lakers nuggets
Although the Lakers’ lack of consistency has been a concern, they arguably had the tougher road, with the physical, seasoned Utah Jazz in the first round and the gritty Houston Rockets taking them the full seven games. [...] With the Nuggets having truly found themselves and the Lakers working Andrew Bynum back into the lineup, we will now see these teams at full strength against each other for the first time this season. [1]
Just hours after he was given a two-year contract extension, Lakers coach Phil Jackson watched all five of his starters miss their first shot of the game and saw his team commit eight turnovers in the opening quarter against a Denver defense that had forced a league-best 19.7 turnovers per game coming in. [2]
Clearly, that’s not going to cut it if Denver has a chance to win on Friday night. [3]
Denver steamrolled through New Orleans and Dallas in five games apiece with offensive and defensive precision, and comes into this series rested and healthy. [1]
12:00 It looks like the fans in attendance tonight listened to the Lakers after Kobe Bryant and other teammates chastised Thursday night’s crowd for booing Kwame Brown heavily in the team’s loss to Phoenix; Kwame just got a nice ovation from the crowd during introductions, with nary a boo bird in sight. [4]
The first time these teams met, just four games into the season for L.A., Carmelo Anthony was terrible, making just one of his first 11 shots before hitting his final four after the game was decided. [...] Bryant, meanwhile, missed his first two jumpers and turned the ball over. [3]
Kobe Bryant scored 24 points and reserve guard Sasha Vujacic dominated the fourth quarter, scoring 19 of his career-high 22 points and powering the Los Angeles Lakers to a 127-99 rout of the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night. [2]
1:02 Jordan continues to prove himself as one of team’s best three point threats, hitting his first shot of the game to give the Lakers a 34-29 lead. [...] 3:27 Kobe enters to finish off the half giving the Lakers a small lineup of Fisher, Crittenton, Kobe, Lamar, & Kwame. [4]
Lamar Odom can go inside or outside based on his matchup off the bench, and the Lakers must continue to get solid 3-point shooting from their perimeter subs. [1]
The Lakers and Nuggets have met three times in postseason history, and Los Angeles has won each time. [5]
The foul goes to Anthony Carter and Kobe will be going to the line for his first attempt at putting the ball in the hoop tonight. [4]
Expect Kobe Bryant to attack Dahntay Jones, who will try to play the designated defender role that Shane Battier played against Bryant in the Houston series. [1]
Sources:
[1] NBA playoffs: Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers scouting report - ESPN
[2] LAKERS: Lakers Gameday | 11/29/07 | Lakers 127, Nuggets 99
[3] Lakers - Nuggets Running Diary at Lakers.com BasketBlog
[4] Lakers vs. Nuggets In-Game at Lakers.com BasketBlog
[5] NBA Playoffs 2008- Western Conference - First Round - Los Angeles …