Michael Malone continued to taunt the Lakers, and when the jump ball starts, you lose
Michael Malone's recent remarks have caused a lot of controversy among fans and media. Because he frequently sneered at LeBron James, he also gained the attention of many fans and media. No way, if he doesn't mention LeBron James, the Nuggets won't get more attention.
After the first game of the first-round series of the playoffs, Michael Malone was also proud, sneering at LeBron James, Ham and the Lakers. Michael Malone compared the Lakers' lineup with last year's lineup, saying that the Lakers have changed their soup and not changed their medicine, and their strength has not changed.
"We've only played them three times in the regular season and we don't see any difference," said Michael Malone. ”
"I'm sure they know what we're doing and feel comfortable, and we know what they're doing and feel just as comfortable. That being said, you can prepare everything you want, but once that hopping ball jumps, you'll have a better idea of where we stand. ”
Michael Malone's meaning is very clear, that is, both sides know the roots, but even so, the overall strength of the Lakers is still not as good as the Denver Nuggets, and from the beginning of the jump ball, the Lakers are destined to lose.
The Nuggets' performance in Game 1 once again proved their excellent key ball handling ability, and they completed the comeback in just one and a half quarters after trailing by 12 points at one point, and still led the Lakers by double digits.
Jokic's excellent performance is the most critical point, the Lakers do not have a tank-type interior line that can limit the opponent. Jokic put up a staggering 32 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in this game.
The Nuggets' three-point shooting rate picked up in the second half, and the ten-man rotation entered the state, which was the key to the Nuggets' victory. On the other hand, the Lakers, in the Denver Plateau away game, only had 8 players in rotation, which made many players enter a physical crisis in the final quarter.
Even the 39-year-old LeBron James has to play 40 minutes. After the game, head coach Ham also said that he wanted LeBron James to play the whole game. The next game will be a crucial game for the Lakers to decide whether they will be swept or not, and if they can tie the score to 1-1 at home with the Denver Nuggets, then they will have a chance to turn the tide when they return home.
However, the Lakers' bench is riddled with injuries, and they don't have a good defensive player who can step up and limit the likes of Jokic and Jamal Murray. The eight-man rotation requires the Lakers to put Anthony Davis and LeBron James on the court for a long time, and the excessive consumption makes it impossible for them to maintain full physical energy in the final quarter to fight the Nuggets.