Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Lessons on upset shocker of the Denver Nuggets

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 03: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers passes the ball against Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at Staples Center on May 03, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 03: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers passes the ball against Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at Staples Center on May 03, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
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The impending doom of the Los Angeles Lakers may have been overstated for the next 48 hours. After two bad losses to Toronto and Sacramento, the Lakers shocked the Denver Nuggets without the services of Dennis Schroder and LeBron James.

Lake Show Life breaks down what else happened in Lake Show Life Lessons! The only Los Angeles Lakers extended post-game report with in-depth analysis and highlights.

When the morning started, the word around Lakers Nation centered around the Lakers falling to the seventh seed of the Western Conference after two horrible losses to non-playoff teams. LeBron James playing “NBA commissioner” and pining for the person that invented the play-in tournament to be fired didn’t help matters.

At the end of the day, the Lakers took to the floor against the Nuggets and shocked the NBA world upsetting them 93-89 in one of the best defensive performances on the entire NBA season. After blowing a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Lakers needed this formula to escape.

  • Frank Vogel (Much more on him later!) finally used his rotation based on situations and matchups instead of scrimmaging players for possible fits in the playoffs.
  • Austin Rivers reminded basketball fans why he is on his 793rd team in four years. Thank him for blowing up the Lob City Los Angeles Clippers.  
  • A horrible call by the referees calling an offensive foul on the Nuggets negating a Michael Porter Jr. 3 pointer.
  • Talen Horton-Tucker barely avoiding a scolding in the locker room after attacking the basket and hitting a put back layup instead of running out the clock. Had he missed, the J.R. Smith jokes would have commenced.
  • Anthony Davis is just long Lakers fans…REAL LONG! 

The Lakers earned themselves another night of playing musical chairs in the Western Conference standings. With this win on Monday, they leapfrogged two spots to the fifth seed thanks to the Atlanta Hawks beating the Portland Trail Blazers earlier and the Mavericks meltdown against Sacramento (What’s up with the Kings lately?) on Sunday.

The Lakers finally got their chance to celebrate JaVale McGee and give him his ring before the game. JaVale may be known more for his beef with Shaquille O’Neal for all of the Shaqtin’ A Fool clips over the years, but he was a major rotational player for the Lakers the last two years.

Don’t think for a second the Lake Show couldn’t use him now going down the stretch. JaVale finished with 10 points and 3 rebounds in 12 minutes.

Lake Show Life salutes JaVale McGee. We miss you and good luck going forward.

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

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.

Let’s get to Lesson One to find out who!