Los Angeles @ Denver GameThread, Apr 26, 2008 3:30 PM MDT

2008 NBA Playoffs Game 3: Nuggets/Lakers Game Thread

by Jeremy on Apr 26, 2008 12:50 PM MDT

Los Angeles @ Denver

Today is do or die for the Nuggets. A loss in game three will bring to an end to any hopes, even for the most myopic fan, that the Nuggets have any shot at winning this series.

Of course, a win in game three will make game four a site to behold.

The Nuggets are very good at home, but the Lakers have been almost as good on the road. LA was 27-14 on the road this season and 7-6 on the road against Western Conference playoff teams.

The Lakers are 5-0 against Denver this season, but only one of those five games took place in Denver and that was the closest game of the five. AI scored 51, but he had absolutely no help from any other Nugget. In the fourth quarter the Lakers stopped doubling Melo and started doubling AI. Melo was not able to pick up the slack and LA won by four.

One of the big refrains from Nugget fans has been they are at their best when their backs are against the wall. Well, do not look now, but their backs are against a wall in a long narrow hallway that is about two feet wide.

I have a hard time envisioning the Nuggets playing better defense than they did in game two. They can play better, but most likely will not. Probably the only area Denver can significantly improve in on defense is avoiding situations where Eduardo Najera is matched up with Kobe.

They will have to make their biggest step forward on offense. Anything short of 25 fast break points and 25 assists will be bad for Denver. They absolutely must push the pace and take advantage of the Lakers double teams on Melo.

Make sure you visit Forum Blue and Gold, the LA Times Lakers Blog and the NBA.com Series Blog before the game.

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Comments

Here we go

His Wolves, My Nuggs

by Kay on Apr 26, 2008 3:40 PM MDT 0 recs

A lil' sumtin' sumtin' for ya

BEAT LA !!!!

"Lenny Suckerpunch Never bet on me" - Elizabeth "The Lizzard" Lowblow

by Lizzy Lowblow on Apr 26, 2008 4:08 PM MDT 0 recs

Give Vujacic the Oscar

For best pathetic little girl.

What a piece of crap.

by Jeremy on Apr 26, 2008 4:22 PM MDT 0 recs

I'm not hating this one so far

Of course we have our own problems on defense, but LA’s intensity is down significantly. Should be able to keep it close, as long as Vujacic gets called for molesting Iverson occasionally.

rockies in october.

by LarryB303 on Apr 26, 2008 4:22 PM MDT 0 recs

I am so glad Sasha can continue playing

I was afraid he might have had to go to the emergency room at first.

by Jeremy on Apr 26, 2008 4:23 PM MDT 0 recs

Farmar is playing well

by Jeremy on Apr 26, 2008 4:29 PM MDT 0 recs

Nuggets ball movement...

is so much better when Melo is out.

by Jeremy on Apr 26, 2008 4:30 PM MDT 0 recs

I dont like Sasha

Since the Melo “choke”
Like dude this is a man’s game, stop being a girl

His Wolves, My Nuggs

by Kay on Apr 26, 2008 4:31 PM MDT 0 recs

Ok

Melo better come hard the second half

His Wolves, My Nuggs

by Kay on Apr 26, 2008 4:32 PM MDT 0 recs

If you are watching on TNT

Scott Hastings, on Altitude, has made a good point about why Melo is missing all of these layups. He is using his right hand when he should be using his left. It can be tough to trust your off hand in traffic, but these are not particularly difficult finishes.

by Jeremy on Apr 26, 2008 4:35 PM MDT 0 recs

K-Mart has looked great

Pretty much since early March. No, he’s not worth what we’re paying him, but he hasn’t mailed it in either.

rockies in october.

by LarryB303 on Apr 26, 2008 4:38 PM MDT 0 recs

What will it take for Melo to pass out of the double team?

Should we offer him some ice cream after the game?

by Jeremy on Apr 26, 2008 4:40 PM MDT 0 recs

Take a seat

Melo has always been my favorite player, but today he’s just pissing me off. He’s just trying to score quick, mind you there is 24 seconds on the clock.

His Wolves, My Nuggs

by Kay on Apr 26, 2008 4:44 PM MDT 0 recs

Apparently a return to Denver has not jumpstarted the running game

by Jeremy on Apr 26, 2008 4:52 PM MDT 0 recs

Closely refereed, on one end at least

I’m not saying the league has a vested interest in seeing the Lakers succeed… I’m just saying the Nuggs aren’t really getting away with anything.

rockies in october.

by LarryB303 on Apr 26, 2008 4:55 PM MDT 0 recs

Some somewhat random but pertinent halftime stats

Shooting 18-46 39%
8 turnovers
8 free trows
11 assists
Forced 6 turnovers
And I think they said that Denver has 8 fast break points.

by Jeremy on Apr 26, 2008 4:56 PM MDT 0 recs

Damn

That wasn’t what I wanted to see from our first, first half at home. Melo struggled big time and he really needs to pick his game up. If he wants to be considered an “elite” players in this league, now our the times he needs to rise above the rest and get it done for his team. Overall I wasn’t too displeased with the defense but we definately need to get running, running, and running some more in the 2nd half and pick our energy up if we want to win this thing.

by RyanBuff on Apr 26, 2008 4:58 PM MDT 0 recs

If Kobe stays hot

we can stop worrying about this team because their season will be, for all intents and purposes, over.

by Jeremy on Apr 26, 2008 5:19 PM MDT 0 recs

I was about to type that

Kobe is hot
When Kobe’s hot, just stop trying

His Wolves, My Nuggs

by Kay on Apr 26, 2008 5:24 PM MDT 0 recs

Melo is on Kobe

Now that Kenyon has four fouls. Let’s see what Melo can do. He is not scoring, will he play D? So far today the answer has been no.

by Jeremy on Apr 26, 2008 5:29 PM MDT 0 recs

Nevermind

They switched to the 2-3.

by Jeremy on Apr 26, 2008 5:31 PM MDT 0 recs

Well it's been fun...

Can’t wait to hear your suggestions for the offseason Jeremy! We knew this team would not win a championship this year, just sucks they can’t even go out and compete.

by RyanBuff on Apr 26, 2008 5:48 PM MDT 0 recs

I second that

I will be waiting for the offseason blog

His Wolves, My Nuggs

by Kay on Apr 26, 2008 6:13 PM MDT up 0 recs

At least the Nuggets cut it to 10 at one point

I am so proud of these guys. What heart.

by Jeremy on Apr 26, 2008 5:49 PM MDT 0 recs

I know right

These guys all deserve to be brought back for the warrior like mentality and huge hearts they’ve shown throughout the season and postseason. I couldn’t be more proud to be a Nuggets fan right now.

(Extreme sarcasm.)

by RyanBuff on Apr 26, 2008 5:52 PM MDT up 0 recs

Ugly, ugly, ugly

Sad sad sad sad.

I can’t really be any more eloquent.

rockies in october.

by LarryB303 on Apr 26, 2008 6:01 PM MDT 0 recs

The only other vested interest I have left

in these playoffs is hoping New Orleans gets rid of Dallas in 5, so I can (try to) reassure myself that the Nuggs’ fate wouldn’t have been any different were they the 7 seed.

rockies in october.

by LarryB303 on Apr 26, 2008 6:06 PM MDT 0 recs