LAKERS -vs- NUGGETS - 9/18 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

 
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 9:52 pm    Post subject: LAKERS -vs- NUGGETS - 9/18 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

Taking Game One... The Lakers have had a healthy respect for all their opponents in the playoffs, and they aren’t about to disrespect the Nuggets after they have come back from being down twice 3-1 in their playoff series.

Vogel had the game plan dialed in for this one. The Lakers would return to their big ball and impose their size, speed and athleticism on the Nuggets.

The game opened with both teams scoring at will. Once they rotated to their bench and Jokic sat, L.A. went to it’s micro ball lineup and started to build a lead. As soon as he returned, they unleashed Dwight Howard into the mix.

And he mixed it up as the Nuggets got into serious foul trouble in the second quarter. The Lakers missed an opportunity to stretch out a lead, however. They had Jokic, Murray and Millsap all with three fouls (Dwight got the third fouls on each of them). The Lakers were aggressive and got to the line, but they failed to knock down FTs that quarter. The scrappy Nugget squad actually trimmed the second quarter lead down a little heading into halftime as the Lakers led 70-59.

At the half, Vogel reminded his team that the Nuggets had been strong in the second halves. They didn’t need reminding. We threw Dwight into the starting lineup and didn’t look back in that crushing 33-20 third quarter.

We saw a lot more lobs in this game as you might have expected. Obviously, we’ll see the occasional lob in transition, but where the Lakers have an advantage against the Nuggets is the mobility of our bigs. They just need a step on the Nuggets. Whether that comes from a quick spin, a little back screen from a guard...give them just a moment to clear the air space and it’s trouble.

The effort would get a little ragged to open the fourth (LeBron was in coast mode). We’d bring back AD (37 points) and restore order with a couple of hoops to force a Nuggets timeout. It would transition to garbage time as the Lakers cruised to the opening game win, 126-114. Good to see the team take the series opener finally.

“We haven’t done anything special,” Davis said afterward.

The Nuggets played with a sense of urgency when their backs were to the wall in their previous series. Expect that intensity to throttle up. These are two excellent coaches who make adjustments. We’ll see how the Nuggets can counter the Lakers size as the series goes along.


LeBron -- -- He rolled an ankle stepping on a foot on a drive to start the second quarter. He continued playing. Hopefully, that doesn’t swell up after the game, but I imagine he’ll see a little swelling. He certainly looked fine going up for lob dunks and bullying his way to the rim for scores. He also had a nice two-hand jam off a pocket pass from AC. But you can play on an ankle twist for a while. He went to the locker room early with a couple minutes left to start the treatment. Typical sort of stuff from LeBron offensively out there tonight. He draw a lot of attention and there are plays that it doesn’t even lead to a stat for him. You saw that at times off the AC/LeBron two-man action on the wing. They worked several of those possessions together for scores or collapsing the D. But that’s the attention LeBron is getting that makes AC the guy able to set the table for others or score. There was even a post up where the D sagged over before LeBron was even passed to. Instead of making the post entry, Rondo hit the open shooter. Again, no stat. On not getting the MVP: “It pissed me off,” he said several times. “I don’t know how much we are really watching the game of basketball or we are in the narration mode.” His versatility and how he controls or distorts the floor is amazing. His game is going to ramp up as this series goes along as he starts to pick more spots for himself. The Stats: He scored 15 points on 6-11 shooting (0-2 from three, 3-4 from the line) to go with 6 boards, 12 assists, 3 turnovers and 2 fouls in 31 minutes. He was a +15.

Davis -- -- Strong first quarter, attacking for FTs and some finishes in the paint. He also had a lob dunk on a spin where Rondo hit him out of an ATO. Then, he sat. We had a chance to really stretch the lead out in the second quarter, but he sat for a long time before coming back with 5:21 left. I’m not sure if that chilled him a little, but he missed several freethrows and shots when he returned in this stretch, and the Lakers struggled to get separation when several key Nugget players were in foul trouble. In the third, he was revved up and rolling. His mobility for lobs is going to be an issue for Jokic. Perfect example late in the third, AD stepped toward the ball, then spun backdoor and threw down a lob. Look at where Jokic was on that play. He was nailed to the floor no where close to even reacting. AD would dunk off some ball movement next time down. He’d battle in a crowd and hit a short jumphook. He’d draw Jokic’s fifth foul (the refs really didn’t want to call that fifth as Jokic was given the break on a couple fouls earlier), AD got it on the three line with a pumpfake. He just imposed himself on the Nuggets in that third quarter. If this game was close, he was probably going for 45 or so. Jokic is too slow and Millsap is too small. The Stats: He scored 37 points on 12-21 shooting (1-3 from three, 12-15 from the line) to go with 10 boards (3 offensive), 4 assists, 3 turnovers and 3 fouls in 33 minutes. He was a +15.

Green -- -- He hit a floater attacking a closeout and reversed off an AD drive and dish. Later in the game, he’d knock down a corner three behind a screen. He had some good rotations defensively to swipe passes, but individually, some issues when matched up with Murray. The Stats: He’d scored 8 points on 3-10 shooting (1-4 from three, 1-1 from the line) to go with 6 boards, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block and 3 fouls in 23 minutes. He was a +20.

McGee -- -- He started the game and we played even ball in his stint. We went to Howard in the second half, which we had done once in the regular season against the Nuggets. If we’re playing even with McGee out there, we probably take that, but Dwight really is the better matchup and made us the aggressors. McGee in his stint had a block on Jokic in the post and also hit the ground for a loose ball to get a stop. But he also picked up a couple quick fouls in that first quarter stint. He’d come in later for garbage time and that hurt the +/- numbers. He was mic’d up tonight and was one of the loudest cheerleaders for Dwight. Good thing, because he’s probably sitting quite a bit in this series. The Stats: He didn’t score on 0-1 shooting to go with 1 block, 2 turnover and 4 fouls in 11 minutes. He was a -11.

Caldwell-Pope -- -- He sank a couple of threes in the first half on transition. He also scored a layup off a Rondo bounce pass. But things really picked up in the third quarter. He had the bench on their feet on a strip on Harris in that quarter (some great D even prior to that). KCP was pumped after that. He then forced Murray into a sideline turnover (that was his primary assignment all night). He then drew an offensive foul on Harris on a perimeter exchange. Then, he’d drain another three in transition to force a timeout. We extended the lead to 17. He also got a backscreen in on Jokic to free Dwight up for a lob dunk and a leakout dunk right after that for KCP. Just and excellent third quarter when the Nuggets were ready to bring their A game. KCP helped stagger them. KCP was our second leading scorer on the night. The Stats: He scored 18 points on 6-10 shooting (3-5 from three, 3-4 from the line) to go with 1 board, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block and 2 fouls in 30 minutes. He was a +9.

Kuzma -- -- Really good job changing ends off of made baskets and we found him for a couple of scores in the first half. The Nuggets were specifically mentioning this after the game. He made their transition D pay the price. He also had a nice cut through the lane and LeBron hit him for a scooping layup. He’d hit another runner in the first half and a garbage time three. The +/- in this one was mainly because we left him out there with our garbage time unit. I suspect his off-ball cutting will pick up for more points as the series goes along. The Nuggets are going to have to aggressively help, so heads will be turned. The Stats: He scored 11 points on 5-8 shooting (1-2 from three) to go with 4 boards (2 offensive), 1 turnover and 2 fouls in 24 minutes. He was a -9.

Caruso -- -- Aggressive first stint. He attacked on a pushout for FTs. He attacked off a LeBron screen and handoff for an And-1 layup. He made a great bounce pass to LeBron rolling off a screen for a dunk. He also lobbed to LeBron in transition. In the second half, we’d see more of that two-man game. Caruso made a nice read off that to hit the weakside corner man for a three. Defensively, he also picked up one of Jokic’s first half fouls fighting over a screen. He does a good job trailing a man, but the two-man game with Jokic/Murray is tough to deal with. That often led to AC switched on a bigger man. How we defend this will determine the series as it’s the Nuggets bread and butter for setting up their offense. The Stats: He scored 5 points on 1-3 shooting (0-2 from three, 3-5 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 4 assists, 1 block and 4 fouls in 22 minutes. He was a +6.

Rondo -- -- Playoff Rondo again. Great chemistry with AD in this one. “I’m always reading weakside help. There’s only one person to get those balls I throw up in the air,” he said. We saw a lot of that in the halfcourt and we saw him pushing pace whenever we could. Good job finding guys right after entering the game. He hit Kuz for a reverse in transition after a made basket. He bounced to KCP rolling for a layup. He lobbed to AD for a dunk. He hit Morris for an open three. He had another lob to Dwight off a set play in the third quarter and then another to AD. AD did a step-up, backdoor spin that Rondo hit for a lob throwdown. He then stole a ball against a bigger man trying to body him up then found AD on the other end for another dunk. He’d swish an open three on a kickout in the fourth. Later in that quarter, he’d hit a floater from behind the backboard. Someone just got an “H” off that shot. Defensively, he had a nice steal in the first half when he had to cover a couple of players at once. So two takeaways in this game and no turnovers himself to go with his 9 assists. Just a great game. He got the team some great shots. The Stats: He scored 7 points on 3-7 shooting (1-1 from three) to go with 1 board, 9 assists, 2 steals and 1 foul in 22 minutes. He was a +13.

Howard -- -- He said he’s loved watching Jokic’s growth as a player, but “For me as soon as I step on the court, I want him to know I’m there. Since we’re staying at the same hotel, I might meet him right outside his room to let him know that the rest of the series I’m going to be right there locked on to you.” As soon as we learned the Nuggets were the team, Dwight was in play. Here’s how it unfolded. We went to our micro ball when Jokic sat to start the second quarter and built a lead. When Jokic returned, then we brought Dwight in. So Jokic got 3 minutes rest and we outscored the Nuggets by 7 during that stretch. Then after bringing Dwight in, he mixed things up. He was banging bodies, drawing freethrows and causing trouble. He helped pick up Jokic’s third foul with 7 minutes left in the second quarter bodying him on the perimeter. He picked up Murray’s third when he tried to impede Dwight’s progress. Then he picked up Millsap’s third battling on the offensive glass. He got into the huddle at midcourt of the Nuggets as they were trying to talk stuff out. They wanted him out, but it was just a deadball. Then he spiked a layup attempt out of bounds on the next play. Just in there stirring things up in that second quarter. He started the third quarter in McGee’s spot, posted up and got Jokic to chuck him to pick up his fourth foul. Then we found him for a lob dunk a second later. He’d score on a putback off an AD miss. He’d get a layup showing some good hands on an interior feed from LeBron. We’d call his number on an ATO for another lob dunk. Dwight would sit with 2:32 left in the third, Lakers up 18. He was a +14 in his 16 minutes. I think the Nuggets will really try to game plan for him more in the next one to see if they can pull him out on the perimeter more, but it’s still a problem for the Nuggets because AD is still roaming around. The Stats: He scored 13 points on 4-5 shooting (5-8 from the line) to go with 3 boards, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers and 4 fouls in 16 minutes. He was a +14.

Morris -- --He sank a couple of threes in the first half. Our micro ball with him at center was able to build a lead as Jokic rested. He’d drain a wing three off a pin screen from Kuz while LeBron drew attention strongside. That’s all we need. Space the floor so we can go five out and the Nuggets will have issues with LeBron collapsing the D. Plumlee had left him to sag on LeBron early in the first half (LBJ didn’t even have the ball yet from a post entry). So we hit him for the three. That’s just a problem lineup for the Nuggets when Jokic isn’t out there. The Stats: He scored 9 points on 3-4 shooting from three to go with 1 board, 1 assist, 2 steals and 3 fouls in 16 minutes. He was a +13.

Smith -- -- He came in with 4 minutes left for garbage time. He sank a corner three on iso and missed another wing three on iso next time down. The Stats: He scored 3 points on 1-2 shooting from three to go with 1 board in 4 minutes. He was a -9.

Cook -- -- Cook sighting tonight as the last man in off the bench. He’d miss a layup on a drive and crash hard to the ground. The Stats: He didn’t score on 0-1 shooting and had 1 assist in 3 minutes. He was a -7.

Dudley -- -- He came in with 4 minutes left, Lakers up 22. The Nuggets countered with Bol Bol. The Stats: He didn’t score or shoot and had 1 steal in 4 minutes. He was a -9.

Vogel -- -- Key Moment: Let’s start first with that second quarter where we had the Nuggets in foul trouble. Great that we got them in foul trouble and got to the line, but we couldn’t get separation despite their stars sitting. Now fast forward to that opening stretch of the third. You could see Murray warming up a little and talking about how we couldn’t guard him. KCP stood strong, forced some turnovers and then hit a three to extend our lead to 17 and force a timeout. Out of that, we’d set up a lob dunk for Dwight and KCP would get another transition dunk. A 16-4 run. Rondo then tagged in and the Lakers just opened the game up with dunks and a 23-point lead. Between the second and third quarters, the Lakers outscored the Nuggets 67-41.

Key Substitution: Dwight. You knew he’d be a factor heading into this series because we started him in the second half of a game earlier this year against Denver. We did that again tonight. He muscles up Jokic, but he also gives us some better perimeter D when we have to switch. In general, though, we just play very, very aggressive. Offensively, he wears on you with screens, offensive glass and we got the lob going again in this series. Lakers just played too big and too fast. That’s a tough combo for the Nuggets.

Key Stat: Let’s go with the 33 assists with just 11 turnovers for the Lakers. Meanwhile, the Nuggets had 23 assists with 16 turnovers. Jokic had just 2 assists and 4 turnovers. You need to make him a scorer and not a passer. That means don’t send doubles automatically. Let him try to beat you from three line if he pops. What you don’t want to do is what the Clippers did. Predictable double team after double team to pick the team apart.

Coach’s Challenge: In the second quarter with 6:25 left, the Nuggets tried to challenge a block/charge call on Murray when LeBron came off a screen hard and plowed Murray over for an And-1. Murray wasn’t set, so that’s a tough one to challenge. It wasn’t overturned and the Lakers led by 15.
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lts
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 9:57 pm    Post subject:

first。

Thanks DB.
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 10:11 pm    Post subject:

Thanks DB! Great writeup as always! I had a feeling when Denver advanced that Dwight Howard would come into play countering Jokic. Worked out pretty well Game 1.

Excellent game by a lot of Lakers! Vogel had this squad ready, and so did LeBron. Great game AD, KCP had a very good game as well.

Caruso, Rondo, Kuz, Morris - good, solid playoff-worthy contributions as well.

Really happy with how the Lakers responded to a new challenge this evening.

KEEP IT UP LAKERS!!!!
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 11:06 pm    Post subject:

DB,

Thanks for the write up as usual.

One down and seven more to go for that chip!

The runway has been cleared for the Lakers to lift off for ring number 17!

I hope they make it look easy.

Then we can start planning for another ring for next year.
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 3:25 am    Post subject:

Nice to win a series opener.
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lordtrapula
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 3:48 am    Post subject:

The final score doesn't do the Lakers performance justice. That 2nd half was a straight-up beat down, nuggets garbage points at the end made it look respectable.
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 4:37 am    Post subject:

Thanks DB!
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Killer_Z
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 5:18 am    Post subject:

I really look forward to these write-ups DB, thank you.
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 5:43 am    Post subject:

We had a good sound strategy to get the ball to the hole and in transition as much as possible. The Nuggets don’t have strong rim protection with Joker Millsap.

Really worked right away.

But then when our D clicked in the 2nd Q the game was over.

After AD and Bron. Dwight was the 3rd MVP of this one. As soon as he entered the game changed defensively and how we played them.

Smart move by Frank to go back with Dwight to start the 2nd half. Led all bench players with a +14.

Jokic is such a high IQ skilled player. But he is not facing Zubac. Or an undersized backup. He is having to deal with McGee, AD, Howard. Then some doubles. And working on D. Gobert is elite on D, but he doesn’t make Jokic play on D the way AD can. Nor is he as physical as Dwight is inside on offense. Jokic is gonna have to work twice as hard in this series.
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 6:03 am    Post subject:

wolfpaclaker wrote:
Jokic is gonna have to work twice as hard in this series.

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PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 7:38 am    Post subject:

Short roll defense was really good last night. Denver adjustment: Murray probably will be more aggressive in the next one in those situations, but we did not let Jokic set the table from the middle at all. He’s going to have to be a scorer in this series because we aren’t sending dumb doubles, either.

Denver will also try to limit the transition opportunities/turnovers as they got killed there. And they will stress defensive rebounding, but our bigs are going to make them work. Because all that means is more battled on the glass, more getting back fast.
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 8:09 am    Post subject:

Thanks, DB!

Lakers took control of the game and never looked back. Dominating win.
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 8:37 am    Post subject:

I really hated the ineffectiveness of the "End-of-Bench" guys, sad to see the 20+ point lead dwindle to 12..
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 8:58 am    Post subject:

Thanks, DB!

The other, under analysed piece to this series:

How do the Nuggets defend us? If we shoot anything above .333 from beyond the arc, they have no way of stopping us.
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 9:24 am    Post subject:

Thanks DB! Solid game from most of our squad. It's a nice luxury to have Rondo, Dwight, Kuz, Morris and Caruso coming off the bench and all with significant contributions. Dwight and Rondo stood out to me on the bench tonight. In addition to Bron and AD, KCP gave us a lift as well.

The Nugz will be competitive so we need to keep our foot on the gas.
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 9:35 am    Post subject:

Dr. Laker wrote:
Thanks, DB!

The other, under analysed piece to this series:

How do the Nuggets defend us? If we shoot anything above .333 from beyond the arc, they have no way of stopping us.


It’s tough. We are very good in the paint. They are very bad defending the paint. It’s a problem that likely won’t change. Yeah they will have to maybe try to give up more open threes to pack the paint more, but that’s probably not sustainable.

I think they will focus on better offensive execution to prevent turnovers and better transition D. We will see more of Jokic on the roll against our switches to try to get the smaller defenders deeper in the paint to collapse the D and also Murray being more aggressive with the shot. That may help get their offense a little more efficient and less prone to turnovers and fastbreaks. Then you might see them make small adjustments based on certain plays to try to trim down some effectiveness on lobs and such.

It’s really hard to adjust to a team as flexible as the Lakers are. And Doc Rivers isn’t walking through the door to coach this L.A. team.
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A Mad Chinaman
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 10:03 am    Post subject:

Lakers put on display Lebron’s leadership, the length advantage throughout the lineup and their goal to not take their foot off the gas pedal (hello Clippers)

Comparing Kwahi’s 14 points in Game 7 and LeBron’s 15 points (or even Jimmy Butler’s 14 points), which players impacted their respective teams?
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 4:42 pm    Post subject:

What do many people enjoy, but the Nuggets hate?

Turnovers
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