- Mar 22, 2009
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NBA Insider -- Western Conference Finals Preview :- Lakers - Nuggets
When asked to explain why the Los Angeles Lakers played with conviction at home and apprehension on the road over the last four games of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Houston Rockets, Kobe Bryant had a simple explanation.
"We're bipolar," the superstar cracked.
The Lakers aren't the only team in the conference finals with personality issues. The Denver Nuggets have undergone a complete transformation from a year ago, ditching their run-and-gun ways for a commitment to defense and ultraphysical play that seems positively Eastern Conference.
"Their defense has become a priority factor for them," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "That's always a big deal for teams when they believe in defense rather than believing in offense."
The Nuggets scored decisive TKOs over New Orleans and Dallas by roughing up superstars Chris Paul and Dirk Nowitzki, who eventually wilted under the all-out assault and took their teams down with them.
At times against the Rockets, the Lakers exhibited the toughness of your average hair salon. To a man, they know the Nuggets are planning a similar strategy for them.
"They're tough defensively," forward Lamar Odom admitted.
"They're gonna be more physical," center Andrew Bynum acknowledged.
"I know it's gonna be a fight," forward Trevor Ariza noted.
That the Lakers know what's coming is not good enough. In order to end the questions about their toughness -- and end the Nuggets' dream of their first trip to the NBA Finals -- they can't just take a punch or three. They have to throw a few in return.
"Sometimes you're gonna get knocked on your butt in the first quarter," Bryant said. "You have to bounce back."
When the playoffs started a month ago, the biggest question was whether any team in the West could challenge the Lakers. The Nuggets will do more than challenge the resolve of the Lakers. They are about to test LA's manhood.
HISTORY: The Lakers won three of four regular-season meetings and have taken 10 of the last 11 overall, including last year's first-round sweep. ... The Nuggets have lost all four postseason series meetings, winning just two of 15 games. When Denver last reached the conference finals in 1985, it lost in five games to LA. ... Chauncey Billups won his 2004 Finals MVP vs. the Lakers while playing for the Pistons. ... Coaches Phil Jackson and George Karl met in the 1996 NBA Finals, with Jackson's Chicago Bulls defeating Karl's Seattle SuperSonics.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Carmelo Anthony. Yes, Kobe Bryant is the most compelling player in this series, as he is in virtually any series. But Bryant isn't going to be slowed by Dahntay Jones or J.R. Smith or anyone else. He has been here many times before and will perform at a superstar level. However, Anthony is playing in the conference finals for the first time and will be under much closer scrutiny. Anthony started slowly in this postseason but has raised his game as the playoffs have progressed; he averaged 30 points vs. Dallas and has become a lethal 3-point shooter at 45 percent. He is too big for Trevor Ariza to handle and too quick for Luke Walton to deal with. He should have his way in this series, giving the Nuggets an unstoppable offensive force of their own to counter Bryant's customary eruptions.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Expect plenty of physical play, hard fouls and attempts at intimidation from the Nuggets, who have found that strategy to be successful in their first two series and certainly saw the Rockets use it to their advantage against the Lakers. ... Denver's bench has terrific energy in guards J.R. Smith on the offensive end, Anthony Carter on the defensive end and forward Chris Andersen on both ends. LA's reserves will have to be on their toes. ... The Nuggets usually do not play small, which will help Lakers center Andrew Bynum stay on the floor. He has had a terrible postseason but has shown recent signs of snapping out of it and has the size and quickness to deal with Denver's Nene in the middle. ... Lakers guard Derek Fisher is among the best at drawing charges and will use that skill against Billups, who likes to lower his shoulder and create contact in an effort to get to the line. ... Lakers forward Lamar Odom will have a tough time tossing in the jump hooks he got against the smaller frontcourts of Utah and Houston. He will probably initiate most of his offense while facing the basket. ... The Lakers are definitely the more patient offensive team and give away less possessions. The Nuggets can be a bit scattershot at times, although it has been working for them.
KEY MATCHUP: How does Pau Gasol react to the roughhouse tactics of Kenyon Martin? In last year's NBA Finals, the Lakers lost because Gasol did not accept the physical challenge of Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins. In this postseason, there have been times where he has been pushed around by smaller but more determined players. He cannot become a shrinking violet against Martin, who has already battled David West and Dirk Nowitzki and is a borderline dirty player. Martin is more than an annoyance or a pest; he is an excellent defender who can take foes totally off their game. It is important that Gasol plays hard-nosed while keeping his cool, whether or not he is effective. If his teammates see him accepting the challenge, it will provide a boost for the Lakers as a whole. If he backs down against Martin, it could negatively impact the entire team.
LIKELY STARTERS: Lakers -- F Pau Gasol, F Trevor Ariza, C Andrew Bynum, G Derek Fisher, G Kobe Bryant; Nuggets -- F Kenyon Martin, F Carmelo Anthony, C Nene, G Chauncey Billups, G Dahntay Jones.
COACHING EDGE: Neither of these guys loses very much. Since 1992, Karl is 814-466 with no losing seasons and nine 50-win campaigns. Since 1990, Jackson is 1,045-435 with no losing seasons and 15 50-win campaigns. Karl is much more blue-collar, which has been evident in his team's play in the postseason. However, Jackson may be a bit better prepared for this series as he encountered more adversity through the first two rounds, which has forced him to coach more. It will be interesting to see how Karl reacts to Denver's first sign of trouble, because the Nuggets have been cruising for a month now.
THE LAKERS WILL WIN IF: Gasol grits his teeth and plays through the rough stuff, Bynum is a contributor, Fisher can keep Billups from taking total control and the bench offers timely contributions.
THE NUGGETS WILL WIN IF: Anthony plays like a superstar, Billups and Karl continue to show the way, Martin bullies Gasol and the bench maintains its insane energy level.
PREDICTION: Nuggets in six. The best thing that can happen to the Nuggets is a Game One loss, which will get their antennae up and give the Lakers a false sense of security. :scared
Denver is healthy, hungry and untouchable on its home court. Could Bryant change that with one of his explosion games? Of course. But what LA really has to change is the creeping mentality that i is a soft team.
That doesn't happen overnight.
When asked to explain why the Los Angeles Lakers played with conviction at home and apprehension on the road over the last four games of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Houston Rockets, Kobe Bryant had a simple explanation.
"We're bipolar," the superstar cracked.
The Lakers aren't the only team in the conference finals with personality issues. The Denver Nuggets have undergone a complete transformation from a year ago, ditching their run-and-gun ways for a commitment to defense and ultraphysical play that seems positively Eastern Conference.
"Their defense has become a priority factor for them," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "That's always a big deal for teams when they believe in defense rather than believing in offense."
The Nuggets scored decisive TKOs over New Orleans and Dallas by roughing up superstars Chris Paul and Dirk Nowitzki, who eventually wilted under the all-out assault and took their teams down with them.
At times against the Rockets, the Lakers exhibited the toughness of your average hair salon. To a man, they know the Nuggets are planning a similar strategy for them.
"They're tough defensively," forward Lamar Odom admitted.
"They're gonna be more physical," center Andrew Bynum acknowledged.
"I know it's gonna be a fight," forward Trevor Ariza noted.
That the Lakers know what's coming is not good enough. In order to end the questions about their toughness -- and end the Nuggets' dream of their first trip to the NBA Finals -- they can't just take a punch or three. They have to throw a few in return.
"Sometimes you're gonna get knocked on your butt in the first quarter," Bryant said. "You have to bounce back."
When the playoffs started a month ago, the biggest question was whether any team in the West could challenge the Lakers. The Nuggets will do more than challenge the resolve of the Lakers. They are about to test LA's manhood.
HISTORY: The Lakers won three of four regular-season meetings and have taken 10 of the last 11 overall, including last year's first-round sweep. ... The Nuggets have lost all four postseason series meetings, winning just two of 15 games. When Denver last reached the conference finals in 1985, it lost in five games to LA. ... Chauncey Billups won his 2004 Finals MVP vs. the Lakers while playing for the Pistons. ... Coaches Phil Jackson and George Karl met in the 1996 NBA Finals, with Jackson's Chicago Bulls defeating Karl's Seattle SuperSonics.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Carmelo Anthony. Yes, Kobe Bryant is the most compelling player in this series, as he is in virtually any series. But Bryant isn't going to be slowed by Dahntay Jones or J.R. Smith or anyone else. He has been here many times before and will perform at a superstar level. However, Anthony is playing in the conference finals for the first time and will be under much closer scrutiny. Anthony started slowly in this postseason but has raised his game as the playoffs have progressed; he averaged 30 points vs. Dallas and has become a lethal 3-point shooter at 45 percent. He is too big for Trevor Ariza to handle and too quick for Luke Walton to deal with. He should have his way in this series, giving the Nuggets an unstoppable offensive force of their own to counter Bryant's customary eruptions.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Expect plenty of physical play, hard fouls and attempts at intimidation from the Nuggets, who have found that strategy to be successful in their first two series and certainly saw the Rockets use it to their advantage against the Lakers. ... Denver's bench has terrific energy in guards J.R. Smith on the offensive end, Anthony Carter on the defensive end and forward Chris Andersen on both ends. LA's reserves will have to be on their toes. ... The Nuggets usually do not play small, which will help Lakers center Andrew Bynum stay on the floor. He has had a terrible postseason but has shown recent signs of snapping out of it and has the size and quickness to deal with Denver's Nene in the middle. ... Lakers guard Derek Fisher is among the best at drawing charges and will use that skill against Billups, who likes to lower his shoulder and create contact in an effort to get to the line. ... Lakers forward Lamar Odom will have a tough time tossing in the jump hooks he got against the smaller frontcourts of Utah and Houston. He will probably initiate most of his offense while facing the basket. ... The Lakers are definitely the more patient offensive team and give away less possessions. The Nuggets can be a bit scattershot at times, although it has been working for them.
KEY MATCHUP: How does Pau Gasol react to the roughhouse tactics of Kenyon Martin? In last year's NBA Finals, the Lakers lost because Gasol did not accept the physical challenge of Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins. In this postseason, there have been times where he has been pushed around by smaller but more determined players. He cannot become a shrinking violet against Martin, who has already battled David West and Dirk Nowitzki and is a borderline dirty player. Martin is more than an annoyance or a pest; he is an excellent defender who can take foes totally off their game. It is important that Gasol plays hard-nosed while keeping his cool, whether or not he is effective. If his teammates see him accepting the challenge, it will provide a boost for the Lakers as a whole. If he backs down against Martin, it could negatively impact the entire team.
LIKELY STARTERS: Lakers -- F Pau Gasol, F Trevor Ariza, C Andrew Bynum, G Derek Fisher, G Kobe Bryant; Nuggets -- F Kenyon Martin, F Carmelo Anthony, C Nene, G Chauncey Billups, G Dahntay Jones.
COACHING EDGE: Neither of these guys loses very much. Since 1992, Karl is 814-466 with no losing seasons and nine 50-win campaigns. Since 1990, Jackson is 1,045-435 with no losing seasons and 15 50-win campaigns. Karl is much more blue-collar, which has been evident in his team's play in the postseason. However, Jackson may be a bit better prepared for this series as he encountered more adversity through the first two rounds, which has forced him to coach more. It will be interesting to see how Karl reacts to Denver's first sign of trouble, because the Nuggets have been cruising for a month now.
THE LAKERS WILL WIN IF: Gasol grits his teeth and plays through the rough stuff, Bynum is a contributor, Fisher can keep Billups from taking total control and the bench offers timely contributions.
THE NUGGETS WILL WIN IF: Anthony plays like a superstar, Billups and Karl continue to show the way, Martin bullies Gasol and the bench maintains its insane energy level.
PREDICTION: Nuggets in six. The best thing that can happen to the Nuggets is a Game One loss, which will get their antennae up and give the Lakers a false sense of security. :scared
Denver is healthy, hungry and untouchable on its home court. Could Bryant change that with one of his explosion games? Of course. But what LA really has to change is the creeping mentality that i is a soft team.
That doesn't happen overnight.
