Los Angeles Lakers: 3 deciding factors vs. Denver Nuggets

Conclusion

The Nuggets have a good story to tell. They are a strong, up-and-coming team that should be a competitive force in the Western Conference for many years. But their second-round comeback was as much about the Clippers choking as it was about Denver’s supremacy.

For their 14 playoff games, the Nuggets are actually allowing more points on average, 108.3, than they’re scoring, 106.8. The numbers contrast negatively to their regular season stats when they outscored the opposition 111.3 to 109.2.

The Los Angeles Lakers, on the other hand, have scored an average of 114.1 points in their 10 playoff games and surrendered just 105.2. Those stats are superior to their regular-season numbers of 113.4 and 107.6.

The Lakers lost the opening game of both playoff rounds. It wouldn’t be shocking if that happened again. The team seems to need time to feel out its opponent before a successful game plan can be finalized and implemented.

But no team in the league has been better at adjusting to its opponent than the Lakers. Credit must be given at least in part to the underrated Vogel. They will undoubtedly have some bad spells against Denver but they have shown they are prepared to play hard and do what is needed to win.

Even their bench is performing at a high level.  Against Houston, their non-starters averaged 38 PPG with 11 assists while shooting 49% including 38% from behind the arc.

The Lakers are riding a wave of momentum with an outstanding 8-2 playoff record so far. The Nuggets came back twice from 3-1 deficits to win their series, but how long can a team last playing on the edge?

Denver will probably win one game when the Lakers shooting is sub-par and perhaps might steal one other. But can they win four games in a seven-game series? That appears to be highly unlikely.

The Pick: Los Angeles Lakers in 6

All statistics courtesy of www.basketball-reference.com