(2) Nuggets vs. (7) Lakers First Round Playoff Series Thread

[StrongLurk]

(2) Denver vs. (7) L.A. Lakers

• Game 1: Nuggets 114, Lakers 103
• Game 2: Nuggets 101, Lakers 99
• Game 3: Nuggets 112, Lakers 105
• Game 4: Nuggets vs. Lakers; Saturday, April 27 (8:30 ET, ABC)
• Game 5: Lakers vs. Nuggets; Monday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 6: Nuggets vs. Lakers; Thursday, May 2 (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 7: Lakers vs. Nuggets; Saturday, May 4 (TBD, TNT)*

* = If necessary

-------------------------------

Feel like there only chance if is Murray somehow plays terribly or even gets injured. If Murray is anything close to what he did last year, then the Lakers have zero chance of winning.

Also Jokic has been playing at a GOAT-level on offense for the last four years. It will be hard to beat him 4 times.

[Xiao Yao You]

No bubble no chance

[1987_Lakers]

They are huge underdogs and don't expect them to win.

But if a 39 year old LeBron knocks off a peak Jokic it will be a greater accomplishment than anything MJ ever did.

[FultzNationRISE]

The Lakers have LeGOAT so that gives them a heck of a chance that no other team has.

But if they do lose it's 100% because his teammates sucked.

[tpols]

A lot of people don't realize Jamal Murray hung 33/6/5 on 53/41/95 splits last year vs LA.



Those are averages that are demonstrably better than prime Michael Jordan. That's MJ volume in the 50/40/90 club. I didn't even realize he was sniping that hard til I looked it up.

And every single game was close with LA holding double digit leads in 2/4 of the games before choking 4th quarters away.

What are the chances Murray does that again? Extremely slim.

[StrongLurk]

A lot of people don't realize Jamal Murray hung 33/6/5 on 53/41/95 splits last year vs LA.



Those are averages that are demonstrably better than prime Michael Jordan. That's MJ volume in the 50/40/90 club. I didn't even realize he was sniping that hard til I looked it up.

And every single game was close with LA holding double digit leads in 2/4 of the games before choking 4th quarters away.

What are the chances Murray does that again? Extremely slim.

Exactly. He killed it in the finals too. Complete superstar run by Murray last year.

But he did the same thing in the bubble too. His last two healthy playoff runs have been insane.

[NBAGOAT]

gabe vincent is going be more important than people think. Jamal was great in playoffs but worse in finals. 21/10 on 55ts% and lakers will be ok with jamal playmaking

[1987_Lakers]

gabe vincent is going be more important than people think. Jamal was great in playoffs but worse in finals. 21/10 on 55ts% and lakers will be ok with jamal playmaking

I was worried about Gabe not being into playing shape after being out for so long, but he instantly brought some defense, his offense has been off since his return, but he looked pretty good offensively vs the Pelicans in the play-in.

[FultzNationRISE]

A lot of people don't realize Jamal Murray hung 33/6/5 on 53/41/95 splits last year vs LA.



Those are averages that are demonstrably better than prime Michael Jordan. That's MJ volume in the 50/40/90 club. I didn't even realize he was sniping that hard til I looked it up.

And every single game was close with LA holding double digit leads in 2/4 of the games before choking 4th quarters away.

What are the chances Murray does that again? Extremely slim.

Bruh Murray does that. He doesnt go hard in the regular season because the Nuggets work on their team stuff and managing their health in the regular season.

Last few weeks of the season they told Murray to start warming up playoff mode. Go look at his Last 10 numbers.

You cant blitz him, double him, try to force the ball out of his hands because Jokic exists. He’s an elite scorer that teams cannot commit to stopping. He can just go to work and feast.

It’s a crazy weapon.

[ImKobe]

Rebounding and 3PT luck. Can't get killed on the glass and can't get outscored by a huge margin from the perimeter. Both of those were an issue in the WCF and it was still close. If they can cut into that margin they'll at least go 5-6 games instead of getting swept. Bron can't be any worse than he was in 4th quarters last year too so I expect them to do a better job closing some of these games. Dlo completely disappeared last year, there's no way he'll be as bad as he was in the WCF so that could be the difference-maker too.

[StrongLurk]

Rebounding and 3PT luck. Can't get killed on the glass and can't get outscored by a huge margin from the perimeter. Both of those were an issue in the WCF and it was still close. If they can cut into that margin they'll at least go 5-6 games instead of getting swept. Bron can't be any worse than he was in 4th quarters last year too so I expect them to do a better job closing some of these games. Dlo completely disappeared last year, there's no way he'll be as bad as he was in the WCF so that could be the difference-maker too.

I think the Lakers win if you would have complete faith in LeGOAT. That's all it takes, but you won't do it, so really the Lakers losing is on you.

[ImKobe]

I think the Lakers win if you would have complete faith in LeGOAT. That's all it takes, but you won't do it, so really the Lakers losing is on you.

Those 3s that he loves to take in the 4th when he's tired need to go in. He's had a hell of a stretch from 3 post-ASB, he needs to show it in the Playoffs or they're not winning close games. Team still sucks at running plays for AD in the half court so we're gonna live or die by Bran/Dlo 3s with some Reaves mixed in there.

[tpols]

Bruh Murray does that. He doesnt go hard in the regular season because the Nuggets work on their team stuff and managing their health in the regular season.

Last few weeks of the season they told Murray to start warming up playoff mode. Go look at his Last 10 numbers.

You cant blitz him, double him, try to force the ball out of his hands because Jokic exists. He’s an elite scorer that teams cannot commit to stopping. He can just go to work and feast.

It’s a crazy weapon.

Murray averaged 21 ppg on way less efficiency in the very next series last year vs Miami... so no... he isn't going to do 33/6/7 on all time sniper splits every single time. He'd be the GOAT if he did.

[Lakers]

Dig up Kobe's corpse

[Duffy Pratt]

First two minutes of this against Murray:

https://youtu.be/gvklAXYtwP0?si=6r7kgJG0VZBpEuHE