5 reasons why the Los Angeles Lakers should be worried about their series with the Nuggets

Bob on 05 23, 2009

The Los Angeles Lakers are in serious trouble after handing home court advantage over to the Denver Nuggets in Thursday night’s loss. Laker enthusiasts should be very worried right now, and here are five (5) reasons why:

1.) Kobe can’t shoulder the load

Kobe Bryant just hasn’t gotten the help from his supporting cast that this Laker team so desperately needs to advance to the NBA Finals. Pau Gasol has been consistent, with double-doubles in the last two (2) games, but Kobe and Pau aren’t going to beat this scrappy Nuggets team by themselves. Trevor Ariza looked great Thursday night, with another strong defensive outing (4 stls). He was solid offensively in their 106-103 loss, going 6 of 7 from the field, but he has been too inconsistent on the offensive end and we can’t expect the Cali native’s offensive production to keep trend. Lamar Odom hasn’t been playing bad, but he hasn’t been playing good, either. Mediocrity is not going to beat this talented Denver Nuggets squad. Andrew Bynum continues to be a non-factor, and clearly is not the same player he was prior to his injury. Maybe he should’ve concentrated more on rehabbing instead of running around with playmates, just a suggestion. As a result of the lack of production from his teammates, Kobe Bryant has been more active and is doing more than he is used to. I can’t be the only one who has noticed Kobe’s exhaustion. He’s trying to take on a LeBron James role (shouldering the load), and at 30 years of age, that will take a toll on your body, and it most definitely shows.

2.) LA’s point guard play

Game by game, Derek Fisher continues to lose his poise. Why Jordan Farmar only played 6 minutes Thursday night is beyond me, but it’s hard to question The Zen Master’s motives (unless LA loses this series). Fisher went 1 for 9 from the field in LA’s loss, and finished with more fouls (5) than points (3). Is this really the guy you want taking your last second shot to push the game into OT? I’d rather have Shannon Brown take that shot! Hell, anyone for that matter! D Fish has knocked down some big shots in his career, but when you’re not feeling it, you’re not feeling it. Shannon Brown has played alright, but the three (3) point guards (Fisher, Farmar, Brown) haven’t done much, and clearly have had trouble matching up with Chauncey Billups.

3.) Carmelo Anthony playing to his potential

Is this the same Carmelo Anthony? ‘Melo has been in beast mode this series, accumulating 73 points in 2 games. I wasn’t aware that Anthony was as strong as he is (or how weak Kobe is) until this series. He has been having his way with Kobe Bryant, throwing him around like a ragdoll. In Thursday night’s win, Carmelo grabbed 5 offensive boards (made it look relatively easy) and scored a handful of points with easy put backs. It looks as if team USA’s Gold medal win in Beijing lit a fire under Anthony’s ass. Melo, for once, looks determined to win, and with a skill set like his, there is reason for the Lakeshow to be concerned, very concerned.

4.) The Denver Nuggets are valiant and have more heart

There are several games this postseason where the Lakers have looked unmotivated (i.e. Game 6 against Houston). This is playoff basketball; I don’t care how good you think you are, if you play half-ass basketball you are going to get ousted, period. On the other hand, Denver has given it everything they have every single game. This Nuggets team has really impressed me this postseason, and should have impressed every NBA fan by now (unless you don’t respect hard play and a will to win). Once viewed as a lackadaisical group of guys, Denver has had arguably (Cavs) the most dominant postseason for a few reasons; they are not scared of any opponent, they are playing with heart and they truly believe they can win it all. With such an athletic, talented and deep group of players, this is a lethal combination for any team to face. So what exactly has gotten into this Denver Nuggets team? See #5.

5.) The 5th and final reason LA should be worried, Mr. Big Shot, Chauncey Billups

After dealing Allen Iverson to the Detroit Pistons for PG Chauncey Billups, the Nuggets have changed drastically for the better. Unlike AI, Billups is a phenomenal floor general and the model guy you want running your team. Chauncey Billups can knock down shots, dish the rock and is nearly flawless at the free-throw line (although he’s missed 6 FT’s in the last 2 games, very uncharacteristic).

Although the Pistons’ trade looked good on paper, the intangibles Chauncey Billups brings to his team goes beyond numbers on a document. One of the more impressive streaks in recent NBA basketball, the Denver native is in his 7th straight Conference Finals. Billups has positioned himself here again for 2 reasons: he is a leader and a winner. Chauncey Billups has an extraordinary will to win. He doesn’t care what the box score reads as long as his team gets the W.

Billups has turned a bunch of talented, athletic underachievers into a team that is close to reaching their full potential, a team that believes they can win, and a team that is extremely dangerous. On a team with so many hot-headed players, Chauncey Billups balances them out. Mr. Big Shot always keeps his cool. When players like Kenyon Martin are about to lose their cool, he calms them, and that is exactly what they needed.

It seems like Chauncey Billups always makes the right moves, and as a fan of basketball, it’s a thing of beauty to watch him conduct his team. It’s the little things he does, like when he was T’d up in Thursday’s game. You might be thinking, ‘it’s never good for your teammate to get a technical foul,’ but under the right circumstances, technical fouls can spark a team for the better. His teammate was clearly hacked and the refs missed it, so he complained and let the refs know their no-call was BS. The Nuggets had an extra bounce in their step following the technical and they seemed to turn the intensity up. Number 7 brought to this Denver team something Allen Iverson lacked: toughness, both physically and mentally. Chauncey is almost like a father figure for this Nuggets team. A wise, grizzled veteran of the game, Billups has earned his stripes in this league; he’s won a championship and he’s been through it all. He is showing this quarrelsome group of guys how it’s done in this league and how to be winners. The acquisition of Chauncey Billups has the city of Denver and its fans enthused and supportive of their basketball team, and he has turned the Nuggets into a team very capable of going all the way.

These reasons, along with having to pick up a win at the Pepsi Center in Denver should cause some anxiety for the Los Angeles Lakers and their fans that have championship expectations. The Denver Nuggets have won 16 straight on their home court dating back to the regular season, so it will be an extremely difficult task for Kobe and his Lakers to go in there and leave with a W.

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