On April 23, Game 2 (G2) of the series between the Lakers and the Nuggets was undoubtedly a high-profile battle. In this game, the Lakers showed a good competitive state for most of the game, but in the end they still lost to the Nuggets 108-114 and failed to tie the series. Next, Kodaka will take everyone to review this game and explore the reasons for the Lakers' loss.
The Lakers did play well in the first half of the game. In the first quarter of the game, the Lakers led 29-22, and the two core players of James and Thick Eyebrows played a lot. Heading into the second quarter, the Lakers' offense was even more violent, and they extended their lead further with a single quarter score of 31-20. At this point, the Lakers had scored as many as 60 points, while the Nuggets had only 42 points. It can be said that the Lakers played quite well in the first half and completely controlled the pace of the game.
In the second half, things were reversed. At the beginning of the third quarter, the Nuggets gradually regained their touch and began to launch a counterattack. They went 33-23 in the first quarter to narrow the deficit to eight points. Entering the crucial fourth quarter, the Nuggets were even more firing, scoring more than 30 points in a single quarter, while the Lakers were a little powerless and unable to effectively curb the opponent's scoring momentum. In the end, the Nuggets won 114-108 and rewrote the series to 2-0.
In this game, the performance of the Lakers' two core players, James and Thick Eyebrows, is still eye-catching. James had a total of 20 points, 8 rebounds and 12 assists, and he played an important role on both the offensive and defensive ends. Bushy Brow contributed an efficient performance of 32 points and 11 rebounds, and his dominance on the interior made it difficult for the Nuggets to handle. However, even with the two cores playing well, the Lakers were unable to win the game in the end. Xiao Gao believes that the main reasons for this are as follows:
The Lakers lacked enough scoring ability in key moments of the game. At key moments in the fourth quarter, the Lakers had multiple offensive errors and missed shots, and could not pull the score away. The Nuggets, on the other hand, relied on the play of stars such as Jokic and Murray to score consecutive points at critical moments and finally achieved a reversal.
The poor performance of the Lakers' role players was also one of the big reasons for the loss. With the exception of James and Bushy Eyebrows, the rest of the Lakers' players didn't play their part in the game. In particular, players such as Rivers and Shuila have been quite sluggish on the offensive end and are unable to provide enough firepower for the team.
The Lakers also have some problems on the defensive end. While they managed to limit the Nuggets' scoring in the first half, there were clear defensive holes in the second half. Nuggets players broke through the Lakers' defense several times during the game and scored easily. Especially in the final stages of the game, the Lakers' defense was almost useless, allowing the Nuggets to easily complete the comeback.
Looking back at the entire game, Kodaka believes that the Lakers' loss was not accidental. They lacked enough scoring ability and defensive intensity in key moments of the game, while the role players didn't perform as well as they could. Together, these factors contributed to the Lakers' loss. However, for the Lakers, this loss is not the end of the world. They still have a chance to adjust their form and get back to winning for the next games.
Kodaka expects the Lakers to show a better competitive form in the next games. They need to play a better role as a core player while improving the performance of their role players. In addition, they will need to work more on the defensive end to avoid similar defensive holes again. Only then will the Lakers have a chance to reverse the decline and win more games in the next games.
Xiao Gao also wants to remind fans and friends that the basketball game itself is a sport full of variables and challenges. Even the strongest teams and the best players will inevitably suffer setbacks and defeats in the game. Therefore, we should look at the outcome of the game with a calm mind and enjoy the fun and passion that the game brings.
Let's hope that the Lakers will be able to rise to the challenge and show a better level of competition in future games. No matter how they win or lose, they will be the Purple and Gold Army in our hearts forever!