Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Lessons in a last second win over Nuggets

The Los Angeles Lakers were back in the win column vs. the Denver Nuggets.

Lake Show Life would like to thank Kyle Kuzma for hitting that game-winning shot with .4 seconds left. Not only did the Los Angeles Lakers win, but it saves 30-45 minutes being pushed back to prepare Lake Show Life Lessons! By the way, he needs to start!

Thank you, Kyle Kuzma! No, let’s say that one more time with feeling. Thank you, Kyle Kuzma!!!! With 4.4 seconds left in regulation, it just looked like the game was going into overtime pushing the post-game work back another 30-45 minutes based on how many fouls that were going to be committed in the extra 5-minute session. Then it happened. The sole reason why Kyle Kuzma had better be in the starting lineup in one week when the playoffs start!

• Raise your hand if you thought LeBron James was going to take the last shot? To Reggie Miller’s credit, he saw the possibility of James being the decoy. But who thought both stars would be the decoy?
• LeBron James throws the entry pass into Anthony Davis, who automatically draws the double team. 
• With Kuzma’s man, Mason Plumlee doubling, he’s already three steps behind Kuzma and can’t stop the Kuzma fade to the right wing. 
• Anthony Davis flips the ball to Kuz and despite a closeout from a outstretched 7’2 Bol Bol, Kyle drops the shot through clean with .4 seconds left in the game. Good night and time to hit the hotels.

Look, Lake Show Life has been all over the Los Angeles Lakers coaching staff for the offensive schemes and lack of adjustments. But this play call by Frank Vogel will quiet even the strongest critics on the staff. That is unless the guy that hit the game-winning 3 pointer doesn’t start next week.

The three-game losing streak is gone by the wayside (Barely!) as the Los Angeles Lakers escape with a 124-121 win over the Denver Nuggets on Monday. This game was not about winning and losing.

It was about improving the offense and not allowing someone on the opposing team to set efficient career highs on defense. The offensive side was accomplished but the defense still needs work folks. The Denver Nuggets played the bench the entire 4th quarter and still put up 33 points.

The media narrative of any LeBron James’ team having to have a “big three” is enough to drive anyone nuts after awhile, but this game is the blueprint of the impact this team needs with Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Kyle Kuzma engaged on both ends of the floor. Something that has not been seen for the two and a half weeks the Lakers have been playing.

Lake Show Life has pointed out many of the problems of the Los Angeles Lakers, but main problem this team had coming into this game was that they couldn’t shoot.

• They were last in the bubble in overall shooting.
• Last in free throw shooting.
• Last in scoring points per game.
• Last in offensive net rating.
• Last in 3 point shooting by a mile! 

Basketball is a simpler game when you can actually get someone that can actually hit shots from distance. Well, it wasn’t Quinn Cook in this game because he didn’t touch the floor.

Danny Green decided to earn his paycheck, knocking down 3-5 shots from the land of the extra point when they actually mattered. Research shows this is the first time since we all needed winter coats (Feb. 25) that Green made three 3-pointers at an efficient 60% percentage rate.

As a team, the Lakers shot 48.3% from 3-point range, which is the highest percentage since the season restarted. For a team that came into this game shooting an awful 21% from long range, this is nice to see whether they lost the game or not.

Let’s get to a less critical Lake Show Life Lessons!