2024 NBA Playoffs: West 1st Round: #2 Denver Nuggets vs #7 Los Angeles Lakers (DEN WINS 4-1)

[Wolfgang630]

Remember the lakers figured Denver out. If LA loses game 1 all the media will repeat this again

[dockingsched]

I understand the Lakers don't wanna risk on losing against GSW/Kings but man they would've a good chance vs the young OKC roster. This would be over in 5.

I think they understand any hopes for a title go through Denver, and their best shot at them is with Lebron/AD as fresh as possible.

[EmpireFalls]

I think Lakers win on of the first 2 games in Denver.. and it's going to scare people.

And then gentlemen’s sweep after lol.

MPJ and Murray would have to go super cold for the Lakers to have a chance.. they probably will in one game, but not multiple.

[heezyo2o]

The games were all close last year and Jokic was hitting some miracle shots. Last year, the Lakers didn't have anyone other than Reaves that could hit a 3 in the 4th. A confident Dlo who can hit 3s late I think makes a difference.

[Wargreymon]

Raptors in 4.

LeBronto

They literally have a DOC out on YT on this no lie.

How dare you speak the truth. All jokes aside. Nuggets in 6

[One_and_Done]

Lebron did have a sprained foot last playoffs, which sounds crazy given how far he took them. Maybe he can go beserk and pull off a miracle before fatigue kicks in.

[dockingsched]

People keep bringing up last year as some sign of Denver dominance when lakers kept up with them in every game. Just a few bounces here and there.

Tbh the biggest concern and better example is the games from this season. Lakers looked a lot less competitive, like the gap widened significantly.

[AlexanderRight]

Waiting for the talk heads raving about how Lakers have found the key to win after losing the first game.

Read on Twitter

What did Nick Wright say after Game 1? “Boundless optimism for the Lakers!”

[LeBronSpaghetti]

Lakers plus refs make this a close series. Generational officiating for the Lakers this season has continued into the post season.

[Bank Shot]

Nuggets in five

[ArksNetsSince99]

2023 Champions vs 2024 IST Champions

Winner takes all

[Special_Puppy]

Nuggets gonna receive generational slander if they lose this series. (If they are on track to repeat they should win in 5)

[ArksNetsSince99]

Nuggets gonna receive generational slander if they lose this series. (If they are on track to repeat they should win in 5)

In 3

[zimpy27]

People keep bringing up last year as some sign of Denver dominance when lakers kept up with them in every game. Just a few bounces here and there.

Tbh the biggest concern and better example is the games from this season. Lakers looked a lot less competitive, like the gap widened significantly.

LeBron teams notoriously play poorly against main playoff competitors in the regular season. The strategy is to give nothing away in the RS and build a false sense of security in the opponent.

I watched Lakers vs Nuggets and they absolutely played with no strategy against that team, which you have to know they've been building strategy against Nuggets more than they have for any other team, probably twice as much.

[Chuck Everett]

Wrong thread.

[Special_Puppy]

Waiting for the talk heads raving about how Lakers have found the key to win after losing the first game.

Read on Twitter

What did Nick Wright say after Game 1? “Boundless optimism for the Lakers!”

LOL I forgot Rui "contained" Jokic by holding him to 34 points on 81% TS with 14 assists

[HotRocks34]

I think that the Nuggets have a few gaps and the Lakers have a slim chance. But many things would have to go right for LA and wrong for Denver for the Lakers to have a real shot.

LA has to use Big Ball, Davis guards the rim (not guard Jokic) and LA's bench has to outdo Denver's bench.

Denver is in a transitional year with its young bench. If you're going to get them, now's the time. In a year or two it'll probably be too late. Brown is still missed despite Denver's better record this year.

Denver has a scarcity of Non-Jokic playmakers and they could use more rim attackers. Brown helped in both areas.

When Jackson is bad he's awful. And Denver doesn't really have a legit backup center (DJ is too washed).

Sagging on Jokic and playing a PF against him on defense works because Gordon can't shoot. This makes things a lot harder for Jokic and a lot easier for opposing defenses.

Jokic usually beats this defense by beating the PF defender on a move, drawing the center to help out and lobbing to Gordon but it's a big burden on Jokic and there are chances to get him to commit offensive fouls when PF's guard him or he is swarmed.

It should be an interesting series. I expect Denver to win but there is a narrow path for LA IMO that can give some hope.

The Denver others have to come through. If they do, Denver should be in good shape. But if they don't and LA is able to contain Jokic with a "don't let him beat us" strategy, then we have a series.

Denver in 6.

[Marrrcuss]

Remember the lakers figured Denver out. If LA loses game 1 all the media will repeat this again

Might as well say this another 347 times. It might get funny again in a few...

Im betting youre the life of the party..

[B-easy]

...

LOL I forgot Rui "contained" Jokic by holding him to 34 points on 81% TS with 14 assists

If you take away the first game of last years playoff series then Jokic shot 53%TS from the floor. Jokic won't shoot that poorly this time around.

[Gus McCrae]

Nuggets in 5.