Denver is just better than the Lakers

LOS ANGELES – For the Los Angeles Lakers, playing the world champion Denver Nuggets must feel like a recurring bad dream. They have now lost seven consecutive postseason games to Denver, and every time they play, you can squint and imagine you are watching a replay of the previous game.

This matchup has run its course. The Nuggets are simply a better team than the Lakers.

They have the best player in the series, Nikola Jokic, and a better head coach. On both ends of the floor, they do everything better as a team than the Lakers. Los Angeles has continuously hit Denver with its best shot, but it is not enough every time. 

“They do not have a weakness offensively, especially their starting lineup. They have been one of the best-starting fives in our league over the last couple of years,” said LeBron James. “It is definitely one of the better teams I have played against in my career.”

This is not the same team the Lakers beat in 2020 on their way to the championship. That team did not have Aaron Gordan or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Michael Porter Jr. was a rookie coming off the bench, and Nikola Jokic had yet to evolve into the most unstoppable player in the NBA.

Los Angeles has led at the half in all three games during this series, and even when trailing, it always feels like Denver is in the driver’s seat. Once the Lakers go up by double digits, it feels like the Nuggets have them right where they want them.

“I think they are a little more locked in than we are when we come out of the half, and we have seen Denver throughout the year. They take advantage of every opportunity,” said Gabe Vincent.

The Lakers started game 3 on an 8-0 run, and Anthony Daivs scored 10 points in the first four minutes, but as the game went on, Los Angeles steadily declined in every category while Denver ascended to a near-perfect level of play.

Davis has been great in this series, scoring at least 32 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in every game. James is holding up his end, with at least 26 points and eight assists in all three contests. Neither of the Lakers stars has had an off night, and they still can not buy a win.

In game 1, James tried to attack early and be a playmaker late. He took the opposite approach in game 2, setting up his teammates first and scoring 12 points in the fourth quarter. In game 3, he took what the defense gave him. None of these strategies resulted in a victory.

“I think Dever is just beating us, to be honest. You can talk about adjustments, you can talk about this and that, but at the end of the day, we got to put our best foot forward and win basketball games. You can talk about everything else, but at the end of the day, you gotta man up and go win,” said Austin Reaves.

The most frustrating part for Los Angeles is that they have never been blown out during any of the seven playoff losses and are only losing by an average of six points per game. It feels like they are so close, but in reality, they are so far away from being able to beat this team in a seven-game series.

“Our focus right now is to try to get one. Try to get a game and then go from there,” said Davis.

Denver is the best team in the NBA for a reason. The Lakers will look to avoid being swept for a second straight season on Saturday, but the Nuggets are too good for the Lakers to come back and make this a series.

Top Image caption: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) has hit another milestone during his NBA career. Photo credit: Mark Hammond/The Bulletin/File

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