Lebron James and his gang were leading all the way but subsequent lapses in defense allowed the Nuggets to snatch Game 2 and put the Lakers in deep trouble.
As I started scoring the game midway in the first quarter, Riu Hachimura was Lebron’s best performing teammate even as he had to cover the two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic who bumped him every now and then.
The Japanese-born NBAer remarkably poured in 17 pts in the first half to help propel the Lakers to a 53-49 halftime lead.
But it was the small but shifty Denver pointguard Jamal Murray who took charge in the fourth, tossing in two triples to create space for the Nuggets, 101-94, 2:55 remaining.
LA responded with a couple of threes from Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves to close the gap somewhat, 99-101, 1:02 left.
Murray sank two charities for 103-99 and then Davis missed a three from the flank. The Nuggets turned the ball over but James missed a lay-up and Murray was fouled anew, 24 ticks to go.
Murray was sent to the 15-foot line four times on successive Laker fouls to add 8 more points and get the win for Denver at the end of the buzzer, 108-103.
LA led 68-59 on baskets by James D’Angelo Russel, Dennis Schroder and Davis but the pesky Murray kept hitting his strides, igniting a 18-point blast from the arc – four by himself and one each from Porter and Brown for a 99-84 bubble, 5:30 in the game.
Then Reaves broke LA’s silence with a three, and a lay-up and jumper from Lebron for a 91-99 score.
My personal analysis is that Lebron has been playing a low key role, issuing assists to Davis inside the paint and acting as a decoy.
Unfortunately, he should be producing the points to attract Denver’s defense so that Davis can do his stuff inside without getting double teamed.
LA also should send in Tristan Thompson to provide help inside the paint and give Jokic the body bang he used to do during his stint at Cleveland with James himself.
In the first two matches, the seven foot Denver slotman has not been intimidated by the shallow LA defense.
But credit the Game 2 win to Murray who simply was outstanding orchestrating the offense as well as producing the points when necessary.
Ideally, James and company will go for broke in Games 3 and 4 at home to level up matters so that there will not be much pressure when the Lakers go back to Mile High City in Game 5.
As it was, LA failed to grab the homecourt advantage and that means more hard work for James and AD. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
