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The Lakers didn’t fall to an 0-1 hole this time as they completely dominated after the first quarter. Both of these coaches have been a bit stubborn at times through the bubble, but there’s some talk of some adjustments to either the starting lineup or just overall strategy. On the whole, it’s only Game 2, so don’t expect any wild moves.

 

Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers (-7.5), 9:00 pm ET
Team Totals: Nuggets 102.8, Lakers 110.3
Injury News: LeBron James (ankle) is probable, Rajon Rondo (back) is probable, Dion Waiters (groin) is doubtful, Will Barton (knee) is out, and Vlatko Cancar (foot) is out.
Injury Note: LeBron James tweaked his ankle, but coach Frank Vogel said LeBron should be able to go today.
Nuggets Expected Starters: Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Jerami Grant, Paul Millsap, Nikola Jokic
Lakers Expected Starters: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Danny Green, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, JaVale McGee
Nuggets Rotation Notes: Michael Porter Jr. played the final 16 minutes (full garbage time at five minutes), Mason Plumlee and P.J. Dozier played the full fourth (garbage time), Torrey Craig only four minutes of overlap with Grant.
Lakers Rotation Notes: No Dwight until 10 minutes left in the second quarter (started the third over McGee), Caruso 12-minute stint in the first half and another two-minute stint in the second quarter, six minutes of Markieff Morris without another center in the first three quarters.

Malone Quotes: He said the Nuggets “have to do something different” against Anthony Davis and it was too easy because “he did not feel us.” He said his team didn’t guard anyone in the first quarter. He said the keys to beating the Lakers are getting back in transition, protecting the paint and giving them one shot, and the Nuggets failed in all of those areas in Game 1. He was upset that they were giving up layups after made baskets. He said Dwight has guarded Jokic well in the past.

Vogel Quotes: On Saturday, he said he was considering starting Dwight Howard. After Game 1, when asked about starting Dwight in the second half, he said “not being happy with giving up 38 points was the biggest thing.” He said the team was able to ratchet up attention to detail, physicality and effort in the second quarter, and said they didn’t play well in the fourth. He said he wants his team to push the tempo with physicality. He said Rajon Rondo’s ability to play quarterback on both ends “settles everybody down” and it was “just another stellar Rondo performance for us.” Vogel said the Lakers built a plan to have flexibility with lineup combos, and mentioned using AD at the five against small teams. He said he can “play against big teams with our two centers that typically combined to give All-Star level production” and they are “stars in their roles.”

 

Overall Notes

*The Nuggets were just 2-of-11 on wide-open treys (averaged 16 in previous playoff games). The Lakers somehow shot 10-of-13 on their wide-open treys in Game 1. The Nuggets only had 19 catch-and-shoot treys (24 average in playoffs, 22 on season).

*The Nuggets had 42.2% of their shots at the rim. That’s way up from 25.9% in the playoffs and 32.0% in the season.

*In the second quarter, the Lakers had 24 FTAs off 16 personal fouls from Denver. Also seven turnovers from the Nuggets.

*The Nuggets had 14 shots with 0-4 seconds left in the shot clock (9.4 average in playoffs, 9.0 in regular season).

 

Nuggets Notes

*Obviously, foul trouble really impacted Nikola Jokic, but it wasn’t just that. The Lakers really made it tough on Jokic, allowing just three uncontested shots to 11 contested (7-of-11 contested, 1-of-3 uncontested). They also really didn’t have to double team him with some bigger bodies on him who are better defenders than the Clippers bigs, so that capped him on assists at just two. He also wasn’t as valuable as a screener at just two screen assists after a 10 spot in the last game. The Lakers limited Joker to just three elbow touches for half of his previous playoff average, but his postup count was up to 13 to almost double his previous playoff average. There was some scheme from the Lakers to cap Jokic as a facilitator. 

*Jamal Murray needs to play off ball more. Plain and simple. He had just one catch-and-shoot shot (a made trey), and he’s up to a tidy 76.4 eFG% on catch-and-shoot shots (also no no-dribble shots at all). Murray wasn’t able to get downhill much at just 10 drives with eight points off those, and the Nuggets absolutely have to figure out ways to get him more involved to take some pressure off Jokic. Coach Vogel said the Lakers “did a few things well” in defending the two-man game, but there is more room for improvement. If it’s going to be tough on Jokic, Murray should have more possessions.

*So obviously the big question in the quotes section is what is it that the Nuggets will do differently on AD? Paul Millsap was actually fine on defense, but as a unit the Nuggets struggle there. After not rolling out Mason Plumlee next to Jokic in Game 1, maybe he will in some spots here to matchup the physicality of the Lakers. Still, Malone has been a bit stubborn, so he’ll probably wait until at least the second half to go with more Plum or even Torrey Craig. You would expect a similar game plan for guys like Gary Harris, Jerami Grant and Monte Morris.

*Maybe at some point, we see more MPJ, but the problem is that he’s just going to be hung out to dry on defense. Malone probably won’t get too crazy in Game 2, but it’s possible he gets wild and goes with some huge lineups with MPJ as a two when Harris is on the bench.

 

Lakers Notes

*The AD formula for offensive success was on display in Game 1. He had 66.7% of his buckets come off an assist, he had eight makes in the paint (11 attempts), and he matched his postseason-high 12 makes at the line (fouled at the rim four times). We’ll see what the Nuggets can do to stop him, but they don’t have a defender like P.J. Tucker on their roster. He’s just too good.

*LeBron James had some narratives in Game 1 after not winning MVP, and he mentioned it after the game. ”It pissed me off,” LeBron said. LeBron didn’t have a big stat line, but he was efficient when he wanted to be with 11 points off his 11 drives. He wasn’t leaning on his jumper as much at just 1-of-5, but he did take a couple mid-range shots after getting a big tick down there. Jerami Grant actually defended him very well at 1-of-4 from the field (no treys, two free throws). He also did overachieve on dimes with 17 potential assists getting him to 12, which was a product of the Lakers just hitting shots. We know the Nuggets are going to be focusing more on AD, so LeBron could get more scoring responsibility.

*KCP just owns catch-and-shoot shots, making 3-of-5 in Game 1 to increase his playoff C&S eFG% to 72.0. This isn’t sustainable, but you’d think the Lakers won’t be bashful about hitting him when he’s open.

*Rajon Rondo’s role is secure, and he is cutting into Danny Green a bit. Rondo usually subs in for LeBron, and he’ll sub out for Green a bunch. He also doesn’t get as much time out there with LeBron, so it helps his per-minute output.

*As mentioned in the quotes, both coaches really liked what Dwight Howard did. He was terrific on both ends, especially defensively. However, he only started two games in the season when McGee had the flu, and that quote from Vogel makes me think he still wants to start JaVale with a quick hook at the ready. Still, you have to feel good about Dwight getting minutes.

*Markieff Morris has also been hot as a shooter, making seven of his last eight. He fits what the Lakers are trying to do on both ends, so he’ll be out there with a little more minutes upside if McGee has a short leash.

Matchup Helps: Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Jamal Murray, Dwight Howard
Matchup Hurts: Paul Millsap, JaVale McGee