5 Reasons Why The Lakers Might Still Have A Chance Against The Nuggets

The Los Angeles Lakers faced a tough defeat in Game 2 against the Denver Nuggets, letting a significant 20-point lead slip through their fingers, culminating in a dramatic game-winning shot by Jamal Murray. This moment not only intensified the series but also tilted it significantly in favor of the Nuggets, now leading 2-0 as they head into the next games in Los Angeles.

However, despite the setback, the Lakers showed glimpses of hope that could hint at a potential comeback. As the series shifts to their home court, the Lakers have an opportunity to leverage their home crowd's energy and several key strategic advantages they demonstrated earlier. This piece explores five compelling reasons why the Lakers are far from being counted out in this first-round matchup.

1. Having The Advantage At Home

The Lakers' performance at home can be a game-changer, especially when the stakes are as high as they are in the playoffs. Historically, the Lakers have shown they can leverage their home court to gain significant advantages. For instance, during their Western Conference Finals run last season, they were unbeaten at home against the eventual champions Denver Nuggets in the regular season, securing a 2-0 record. This record not only highlights their ability to dominate on familiar ground but also serves as a psychological boost for the team.

This season, however, the narrative seems slightly different with the Lakers trailing 0-2 at home against the Nuggets. Yet, a closer look at these games tells a more nuanced story. The first loss came before the trade deadline, at a time when the Lakers were still fine-tuning their roster with significant changes that would later define their strategy and team dynamics. More critically, D’Angelo Russell, a key player for the Lakers, was unavailable for that game. His presence in the lineup has often been a catalyst for the team's performance, and his absence was sorely felt.

The second game, a closer encounter, saw the Lakers lose by just nine points in March. During this game, the Lakers' bench, which can be a critical factor in relieving the starters and maintaining the team's momentum, contributed a mere 12 points. This underperformance is an outlier rather than the norm, suggesting that the Lakers have more to offer.

Given these factors, the Lakers' home court at the CryptoCom Center stands as their fortress. With the crowd behind them, and possibly with a fully available and recently bolstered lineup, the team has every reason to believe they can turn their fortunes around. The energy of the Los Angeles crowd, known for its loud and passionate support, could provide the necessary boost to uplift the team’s spirits and performance.

2. Anthony Davis Showed He Can Be Dominant

Anthony Davis's performance in Game 2 was a clear demonstration of his ability to dominate on the court, particularly against a formidable opponent like Nikola Jokic. By halftime, Davis had racked up an impressive 24 points, shooting 8-9 from the field. His dominance was not just in his scoring but also in how he effectively drew Jokic into challenging defensive positions.

Positioning Davis as the primary offensive threat against Jokic is a strategic approach that the Lakers can continue to exploit. Jokic, for all his offensive prowess, has shown vulnerabilities in containing agile and aggressive forwards like Davis. By consistently targeting this matchup, Davis can potentially draw fouls, wear down Jokic physically, and force the Nuggets into defensive adjustments that could disrupt their game plan.

The key to leveraging Davis’s dominance lies in his ability to maintain aggressive play while the Lakers' perimeter players must make the most of their opportunities. If Davis can keep Jokic occupied defensively, it will necessitate help from other Nuggets players, thereby opening up the floor for Lakers' shooters. When these shooters hit their open shots, it further enhances the effectiveness of Davis's play, creating a dual threat that can be difficult to counter.

By focusing on this matchup, the Lakers not only capitalize on one of their key strengths but also place additional pressure on Denver's defensive schemes. This tactic could shift the dynamic of the games as the series returns to Los Angeles, giving the Lakers a crucial advantage they need to exploit.

3. Two Big Leads In Both Games

Despite their current standing in the series, the Lakers have demonstrated significant potential in both games against the Nuggets by securing a 20-point lead in Game 2 and being on a double-digit lead for a good chunk of Game 1. This not only indicates their capability to build substantial advantages but also underscores their potential to control the game's pace and rhythm. However, the challenge they've encountered has been in maintaining these leads through to the end of the game.

In both matchups, the pattern was strikingly similar: the Lakers established a commanding lead, only for the Nuggets to close the gap in the clutch moments, highlighted by Jamal Murray's dramatic game-winner in Game 2. This recurring issue points to a critical area of improvement for the Lakers—closing out games.

The root of the problem seems to be an over-reliance on LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who have been pushed to their limits. While their performances have been stellar, basketball is a team sport, and the closing minutes of a game require fresh legs and sharp minds. This is where players like Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell come into play. Both have shown they can contribute significantly, but there is a greater need for them to step up during the latter stages of the game.

To prevent the Nuggets from making sudden comebacks, the Lakers need more from Reaves and D'Lo, especially in the second halves and crucially at the end of games. By distributing the responsibilities more evenly, not only can the Lakers manage the fatigue levels of their stars better, but they can also keep the Nuggets' defense guessing and less focused on shutting down just LeBron and Davis. This strategic adjustment could be the key to not just building leads but maintaining them until the final buzzer.

4. LeBron James Is Still Clutch

Even with the Lakers trailing in the series, LeBron James's performance in the clutch moments of Game 2 showcased why he is still one of the most formidable players in the NBA. Scoring 12 points in the fourth quarter alone, with a 5-9 shooting from the field including two crucial three-pointers, LeBron demonstrated his ability to keep the Lakers competitive even under immense pressure. Throughout the first two games of the 2024 playoffs, he has averaged impressive stats: 26.5 points, 10.0 assists, and 7.0 rebounds, leading the team in performance.

Regardless, for the Lakers to capitalize fully on LeBron’s end-game heroics, they need Anthony Davis to maintain his presence throughout the game, especially in the closing quarters. In Game 2, Davis's performance dipped in the crucial moments, coinciding with Denver's comeback. This contrast in the halves is stark, with the Lakers scoring 28 and 31 points in the first half of both games, but only 20 in each quarter of the second half.

The key to overcoming this inconsistency lies in balancing the offensive load more effectively. If Davis can match LeBron’s clutch performance, especially in the latter stages of the game, it could prevent opponents from concentrating solely on LeBron and open up more opportunities for both stars. Moreover, this adjustment would help in preserving their energy and effectiveness throughout the game.

Ultimately, solving this puzzle of sustaining their offensive output into the second half and effectively closing out games could very well see the Lakers tying the series at home. The combination of LeBron’s continued clutch play and a more consistently engaged Davis could be the formula the Lakers need to turn the tide in this challenging first-round series.

5. Figuring Out Nikola Jokic And Jamal Murray?

One of the biggest tactical challenges any team faces when playing against the Denver Nuggets is managing the dual threat of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. In the playoffs, the Lakers have shown glimpses of a strategy that could potentially minimize the impact of these two stars. They've implemented a targeted approach on defense, particularly using pick-and-roll situations to put pressure on Jokic, especially when he defends the roller. This tactic has paid dividends by limiting his effectiveness at times, notably in the second half of the previous game where Jokic failed to score a field goal for a significant stretch.

On the defensive end, the combination of LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the PnR has also effectively contained Jokic and Murray for portions of the game. Murray, known for his explosive scoring ability, was held to below 35% shooting until the last quarter of Game 2, where he managed to score 14 points including the game-winner. This late-game surge in spite of the Lakers' defensive efforts, particularly from Austin Reaves, who has been commendable in chasing Murray through screens and staying tight on him throughout the game, indicates that the Lakers are on the right track.

The challenge for the Lakers now is to sustain these defensive successes while adapting to any adjustments the Nuggets make for Game 3. If the Lakers can continue to execute their defensive strategy effectively and perhaps even enhance it, there is a strong possibility that they could return to Colorado for Game 5 with the series tied. This scenario would not only boost their confidence but also put significant pressure on the Nuggets, proving that the Lakers have indeed figured out how to handle Jokic and Murray when it counts the most.

Overall Conclusions

Even though they're behind in the series, the Los Angeles Lakers have really shown what they're made of by nearly winning the first two games against the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets are considered the top team in the league for good reasons. They have lots of different ways to win games, they're smart, and they're well-coached. Plus, they have Nikola Jokic, who many think is the best in the world at outsmarting defenses. He's incredibly versatile and can change the game in many ways.

The Nuggets' ability to adapt and their deep bench makes them a tough team to beat. This constructs what the Lakers have done even more impressive. They didn’t just manage to keep up; they actually had the lead a lot of the time and came up with some smart plays to challenge some of the best players out there.

However, the Lakers are definitely the underdogs here. Facing such a strong and clever team means they can’t afford to slip up. The fact that the Lakers came so close to winning both games shows they’ve got a lot of fight in them and some smart strategies. As the series goes back to Los Angeles, the Lakers have a real shot to turn things around if they keep playing smart and using their strengths. The next few games will really test their determination and ability to adapt, giving them a chance to shake up the expectations for this playoff series.