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Post by game on May 16, 2023 23:18:16 GMT -5
Much better to be considering adjustments after a scary win rather than a loss. I don't think it's as bad as the second half made it look, but I thought the Nuggets took a punch and didn't seem to know what to do. And it shouldn't have been a surprising punch.
But... why the Nuggets seemed completely unprepared for two very obvious things the Lakers would try is beyond me - LeBron hunting Murray and Rui on Jokic minutes with AD roaming. Any dope with a podcast predicted both things. Van Gundy begging Malone to pull Murray for defense, only to have Malone bench MPJ, is just LOL stuff. Murray was making bad decisions, then looked too exhausted to even half close out.
I thought Murray played an appalling defensive game. A bizarre amount of unnecessary switches onto LeBron even when he didn't have to. And then AG just sitting in the dunker spot when AD played off Jokic. Should have been extremely prepared for both, even if it still challenged you. I thought Jokic being best in the world saved Malone from looking like Doc Rivers tomorrow.
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Post by sawyeral on May 16, 2023 23:24:13 GMT -5
If they want Rui on Jokic and AD roaming, do we go with Bruce in for AG? I know we generally loathe the 3 guard lineup, but you can’t sag off anyone with Jokic, MPJ, KCP, Murray and BB spotting up
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Post by funky on May 16, 2023 23:26:15 GMT -5
I just don't understand how people aren't terrified over the end of that game. The Nuggets have to figure out how Murray can defend the PnR without getting killed (Lebron posted him up over and over and when they'd switch Murray off, he couldn't recover in time to contest Reaves 3s) And you have the Hachimura on Jokic issue which has always been the way to stop Jokic ala Favors/Gobert and Tucker/Embiid. The simple answer is to just play much more MPJ at the 4 but Malone is never going to do that obviously... So I think Jokic has to try to get Hachimura in foul trouble and also be willing to shoot over the top of him. The Nuggets should be able to run a bunch of pick and pops with insert Lakers guard and Hachimura. Jokic or Murray just have to take and make mid-range Js. That game was extremely concerning. The Lakers found things on both ends and almost beat the Nuggets on a night where Murray, Jokic, KCP, Bruce and MPJ were about as good as they can all play.
Nah, this wasn't a concerning game and it looked more like a regular Nuggets game when they go up by a lot very early.
I'm not concerned about Rui on Jokic at all. It was the end of an extremely tiring game for Jokic and it only went for a 4-5 possessions. If the Lakers try that in the next game, Hachimura will go out after 7 minutes max, with 3 PFs, and they will have to get back to AD guarding Nikola. The only thing Malone has to solve now is what to do with AG on offense and how to prevent LBJ going after Murray.
They have to be worried more than us, as they won game 1s in both previous series, then coasted in the game 2s preserving their energy for home games. Now they have to go aggressive, but LeBron is old, AD injury-prone and has been playing every odd game well, but even games terrible and freakin Austin Reaves won't repeat a game like this one.
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Post by game on May 16, 2023 23:26:47 GMT -5
No. You absolutely cannot take AG off the court. Use him in screen actions, move him around. And yes, he'll have to hit a corner 3.
Malone needs to be prepared to close with Bruce Brown over Murray if they can't figure this out.
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Post by wizardofcozz on May 16, 2023 23:27:29 GMT -5
It is a question of what advantage do we gain from Gordon if he's always going to get switched off of LeBron. I do think putting Murray on anyone but Reaves will make it easier to hedge and recover.
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Post by famicommander on May 16, 2023 23:29:55 GMT -5
You have Gordon go over or under the screens. Don't switch it. You live with it if LeBron punishes you with pick and pop threes.
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Post by inyourmind on May 16, 2023 23:40:03 GMT -5
I just don't understand how people aren't terrified over the end of that game. The Nuggets have to figure out how Murray can defend the PnR without getting killed (Lebron posted him up over and over and when they'd switch Murray off, he couldn't recover in time to contest Reaves 3s) And you have the Hachimura on Jokic issue which has always been the way to stop Jokic ala Favors/Gobert and Tucker/Embiid. The simple answer is to just play much more MPJ at the 4 but Malone is never going to do that obviously... So I think Jokic has to try to get Hachimura in foul trouble and also be willing to shoot over the top of him. The Nuggets should be able to run a bunch of pick and pops with insert Lakers guard and Hachimura. Jokic or Murray just have to take and make mid-range Js. That game was extremely concerning. The Lakers found things on both ends and almost beat the Nuggets on a night where Murray, Jokic, KCP, Bruce and MPJ were about as good as they can all play. For as good as Murray was .. he was brutal defensively. I'd be shocked if you saw the same in game 2. Nuggets will adjust defensively. Yeah .. Jokic will need to be willing to shoot over the 6'8 defender. This Jokic isn't the same Jokic as years past and 1 game sample sizes don't matter in a 7 game series. If the Lakers can shut down Jokic's passing and the Nuggets can't hit shots or Jokic can't abuse Hachimura than does it even matter? If Jokic hits a few jumpers and the Nuggets knock down a 3 or two than how long does L.A even stick with it? AD put up 40 and the Lakers shot 55/46/88 from the floor. Reaves had to be close to setting a season high with 3's. If you compared the looks for him and say KCP I'd bet KCP had the cleaner looks. Both teams did what they wanted offensively. L.A only had 7 TO's. Rebounding was the only thing that was kinda flukey but if AD is going to be roaming around chasing blocks and L.A continues to play small than we should be beating them on the boards. Nuggets only hit 4 more 3's .. and we should outshoot them IMO. Both teams had some lucky 3's.
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Post by game on May 17, 2023 0:13:06 GMT -5
I thought Malone coached an awful game and his postgame comments don't inspire confidence (I understand he's not going to tell you his strategy, but he was way too proud of switching, Murray playing super sick, and MPJ sitting on the bench to close).
The Rui on Jokic adjustment doesn't scare me. I think those adjustments should be obvious. It's weird they looked just as surprised by it as they were in January when it was PJ Tucker and Embiid, but I assume they'll be smarter with Gordon in Game 2.
I'm terrified his answer for Jamal getting hunted and making terrible decisions on defense and being too tired/sick to even close out on wide open shots is to bench MPJ.
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Post by LotharBraunBrownBryant on May 17, 2023 0:23:34 GMT -5
the last time the Nuggets went up 1-0 in the conference finals was before I was born.
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Post by famicommander on May 17, 2023 0:25:46 GMT -5
The adjustments for us are easy and obvious. Have Gordon go over or under screens to avoid Murray getting switched onto LeBron, have Jokic attack Hachimura when they try that.
The Lakers don't have much more in the bag beyond that. They can't count on the level of production they got from LeBron and AD every night. Maybe the volume, but not the efficiency. We know because they haven't been able to do it consistently all playoffs against worse teams.
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Post by famicommander on May 17, 2023 1:05:48 GMT -5
31/5/5/3/1 on 12/20, 4/8, 3/3, 1 TO for Jamal tonight.
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Post by nuggetshipster on May 17, 2023 1:14:01 GMT -5
Did people think Lakers was just gonna roll over and offer no resistance like the first half
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Post by famicommander on May 17, 2023 1:16:21 GMT -5
The Lakers shot 46% from 3, Nugs 47%.
Lakers were 12th in playoff 3 point shooting coming in and 25th in the regular season. Nuggets were 2nd in playoff 3 point shooting coming in and 4th in the regular season.
We will significantly out-shoot them from 3 as the series goes along. Count on it.
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Post by passtheballquick on May 17, 2023 1:17:59 GMT -5
Man, it was just miscalculation by Jokic in the 4th. Any other conclusions are overreacting. Rui fuc*ing Hachimura can't guard Jokic. Davis couldn't do it so Hachimura can't do it for sure
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Post by duh88 on May 17, 2023 1:41:20 GMT -5
This could not have gone better. Every laker loss in the playoffs has been a blow-out. Why? Because knowing that his team is full of old legs, once Darvin Ham decides the game is out of reach, he rests the starters and waits to bring intelligent adjustments on the next game. It’s a credit to him for being at ease with losing a battle, to win a war. With that- What the f**k was Darvin thinking tonight?? - he ran AD and LeBron into the ground with 40 mins each - he showed his most major adjustments - did the above two things and LOST Based on the past two series, by third quarter, I assumed ham would take the loss and bring the adjustments later. He then comes out guns blazing in game 2, tries to steal game 2, and win both LA games. Ham now has tired superstars going into game 2, along with minimal surprises he can make to the gameplan. When we were up by 20, my biggest concern was that we lost the chance to put 40 mins on ad and bron - well - that changed My biggest concern tonight was Murray - dude completely balled - and unlike the lakers, Murray will get healthier in 2 days as his ear infection and flu resolve. You guys need to stop being dramaqueens. Tonight could not have gone better.
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Post by duh88 on May 17, 2023 1:46:57 GMT -5
In other news - we all owe sticky a debt a gratitude.
Sticky’s car valiantly stood in the way of nugglife and took a major hit.
To Sticky’s car: we salute you!
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Post by famicommander on May 17, 2023 2:25:27 GMT -5
Jokic in the playoffs this year 31.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, 10.1 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.8 blocks, 3.6 turnovers, 3.3 fouls, 55.9% FG, 51.2% 3PT, 79.5% FT
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Post by funky on May 17, 2023 3:32:22 GMT -5
Lakers fans and TV knobheads before the game: AD will clamp Jokic! Lakers fans and TV knobbeads after the game: Rui gonna guard Jokic!
The truth: a sweeeeeeeeeep is coming, get your brooms out.
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Post by Coach Sticky on May 17, 2023 4:46:22 GMT -5
In other news - we all owe sticky a debt a gratitude. Sticky’s car valiantly stood in the way of nugglife and took a major hit. To Sticky’s car: we salute you! Thanks but I’m fine in the (northrhine) WEST(phalia)
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Post by Coach Sticky on May 17, 2023 4:46:49 GMT -5
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