Los Angeles Lakers: Why we can expect a win in Game 4 vs. Nuggets

By Jason Reed | Sep 24, 2020

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 22: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives the ball against Torrey Craig #3 of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter 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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(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. The Los Angeles Lakers shot terribly in Game 3 and it will improve

The Los Angeles Lakers are not known as a great three-point shooting team but their efforts in Game 3 were not good, at all. The Lakers made just six of their 26 attempts from the land of three points, good enough for 23.1 percent.

This is simply not going to cut it in the NBA Playoffs and it is why the Lakers lost. Consider this: Anthony Davis, Rajon Rondo and Alex Caruso all went a combined 0-11 from beyond the arc in this game. If they each make one three then the Lakers have 115 points. Denver had 114.

Granted, things in the game itself would have happened differently, but you get the point. Just a decent shooting night (nine of 26 is still only 34.6 percent) would have been enough to get the job done for the Lakers.

This should not be a concern for the team moving forward considering that they recovered very nicely the other times that this has happened in the playoffs.

They shot 15.6 percent in their Game 1 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers and followed it up with a 23-point victory in which they shot 36.8 percent from beyond the arc. They then shot 28.9 percent in Game 1 against Houston and followed suit with an eight-point win in which they shot 44.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Recent history indicates that they will be much better shooting the basketball in Game 4.

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