playoffs. He is a great player and it is a shame that the Pistons let him go. But then again, they did receive Allen Iverson in return, an amazing player...
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 05:12 PM on May 22, 2009
Exciting game, and especially impressive that they came back from 14 down. In the past the game would've been over by mid-3rd quarter.
As a long-suffering Nuggets fans I still think the Lakers have the edge over seven games. But one very heartening stat to me is that the Nuggets' three playoff losses have been by a total of six points, all on the road. By contrast, all their home wins have been double digits.
posted by drumdance at 06:36 PM on May 22, 2009
But then again, they did receive Allen Iverson in return, an amazing player...
Iverson's career reevaluated.
Given the decline of the Pistons and the rise of the Nuggets, Billups for Iverson (salary dump or not) seems to be one of the boneheaded trades of all time.
posted by cjets at 07:01 PM on May 22, 2009
The Nuggets are getting worked on the glass. I'm not sure why but the Nuggets bigs just do not match up well with the Laker front line
The Lakers' bigs may have the rebound advantage, but the point differential is pretty negligible:
Two games into the series and the Odom, Bynum & Gasol triumvirate have 62 points compared to 61 from Martin, Nene & Anderson. The Lakers "advantage" is supposed to be their front line yet they lead 62-61 after two HOME games. This is a VERY disturbing stat from LA's perspective.From the Lakers homers at The Association.
posted by Ufez Jones at 07:26 PM on May 22, 2009
Thanks Ufez, good link. Here's another quote from the link:
Put him to sleep, wish him to the cornfield, call in Dr. Kevorkian, have him kiss someone with Swine Flu, push him into traffic, spike his water with female hormones so he can fail a drug test... Whatever keeps Derek Fisher from playing for the Lakers do it now! How many more games will Fisher cost the Lakers before Phil Jackson wakes up from reading Jeanie Buss's tweets and benches his ass? Three points, two turnovers, one of nine from the field and ZERO defense, Fisher needs to meet the bench NOW!
I know D-Fish still hits some big shots but I'd have to agree.
posted by cjets at 07:38 PM on May 22, 2009
Jordan Farmar was excellent on Aaron Brooks when Fisher was suspended against Houston for decking Scola. Of course Phil wants playoff experience and poise, and Fisher comes with plenty, but the negatives are starting to pile up. Farmar and Shannon Brown are definitely showing they can handle the pressure.
posted by sbacharach at 10:09 PM on May 22, 2009
cjets - yeah, The Association is great for biased, crass, hyperbolic NBA coverage. I've been reading them for years and they're always my go-to when something Lakers-related hits the AP-wire.
Plus, like me, they hate the goddamn Spurs.
posted by Ufez Jones at 01:24 PM on May 23, 2009
One step closer to that Denver/Orlando series the league and TV networks have been dreaming about.