Denver Nuggets
TRENDING NEWS: Lakers and Anthony Davis are targeted by Stephen A. Smith.
The Los Angeles Lakers led in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter despite LeBron James’ 40,000th NBA point on Saturday night, but they were no match for the Denver Nuggets, who won 124-114.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith chastised the Lakers after the game for once more failing in a crucial situation. He chastised Anthony Davis in particular for being vastly outplayed by Denver’s great, Nikola Jokić.
“The Lakers lose to the Nuggets on Opening Night, the first night of the season.” They lose the night when Kobe’s statue is unveiled. LeBron James becomes the only player in NBA history to score more than 40,000 points tonight. That game is a loss for them. The Lakers don’t seem to measure up in the big times.
Following a brief discussion of D’Angelo Russell’s difficulties in the second half, Smith turned his attention to Davis.
“I said ‘You ain’t gonna stop Jokić,’ which didn’t happen. ‘But what you have to do if you’re Anthony Davis is nullify what he gives you by making sure you give the same.’ You can’t have Nikola Jokić dropping 35 and answering with 17. You just can’t do it.
It’s reasonable to criticize the Lakers for missing important games, but only to a certain extent.
“The big boy, an All-Star and a superstar talent in this game, has to show up and give me a little bit extra when that other superstar, who is the reigning, defending NBA champion, when that brother shows up, if you’re the Los Angeles Lakers and you have championship aspirations.” That wasn’t what I saw tonight. Furthermore, I dislike it.
It’s reasonable to criticize the Lakers for missing important games, but only to a certain extent.
LeBron James scored 40,000 points, the Kobe Bryant statue was dedicated, and Opening Night were the three games in question that took place versus the Nuggets. Denver is now 42-19 after Saturday, good for third place in the West and just one half-game behind first place. On the other hand, Los Angeles is 33-29, the 10th seed in the West, and most likely guaranteed a spot in the play-in round. Are the Lakers missing some of the most important games? Are they simply inferior to the finest players in the NBA?
It was recently stated by Charles Barkley that the Lakers were not that good. That might be all there is to it.
That is, in fact, the main point of the Davis v. Jokić debate as well. There is undoubtedly merit to Smith’s remarks. If Jokić doubles Davis’ scoring total, Los Angeles will have a difficult time defeating a club like Denver. Is Davis truly failing, though? Is he just being outplayed by someone who is just a better player than him at this stage of his career?
The reigning champion Nuggets defeated the Lakers in three games to go to the championship game. The winner on Saturday night can be as easy as the team having the superior players on the field.
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