The Lakers are currently 3-0 down and will be swept away if they lose another game. On May 22, Beijing time, the US media announced the three major predictions of the Western Conference G4, believing that the desperate James will usher in a big outbreak and help the Lakers win back a city. They also boldly predicted that the in-form Russell would be DNP by Ham and would not play in G4.
Prediction 1: The Lakers will beat the Nuggets by 15 points
The Nuggets have a clear advantage over a 3-0 lead, and no team in history has ever turned around while trailing 3-0, which could give the Nuggets some relief. In contrast, the Lakers are a more desperate team, and they will break the cauldron to fight for the next win and keep hope alive.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Timberwolves once won the game in G4 to avoid being swept by the Nuggets, and the Lakers may repeat this scene, but in order to avoid the Nuggets' reversal in the final quarter, James must ensure a double-digit lead. The Lakers have not lost much in their first three losses, with a difference of 6, 5 and 11 points, respectively. The US media expects the Lakers G4 to defeat the Nuggets by 15 points to make the series 1-3.
Prediction 2: James hits 40 points
It's time for All-Out Jen to step up. In his first three games against the Nuggets, James averaged 23.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 10.3 assists per game, contributing on the defensive end, but it wasn't enough. James needs to get into attack at the beginning of G4, just like the Lakers vs. G6. In that game, James shot 10-of-14 from the field and had 30 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists.
So far in his career, facing the elimination of the game, James averaged 33.5 points per game, although now more than 38 years old, James still has the ability to play 40+, G3 games in a single game, his three-point sense has warmed up, G4 is expected to usher in a better state. So far this season, James has scored 40+ points in five games, including his craziest three-point game against the Clippers, reaching 9-of-14 shooting. Facing elimination, the Lakers need a full-fire James.
Prediction 3: The Russell G4 will face DNP
It has to be said that this prediction is more bold, but the first adjustment that the Lakers G4 is easy to make should be to let Russell leave the starting lineup. The point guard had a poor run in the Western Conference finals, scoring just three points on 1-of-8 shooting in G3. In the first three games of the Western Conference finals, Russell averaged only 7 points and 4 assists per game, shooting 29.6% from the field and 14.3% from three-point range. In the last round against the Warriors, Russell averaged 14.7 points per game and shot 45.6% from the field.
His playing time dropped from 33 minutes in G2 to 20 minutes in G3. The Lakers have no room for error, and if Hamm keeps Russell on the bench at G4, it shouldn't be a surprise choice.
According to the big data website FiveThirtyEight, the probability of winning the G4 is 52% for the Lakers playing at home and 48% for the Nuggets holding the game point. Who do you like to win?