The Closer
Mr. Defense
All eyes on me
"I got so much trouble on my mind...refuse to lose..."
Chuck D - Welcome to the Terrordome
The Lakers defeated the Nuggets 103-97, playing spoiler to the first home Western Conference Finals game in the mile high city, in the last 24 years.
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The Lake Show now have a 2-1 lead in this best of 7 series, and as the saying goes...the more things change the more they stay the same. Allow me to explain: so the venue changed, but Los Angeles won after trailing most of the game...Kobe scored at least 40 points in a victory...Pau Gasol led the team in rebounding...and what's more uncanny is that Trevor Ariza gets a key steal off the in-bounds play, late in the 4th quarter. Sounds like something you've heard before right? That's exactly what I was thinking...
Unlike the last Lakers win in which I felt they really lost...tonight with great defense, and some clutch shooting and desire from Kobe Bryant, the Lake Show actually deserved the comeback win. This is the type of game that could change things, as the purple and gold actually seemed to solve the mystery of the Denver Nuggets. This was a swing game, and Game 4 favors LA.
The keys from tonight's game are as follows:
Kobe Bryant...enough said, but if I must explain, he turned it on late, and never gave up on the script. He also in the midst of a scoring binge trusted his coaches, and teammates.
Luke Walton played pesky defense on Carmelo Anthony, which is no easy task, and then he made some great passes and plays on the offense end while Ariza was out of the game.
Pau Gasol made the baskets that kept the Lakers within striking distance, giving his team enough room to take over and win. LA's front court is the key to the team success.
Lamar Odom played superb defense on the in-bounds pass that led to the Trevor Ariza steal...just like in Game 1.
Carmelo Anthony had a great first half, played aggressive, gave his team the lead, and kept the City of Angels at bay. However he struggled in the 2nd half and fouled out the contest.
Chris Andersen grabbed 7 rebounds, and netted 15 points which could prove costly for the opposition in the upcoming games.
J.R. Smith has changed his game, and is now finding the open teammate, as he had 6 assists, but his technical foul after making a 3-pointer was unnecessary and costly.
The refs have been sub par to say it nicely.
The struggles from the foul line from both teams can determine the series because the games are so close.
Photos: Jed Jacobsohn/NBAE via Getty Images
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3 comments:
This was a great game man. They say Defense wins games and its true. I must say though, that Jones foul on Kobe was unnecessary, that's how players get hurt. But besides that I enjoyed the hell out of this game. The Playoffs have been great. Black Mamba is playing amazing, Melo is doin' work...ahh the NBA...blah blah blah lol
LOL @ the NBA blah blah blah. This was a good finish to a poor start for the Lakers. However what I liked most is how the team stuck together, and they established Pau Gasol as the post presence. That will take them far if they continue to use the front court in that fashion.
Yeah Definitely. Especially how Bynum has been struggling, Pau needs to let it be known that you need to guard him. He has the size advantage in this series...he needs to take it to the Nuggs defense. Can't wait for Game 4. The pressure is on Denver to not go down 3-1. Holla at me AG
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