WCF - Game 1: Lakers @ Nuggets, Tuesday, 7:30pm CST, 5:30pm PST

[TylersLakers]

LET'S F'N GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our amazing second half of the season continues. What a rush. 8 wins away from 18. Possibly 4 wins away from the Celtics.

Keys To The Series:

1) Defensive Rebounding & Transition Defense: It's the two biggest weaknesses to our team. Especially in Denver, we have to get defensive rebounds and get good shots. When we miss, we have to sprint back and get matched up - especially AD. If AD just jogs down the floor and Jokic beats him, we're going to be in for a pretty quick series.

2) AD - Foul Trouble: If AD gets in foul trouble, the assignment will go to Rui Hachimura or LeBron. LeBron's had success against Jokic in the past but it needs to be a second half thing in my opinion. LeBron's already looking pretty tired in most games and that's with guarding Dillon Brooks and Draymond Green. If he has to defend and bang with Jokic, we're in trouble.

3) Matching Up: Who starts? I would imagine we go back to Vanderbilt, which I think is the right decision. He's been elite against big guards and wings. Go watch his highlights from our home game against Oklahoma City when he defended Shai.

Vanderbilt guards Murray
AD guards Jokic
D-Lo guards KCP
LeBron guards Gordon
Reaves guards MPJ

4) Simple Stuff: Denver plays beautiful offensive basketball and because of Jokic's passing ability, they get a lot of back-cuts. We cannot let Bruce Brown, KCP and Gordon get easy finishes because of that. I don't think either team has a match-up offensively or defensively that they're super concerned about or frothing at the mouth over. Just make the right play offensively. Defensively, communicate how we're defending them. Denver runs a lot of screen action and if we miscommunicate, it's going to lead to wide open jump shots for KCP, basket cuts for Bruce Brown, pick and pop jumpers for Jokic, etc.

5) Stars Be Stars: AD and LeBron need to bring it. In the bubble against Denver, LeBron averaged 27-10-9. AD averaged 31.2 - For the series, AD hit 6/18 3's in 5 games. LeBron hit 6/21. We need offensive production from those two like that.

[LAKESHOW]

Darvin Ham already giving out to the Press,, the game plan on how we are going to approach Jokic...

[Beethoven]

Go get this

[danfantastk32]

We got a nice rest. That is good.

I really have my doubts about beating Denver. But then again, I had my doubts about GS, about the Grizz, and about the play-in. So what do I know? Lakers just need to do what they do....and let what happens happen. No point in changing things up now. If AD can at least mach-up with Jokic, and I think our remainder is better than theirs.

Excited to watch. Denver are the best team this year, IMO, but they are certainly beatable.

[TylersLakers]

I’m still absolutely stunned this team is this far in the playoffs. So happy the fans and players are getting to experience this especially because of the bubble.

Build out three line-ups for me. Starters, AD group, LeBron group. Here goes mine:

Starters (and closing): Schroder, Russell, Reaves, LeBron, AD
AD group: Russell, Reaves, Walker, Hachimura, AD
LeBron group: Walker, Beasley, LeBron, Vando, Hachimura

[Beethoven]

They're all saying that jokic is better than AD/has like 30 pounds more on him over AD, that Gordon was the best defender of lebron statistically, that brown and Jeff Green off bench is more dangerous than our bench, and that we won't be able to handle Murray.

I dunno, I won't disagree cuz we're humble, but as long as lakers can steal a game or three, I'm fine with Denver being the better team.

[LAKESHOW]

The best defender I ever saw in an overall and athletic sense was Wiggins. But this matchup vs Gordon is going to present a new challenge that I want to see. I also want to see the Fast Break. I believe that is one of the few weaknesses we can attack.

[stan francisco]

If Jokic goes for 45, fine. If neither of Porter, Murray, and all of the sideshow Bobs get big numbers, we still win. Attention all cutters: attack Jokic in the paint. Make him defend well all night or foul out. Work him into the dirt so that he misses the buzzer beater in OT.

[SashaTheMachine]

Nice game thread Tyler!

Hope to see some og posters come back to the sub for the conference finals

[TylersLakers]

Nice game thread Tyler!

Hope to see some og posters come back to the sub for the conference finals

It's certainly not like the old days when I would do game threads with stats, pictures, colours, etc - but it's good enough to get the conversation going.

Speaking of Game Threads.. We all fail in comparison to Trixx. Hope he's doing well these days as well as all the other OG posters. It's been nice to see a few kicking around the last couple days (ST, SashAlex, Snaq).

[TyCobb]

Trixx was a game thread legend, but nice job too TL!

[SashaTheMachine]

Hoping for another big three against the nuggz from the Lakers this series!

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[SashaTheMachine]

Random q on that - do you think people went to Reddit, Twitter, or just retired? Wish it was more active, but I’m not one to talk haha

[Crooked-I]

Read on Twitter

I can understand the move, but I think we get killed on the boards especially if AD is guarding Jokic on the perimeter. We shall see.

[MAMBAEMD]

Let’s go Lakers!!

Of the first two road games, probably the first one is the most gettable. This is a great opportunity to steal home court and really put the pressure on the Nuggets.

One thing I don’t want to see happen is AD getting into foul trouble early guarding the Joker.

Need everyone playing great D and us controlling the board .
We also have to limit turnovers.

[SashaTheMachine]

Christ box out

[Crooked-I]

Nugz role players hitting everything. Not a good start.

[LAKESHOW]

They hittin everything. Still early

[Crooked-I]

I'd start Rui tbh. We need bigger bodies.

[IceManBK1]

Playing small only gives Denver the size advantage.. We need to start Vanderbilt. If Ham don't wanna bench Reaves just put Schroeder off the bench.