Topic: 2019 NBA Pre-Season - page 636. (Read 914767 times)

I think the Lakers did really well or more than enough to steal one game in Denver but it's really tough to win when your opponent suddenly catches fire at the crucial moment of the game. It's just one of those moments.

Agreed. If they can finish the Lakers in four of five games then they'll definitely become the huge favorite. That's tough to do but they are certainly capable.

The same in my eyes, in my opinion it should be Nikola Jokic who should get that 3rd consecutive season MVP, but the media doesn't like the idea, so they voted for Embiid instead. Not that I disagree with it by I think the Joker has more value when it comes to overall stats and even not on paper. If Jokic will get the Conference MVP and Finals MVP, then it might be acceptable.
7th triple-double in the postseason. 29th in this season. 118th in his career. He is a monster and very soon he will be above Magic Johnson at 138.
If the Lakers will not answer back at their home, they are definitely in big trouble. Just one game being stolen from them will mean the end of their postseason, so I agree it's almost like a do or die for them. If I am correct, this is also the first time the Lakers lost in 2 consecutive in the playoffs.

They need to find ways to make a good stop as both super stars are really making the damages.

Though they lost the game but it seems that they are really bringing all the best and now that the game will be inside crypto.com
the chance of winning might increase for the Lakers.

They need to win to extend the series and to protect the home court crowd. Fans will expect for the full house Lakers to come
out with good game plan and executions.

It is funny that Dwight is poking fun at the Lakers. Rightfully so. He was a main piece in their last championship team and they let him go for nothing. They could definitely have used him since then.

Tonight the Celtics try to avoid falling 0-2 to the Heat. I think they’ll succeed but it seems to depend on if Tatum does well or not. 

Howard is yesterday's news.
There is a reason he is not with the Lakers or with the league anymore.

Also, did you see how his team in Taiwan performed this season? They are 6:24 and missed the playoffs even tough 5 of 6 teams get into the playoffs, hahaha.

I watched one game of Taoyuan life in the arena when he arrived in Taiwan. He had more 3 point attempts in the game than in his whole NBA career. 

Anyway, the Lakers are obviously in trouble. Those next 2 games at home are do or die already. Lose 1 game and it's as good as over.
Not a Lakers fan but Denver definitely deserves a shot at a title this year. They have, in my eyes, the best player in the league, and a lot of other talent. No matter if they meet Boston or Miami, they would be the favourite to win in my eyes.

Dwight Howard is laughing hard at Taiwan watching the Lakers struggling to just even get a single win against the Nuggets where when he is still in the Lakers, this is not possible and now that the Lakers are trailing this much, I don't think they can win in this series anymore. too bad for them because this time Murray is playing and they don't have Howard anymore. such as the games anyway, they missed calculating and underestimated the Nuggets and here is the result, they're the one who is having a hard time just to get that single win.

Yeah, I was even thinking of betting on the Lakers that time, but luckily I didn't pull the trigger. And it takes Murray in the 4th quarter to make a run against the Lakers and its enough to get them this big win and move 2-0.

So it's really hard for the Lakers to stop Jokic and  Murray, these two are doing the damage, so they will have to find a solution to either stop anyone of them in this series, otherwise it might be over in 5 games, in my opinion.

They are big, fast and can able to shoot that's why lakers struggle to find which players they need to guard. I thought Lakers momentum will continue since they take a big lead on early quarter but Murray and other step up and eat the lead until they outsmart lakers the. Win the game 2 of this series. Jokic is a big problem of lakers on both offense and defensive ends maybe they need to find a solution to limit the passing and shooting of this guy to try out that the game flow nuggets will be destroyed if Jokic is not performing well.

Why aren't the Lakers underestimated despite finishing 7th in the regular season? I believe people tend to perceive a team as good when they have a lot of superstars. However, the Miami Heat, despite not having what many consider a traditional superstar, should not be underestimated. Although Jimmy Butler may not be widely recognized as a superstar, he is an underrated player who has proven his worth.

While being a starter in the All-Star event is often used as a measure of superstar status, Butler's contributions and leadership cannot be overlooked. He has carried his team to the conference finals and has already helped his team secure a victory on the road.

Yes you are right that mate Denver nuggets have a good offense that just in outer but also in inner shot they can handle but in game 2 I am so impress by Jamal Murray as he scored and contributed a lot in 4rth quarter even though they are down in first half but in the second half they are too aggressive in three point play and also they have a good rebounder that can made a shot inside the paint.
For those who bet nuggets congratulations for the win.

It was hilarious that he can not make his own apology for doing things he shouldn't have and likely he needs the help of an AI to write his, it is hilarious and sickening at the same time, surely Ja Morant is an Influencer and many kids could be influenced by him and if he is shown with a gun in his hand then the kids will surely think it was OK because my Idol Ja Morant says so, this is the 2nd time and he doesn't learn a bit and in making an Apology he showed that he is not truly sincere with it so I really don't know what might happen for ja Morant right now maybe he will be on Thailand with Dwight Howard, or with Dillon "Dynasty" Brooks with the Shanghai Sharks in China,


Very Typical for an NBA team to underestimate its opponent especially since the Miami Heat is in the 8th Seed and it is likely a bad idea for them to think that way, well Jimmy Butler has proven numerous times that you shouldn't underestimate him when he likely plays ball this is an official All-star level and the team of the Miami Heat is superb in providing with the needed spread to catch up those gaps, while the Celtics doesn't have much players to respond and counter the Miami Heat, or it could be a miscalculation of their coach, in giving Tatum a late game time,

During the Warriors vs Lakers game, it was the Lakers who controlled the paint, while the Warriors controlled the outside shooting. Now, it's different because the Nuggets have both inside and outside offense, and they are also a good rebounding team. It's another matchup and another strategy that the coaching staff is employing. So far, it's the Nuggets who are winning games. However, in the last two games, there's a chance that the Lakers could win the game; they have just been unlucky. But don't worry, this series is far from over.

Murray did very well, 37 points very good for the playoffs. Jokic, on the other hand, made a triple-double once again, and is on his way to becoming the mvp.
I think the Nuggets will win this series, the Lakers need to dominate the next games asap. No matter how hard LeBron tries, it may not be enough to become a champion.
I want to see the Lakers champion this year too. I would like to see a ring for the King

Both teams actually are out of gas. Murray was also exhausted and Jokic was breathing in his mouth. They hustled in the 2nd half with a goal to either steal a win from the Nuggets' home or make it a 2-0 lead and have an easy exit if they win both games in Los Angeles.

Damn, I was obsessed by what Murray did so I watched both live and then the replay afterwards. He is so good in the fourth quarter that even Lebron and Davis could not do anything about it.
What could Coach Darvin Ham do to win in their home? They may have the fans' support but what the Nuggets showed was phenomenal and probably Lakers fans will have doubts. They are only giving +4.5 for the Nuggets in Game 3.
I doubt them too because I won this kind of bet builder. Flexing.  

This means their bench is not really playing that hard. Russell and Walker especially who we remembered became heroes in their series against the Warriors.
Now, it's just Rui who did great help and that's because he is not settling for outside shots. Lebron should do that too but I think he was dragged by the raining threes of Murray and Porter and want to answer back. A big mistake.
I may still bet for the Nuggets in Game 3.

Just for context, both teams hasn't been lost on their own homes in this playoffs. The Nuggets managed to defend their home, and still undefeated. Now the Lakers need to do the same as well if they really want to win in this series.

Fatigue got them. That 1 day break only really got them. In some possessions in the final minutes of the game, if you watched the it you will see AD, and Lebron look like they're gasping out of air, and can't defend at all. The Lakers are an average team without these 2 teams. I wonder how can the Lakers win if they are running out of energy in the final minutes of the game. The Lakers really need to win in Game 3, or they will lose the series because we know what happens if a team is down 0-3 right?

On the other hand, Murray almost single-handedly outscored the Nuggets. He scored 23 points in 4th quarter alone while the whole Lakers team scored 24 points. It just shows how amazing he is. His duo, Jokic also set an NBA record as the only player in NBA history to record 4 consecutive 20 point triple double in the playoffs. Just amazing duos.

Also, I will add this record just so we know the chances of the Lakers winning against the Nuggets.

Teams who are up 2-0 won 92% of the time. I guess with this Game 2 lose, the Lakers have only 7% chance of winning, but still 7% is very different from 0%. Numbers don't lie.

I understand that there is no reason to underestimate the Lakers. The performance has not been good from them in these 2 games. The Nuggets are ahead 2-0. But that does not mean that we can count the Lakers out. I actually expected better from Anthony Davis in this game. I understand it's not only his fault. The Lakers as a team did not work. Reaves and LeBron James have tried. A little more help from the others was surely going to get the job done.

LeBron has really shown his age; he can no longer single-handedly carry this team, and he has to be cautious about being too aggressive when attacking the paint, as there is a higher risk of fatigue or potential injury. However, despite these challenges, the series is currently at 2-0, and it's not over yet. If the Lakers manage to win game 3, they still have a chance to turn things around and make a comeback.

They could have stole one here, specially this game, they had a good lead in the second quarter, but it was not sustainable and they have been missing their outside shots.

If Davis could have hit that 3 in the corner or Lebron's layup, they could have a better chance. The only player that is consistent is Austin Reaves. So I will expect him to play in the next games with 20+ or more points. Schroeder so far has one of the worst game for the Lakers, he will just run circles and doesn't have the intention to score points as compare to the series against the Warriors wherein he is more aggressive driving and looking not to pass.

If we have learned one thing in this series it is this. Never count the Lakers out before it's actually over.

Sure, they lost both games. But in both they also have been down by double digits in the 4th quarter and bother times they came back to make it a 1 possession game.
Just the final punch to get over the hump was missing, Denver replied when they needed it the most.

AD with yet another showing that was expected. He had a big game in game 1, so he had to make a weak game now. That's how he rolls.

Lakers now with their back against the wall already. If they lose one at home you could say it's over. But like I said, neer count them out too early.

Schroeder must also get his shit together. Combined 10 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in over 60min of play in the first 2 games is just not enough for him.

It was Murray shooting in the 4th quarter, but to be fair, everyone is tired in this game, I dunno, maybe it was just the intensity of this two teams that they gave everything specially in the last 4 minutes of the game. Murray hit the shot,  but you can visibly see his mouth very open as well and having a hard time guarding Dennis in the pick and roll.

I thought that James got injured when he tries to go for a block and they didn't call a timeout by Reaves hit a bank 3 so that is good enough for them. But then Dennis fouled Murray. And it really could have been big if James make that lay-up to cut the lead to 2.