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Los Angeles Lakers lose to Denver Nuggets in Game 3, 5 Lessons

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 22: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Quinn Cook #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers kneel during the National Anthem with VOTE shirts on prior to the start of the game against the Denver Nuggets in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 22, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 22: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Quinn Cook #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers kneel during the National Anthem with VOTE shirts on prior to the start of the game against the Denver Nuggets in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 22, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers could not take a 3-0 series lead over the Denver Nuggets.

The Los Angeles Lakers were riding high after an epic shot from Anthony Davis to close out Game 2. That was the problem, it was Game 2! The Denver Nuggets reminded everyone (Like again!) that they are not going anywhere beating a listless Los Angeles Lakers squad. Lake Show Life Lessons will shine the light on bad habits the Los Angeles Lakers started in Game 2!

It seems that the Los Angeles Lakers got a small taste of what happened to the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers in the last six quarters from the Denver Nuggets. While that was happening, the Lakers almost gave them a taste of their own medicine in a nine-minute flurry in the 4th quarter of a wild finish in Game 3.

Check out the score at this point of the game. Denver was up 20 points after Jamal Murray served up a facial. Kyle Kuzma was kind enough to take pictures instead of rotating.

https://twitter.com/espn/status/1308616631099285504

The writer has an unwritten rule to never assume a game is over. The entire 48 minutes has to be watched because anything could happen. This game was one of those times. After a Frank Vogel timeout, Rajon Rondo jumped into that car from that movie “Back to the Future” like Michael J. Fox and grabbed some defense from 2008.

Then he brought it back and locked Jamal Murray in a strait-jacket leading a serious defensive charge that almost bailed the Lakers out of a game that they just didn’t play well in.

The 20 point deficit was the biggest in any game during the entire NBA playoffs and despite closing the lead to just three points, Murray shook loose and closed out the game in a Lakers 114-106 defeat. The series now stands at 2-1. The Lakers had a six-game winning streak snapped and fell to 10-3 in the playoffs.

Many readers think that the Lake Show Life Lessons series can be too critical. Other Lakers websites have called it “Gloom and Doom”. But it’s games like these when the post-game reports shine.

After Game 2, these were the focused headlines leading up to Game 3.

  • Anthony Davis will forever be in Lakers folklore knocking down that last second 3 pointer to save the game with 2.1 seconds left.
  • Honoring Kobe Bryant calling it the “Mamba Shot” in the Kobe uniforms.
  • The Lakers have officially shown the world that this is not the Los Angeles Clippers (Okay, we’ll give you that one!)
  • This series will be a sweep, who’s next? 

Lake Show Life Lessons clearly stated the Los Angeles Lakers were lucky.

See Kobe Bryant wouldn’t be happy at this point. Why? The job is not done. He would know that the Lakers shouldn’t have blown a 16 point lead in the first place to even need a last-second shot.

Details. That is what Kobe Bryant was about and how Lake Show Life honors him in this series. Denver got back into the game thanks to bad habits from the Lake Show. Those bad habits carried over into Game 3 and it cost them.

The Lakers lost the game being outplayed by the Denver Nuggets for most of the game. They did not respect their opponent knowing the Nuggets would continue to build on the success that almost got them Game 2. Denver was more aggressive and it led to three things that was the key to this loss.

  • The Lakers got absolutely killed on the glass being outrebounded an absurd 44-25. That’s not going to win many regular-season games. Western Conference Finals? PFFT!
  • Giving up 16 turnovers that led to easy baskets on the other end (Point guards handing 11 turnovers alone!) won’t help the cause.
  • Sponsoring a Denver Nuggets parade to the free-throw line can be a problem too. To put this perspective, the Nuggets were in the penalty with over 9 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. In short, stop fouling!

The Los Angeles Lakers problems from the 3 point line returned.  Sure they shot 51.8% from the field overall, but they were horrid from distance shooting 6-26 attempts. The Nuggets had their variations of their zone defenses out and look for it Thursday.

Bottom line, the shooters have to prove they can shoot over the zone for the rest of the series.

To the new Los Angeles Lakers fans that are checking us out for the first time, welcome to Lake Show Life Lessons. An extended post-game report with video analysis that will cover the entire Western Conference Finals.

Over the next several pages we will provide highlights of certain players and coaches. Afterward, the comment section is loaded with knowledgeable fans adding their basketball knowledge. We usually start with the stars.

Which one? Let’s get to Lesson One and find out!

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