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The Los Angeles Lakers must close the series now

By Davide Tovani

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 22: The Los Angeles Lakers huddle before 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: The Los Angeles Lakers huddle before 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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The Los Angeles Lakers lead the Western Conference Finals 3-1, but the series is not over yet.

With a decisive 3-1 lead, the Los Angeles Lakers already smell their first NBA Finals in 10 years, but they cannot already see them in front of them. The road is bumpy and not so straight as many would think at this point.

The resilient Denver Nuggets are nothing to be underestimated. It is the third time they find themselves in this situation in these playoffs, yet, they have already made history recovering twice. This young team just refuses to give up. They probably feel comfortable in such situation and there is no pressure after people have probably given up on them for the third consecutive time.

Now the Lakers must be ready and focus on the next game. They must not look too far ahead. Lock in the coming contest and be sure their trip to the finals does not become some kind of excruciating procedure played out on thin ice. Nuggets’ hopes must not be fed. The series must end now!

Denver’s team, already nicknamed the Comeback Kids, has not only been recovering series on the verge of elimination against odds, they have also been battling in games, always hanging on, always making runs to reopen them.

There is no way ever to get relaxed with these guys until the final buzzer. Letting the guard down is not an option. It is always crunch time when the Nuggets are on the floor.

Closing the series 4-1 would be an ideal situation for the Lakers. Allowing it to be extended to Game 6 is very risky. It would mean giving the “kids” a chance to get to Game 7, and in the bubble, anything can happen. No crowd, no home-court advantage, no seeding difference.

The Los Angeles Lakers are certainly not a team to be underrated either. The Nuggets should not enter Game 5 with the certainty to be able to force another game.

If there is something they have learned from the previous matches, especially Game 4, is that the purple and gold are the favorite to the championship for good reasons. They will respond blow for blow and will not make life easy for them.

Next. Dwight Howard has become severely underrated. dark

LA has certainly the upper hand in the series and they must enter Game 5 confident they are the better team, deep in talent, experience and versatility. But they must learn from the teams that came before them. Thinking the series is over would be a monumental mistake.

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