Game thread - Lakers at Nuggets, Game 3
And before we kick off, my two cents...
The Nuggets have thrown a wide variety of looks at the Lakers and none have been effective over the course of an entire contest. We can discuss and analyze every X and/or O, but everything comes back to one central fact. Denver is a good team, but L.A. is just better. Not to sound simplistic, but it really is that simple. And honestly, I think Denver knows that nothing they do can truly "overcome" that.
Thus, I'm expecting to see Denver doing more of what's been (relatively speaking) most effective and trying to make it better. But were I George Karl, I'd tell my squad to play the Lakers extremely physical. Nothing dirty, but nothing without some contact involved. If the Lakers have a teamwide weakness (of sorts), it's that they can get rattled when team bump and grind. Especially if the refs don't call it (and the odds of no whistle increase at Pepsi), which has often gotten the Lakers out of sorts. With any luck, the Lakers will concentrate more on the refs than the game, a bad habit that used to rear its ugly head on a very regular basis. In particular, I'd look to muscle Gasol, who really doesn't like that style of play. Basically, an approach that hopes to make the Lakers beat themselves to some degree. If any team knows how self destruction is possible, it's Denver.
Will it work? We shall see. This is actually the game I'm picking the Nuggets to win (whether because of my strategy or otherwise), followed by the Lakers closing out the final two. But if I'm wrong about the outcome (and I hope I am), this is a sweep. Book it. Here's to hoping.
AK
Stay agressive Kobe. Play your game!!
Posted by: 70"slakersfan | April 26, 2008 at 02:46 PM
FROM PALM BEACH, FLORIDA
BONSOIR MES AMIS,
TODAY, I FEEL WIN #3 WILL BE ON THE LAKERS PAGE TONIGHT.
DON'T WORRY, THE STARS ARE WITH US AND VENUS WILL HELP OUR PLAYERS TO SHOW MORE PASSION AT THE GAME MEANING: DEFENSE+ FOCUS= WIN
BE POSITIVE AND CONFIDENT, GUYS AND THE JOB WILL BE DONE. LOVE IS OUR INNER FOR THE GAME, SO WE WILL BE REWARD FOR THAT.
HAPPY WEEKEND VALENTINE SPRING!!!
LOVE TO MY TEAM AND TO ALL
SEE YOU AT THE GAME
SHEKOBE
Posted by: SHEKOBE | April 26, 2008 at 01:25 PM
Posted by: SHEKOBE | April 26, 2008 at 02:46 PM
Dallas in the house!!!
No better way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Let's put a stake through their hearts!!!
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Happy Camper | April 26, 2008 at 02:47 PM
AK/BK- your bosses are SO fired for not letting you guys attend the Denver game to Live Blog for us.
Posted by: Jeff | April 26, 2008 at 02:49 PM
Good evening Laker Nation! Spain checking in... hoping to see a successful next step on the way to a 4-0 sweep!
Posted by: David In Spain | April 26, 2008 at 02:50 PM
sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/50662
Posted by: Clobber | April 26, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Just watch. Kobe will probably be in foul trouble all night long
Posted by: Vonislav Waferdenko | April 26, 2008 at 02:51 PM
AK...you're such a Lakers hater!! HAHA
I think Denver will come out the same way that Houston, Toronto, Washington and Dallas did in their game 3. It will be up to the Lakers to match their intensity. They have to come out like San Antonio. I know Lakers fans hate the Spurs, but you have to respect the way they handle themselves. They came out tasting blood, from Popovich to Brent Barry. The Lakers from Phil Jackson to Vlad have to be like the Spurs.
First 8 minutes will dictate how this game will go.
Posted by: The Lake Show | April 26, 2008 at 02:52 PM
anyone not a sopcast link?
Posted by: shneurson | April 26, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Non-Sopcast link:
http://www.sh00ter.10gbfreehost.com/
Posted by: Clobber | April 26, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Very ugly, raggedy start to the game, which absolutely favors LA. They're still doing a great job of slowing Denver down. I'm sure they wanted to come out and blow the doors off the thing.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | April 26, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Vlad has been useless all series, and remains useless
Posted by: Vonislav Waferdenko | April 26, 2008 at 02:55 PM
Iverson flop count: 1
Posted by: Vonislav Waferdenko | April 26, 2008 at 02:56 PM
'Nother weblink:
http://www.mogulus.com/raptorsmagic
That's from me, I'm out~
Posted by: Clobber | April 26, 2008 at 02:58 PM
15-10 Lakers with five minutes left in the first. They couldn't have drawn this up any better. Obviously there's a lot of game left, but the big worry was that LA would have to play from behind early.
Denver's ball movement in the half court is a little better this afternoon.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | April 26, 2008 at 02:59 PM
Not liking all the outside shots - whenever they penetrate or zap the ball inside with passing, Denver's defense breaks down and something good happens. Odom going at Kleiza is the best matchup we have too - noway Kleiza can stop him
Posted by: Vonislav Waferdenko | April 26, 2008 at 03:01 PM
kobe with 4 assists early in the game...
what a ballhog!
Posted by: grail | April 26, 2008 at 03:03 PM
Lakers should be up by more if they hit some of their shots because they're getting good looks. It's all about getting stops and playing tough defense and we'll win. Defense is the key to winning today and Monday to put the Nuggets away. Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | April 26, 2008 at 03:03 PM
If odom doesn't get his butt down in the post and take advantage of Klieza, his efforts will be a waste of time today. We don't need him to shoot 3 point shots, especially if can't make them.
Posted by: 70slakersfan | April 26, 2008 at 03:07 PM
If AB were in the paint, Kleiza wouldn't even get a whiff of the rim. Pau and LO has to challenge that weak stuff or knock him to the ground. Lakers must continue to move the ball and get it inside. Keep attacking the basket to get the Nuggets into foul trouble. It's all about defense!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | April 26, 2008 at 03:07 PM
Kobe shooting badly, but 6 asts so far, and did not make things personal after that block. I like what I'm seeing
Posted by: Vonislav Waferdenko | April 26, 2008 at 03:11 PM
What the hell is lamar doing turning his back and letting iverson drive to the basket for a layup like that. Get him out of the game if he's going to play like that...
Posted by: | April 26, 2008 at 03:11 PM
There you go!!! Utilize Pau and LO in the post against the weak Nuggets. They can do this all day like how the Spurs killed the Suns on pick and roll all night. Our bench has to come up big in this game. Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | April 26, 2008 at 03:13 PM
The Machiiine, with a sweet 3!
Posted by: Francesco | April 26, 2008 at 03:18 PM
ok the officials are gonna call the fouls on Kobe and what happened to Lamar's shoulder?
Posted by: jaimsyy | April 26, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Hey all,
Good to finally be with ya'll. It looks, again, like a game where we aren't playing great d, but we're still winning.
GO LAKERS!!!
PS Last two plays, not great by Walton. He stilll rules because he's a laker.
Posted by: JohnnyP | April 26, 2008 at 03:20 PM
GO LAKERS.. it's 5 am in the morning here.......
Posted by: kobe_24 | April 26, 2008 at 03:21 PM
The lakers better guard somebody
Posted by: 70slakersfan | April 26, 2008 at 03:22 PM
anyone notice that we have 11 assists on 11 FG???
good ball movement, just not hitting their shots i guest..
GO LAKERS
Posted by: kobe_24 | April 26, 2008 at 03:22 PM
still keep count, vonislav?
Iverson Flop Count: 2
Posted by: CBuck | April 26, 2008 at 03:25 PM
Nuggets are getting all the calls today. Sasha can't give Smith any space beyond the arc. Run him off the line. Nuggets are really playing dirty right now and trying to muscle the Lakers. C'mon, close out on their phony three point shooters!!! Don't give them wide open looks!!! Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | April 26, 2008 at 03:25 PM
Love the way our second unit is playing. Wish they could close out on shooters a little better though. Denver is not a good shooting team, but they'll make them if given all day
Posted by: Vonislav Waferdenko | April 26, 2008 at 03:26 PM
Lakers hanging on even with Kobe on the bench because the league wants to handcuff Kobe ( not literally)
Posted by: jaimsyy | April 26, 2008 at 03:26 PM
Najera= Raja Bell=Nasty Player
Posted by: Francesco | April 26, 2008 at 03:27 PM
Looks like 'enver has managed to p*ss of LO. Very aggressive the last couple of possessions.
Keep pounding it inside. Send those bigs to the pine.
Posted by: MiloRambaldi | April 26, 2008 at 03:27 PM
we need to attack the basket
Posted by: VINNY | April 26, 2008 at 03:27 PM
CBuck, my bad, I was sidetracked. I actually saw yet another one, so...
Iverson flop count: 3
Posted by: Vonislav Waferdenko | April 26, 2008 at 03:28 PM
Starting to get chippy here. Looks like AK called it with the physical play idea.
Stay strong Lakers!
Posted by: lakersmr | April 26, 2008 at 03:28 PM
And thank God the game is on KCAL so we can have some announcers that can be listened to unlike the ABC and TNT announcing teams
Posted by: jaimsyy | April 26, 2008 at 03:28 PM
And thank God the game is on KCAL so we can have some announcers that can be listened to unlike the ABC and TNT announcing teams
Posted by: jaimsyy | April 26, 2008 at 03:28 PM
What a pass by Farmar.
Love, love, love the Nuggets shot selection
Posted by: Vonislav Waferdenko | April 26, 2008 at 03:29 PM
How stupid was Odom for committing that charge? I could see it coming from 50 miles away
Posted by: Vonislav Waferdenko | April 26, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Guys defending Smith are giving him too much space!!! Our coaches need to scream that into their heads!!! Farmar has to do better at his decision making. Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | April 26, 2008 at 03:34 PM
im begging for a link. please
Posted by: isang | April 26, 2008 at 03:34 PM
any other link???
Posted by: vincey | April 26, 2008 at 03:35 PM
Terrible defense by the lakers. Denver is having a layup drill. If the lakers don't play some defense, it will be hard to win this game.
Posted by: 70slakersfan | April 26, 2008 at 03:35 PM
My concern so far is that the Lakers are letting the Nuggets control the tempo of the game. The good news: the Nuggets keep coming on, but the Lakers aren't giving ground. One of these teams will break out in the 3rd. Go Lakers!
Posted by: Rick Friedman | April 26, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Lets GO Lakers!!!!!!!
Posted by: darkhangelsk | April 26, 2008 at 03:36 PM
How stupid was Odom for committing that charge? I could see it coming from 50 miles away
Posted by: Vonislav Waferdenko | April 26, 2008 at 03:30 PM
I was saying the same thing. All LO had to do was go over him with a little shot instead of barreling into Najera. Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | April 26, 2008 at 03:36 PM
I think we should give the ball to Gasol in the post as much as possible, he could kill the Nuggets as he did in Game 1.
It's a shame we couldn't build a cushion with Carmelo pretty much out of the game and the Nuggets not shooting well.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Francesco | April 26, 2008 at 03:37 PM