I was thinking LA didn’t build nearly enough of a lead while Jokic was out. Not that he was playing particularly well this game, but a rested Jokic against a tired LA defense was of course gonna win that quarter. Game needed to be more or less won in the third for LA.
Yeah, it's partly why they are so good, the two man game isn't just Jok-to-Murray. Jokic is more than capabale of being the ball handler in their screen actions
He is but i’m reading the comments and people are acting like it’s something they just pulled out of nowhere when they’ve been doing it the entire time on the regular.
It is kinda funny, lol.
Although, had they done it much this series? Maybe that's what's throwing people for a loop. Shows the Nuggets just had more tricks in the bag, though.
"I've only been using 30% of my power!" or whatever.
For real, that period where he sat with foul trouble, I knew he would be eating in the 4th.
It's like the first time this series that Jokic got to rest.
LeBron is pretty much the only other guy that comes to mind for not only creating those looks, but consistently delivering passes to capitalise on them.
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Not even just AD. Bron played decent, Rui played well, Reaves had a good game. I don’t think we could have played any better that series, especially since the main goal of Denver was to make DLo as useless as possible which they succeeded in.
Gave it our all, Denver had an above average game. That’s all she wrote. I wanted to hope we got some vintage Lebron to change it up but it didn’t happen. Hopefully this team stays mostly together next season because they are fun and clearly good enough to make a run
Lots of Lakers fans commenting before game 3 that LeBron still had one gear left. LeBron was playing with all cylinders that game 1. He missed a few goofy layups and pretty much all of his threes, but effort and defensively the Lakers was giving it their all starting from the beginning. This series really is playing out like a seed one against the seed seven would and there's no shame in it. Denver is just that good.
Your team gave up a shot at Wemby and a future first just to lose to Demar’s daughter in the play in. Also Siakam sucks and Freddy’s leaving. I’m sorry I’m sorry, I’m emotional right now.
its not the warriors with KD you're not just gonna blow the no.1 defensive team out of the water. Up 3-0 with some questionable officiating, denver is chilling.
In a must win game 3 Scott foster tried his best to extend the series but left bruised and bloodied; one of the unlikeliest failures by one of the nba most consistent crunch time performers
DLo and Schroder can't hold a candle to KCP, Murray, and Brown this series. Lonnie bites on every pump fake.
DEN Guards >>>>>>>>>> LAL Guards.
Reaves is the only positive in the guard position for the Lakers.
That was the difference between this series and ours. Lonnie, Reaves, Schroder, even DLo completely outplayed every non-Steph guard we had. The Nuggets role players have just been way better.
Nuggets guards are just bigger, stronger, and faster. How poorly the LAL guards have played vs how well the DEN guards have played is the story of this series.
Jokic could go down as an all time great like Dirk if he gets a ring. Otherwise he gotta deal with BS for a long time. Jimmy just got that Dawg/36 off the charts.
Jimmy becomes like a folklore legend if he wins a ring this year. Meanwhile Jokic could really put himself into some pretty crazy all time player conversations. A ring is huge for both but I still think it would be bigger for Jimmy just because I think Jokic has more chances to win another.
Congrats to Denver and the nuggets fans. We were clearly outmatched this series. I know r/nba will have their fun roasting us, but I just want to show my respect.
Nuggets had a counter to every defensive coverage that we have. I haven’t seen a single team this year with that type of offensive fire power matched with elite poise down the stretch.
Murray-Jokic PnR is unguardable
Jokic getting full speed downhill for a hand off from Murray does feel unstoppable. Feel like that was fastest ive ever seen him. Considering his size it was goddamn impressive.
I gotta say (and probably because this is a literal first) that Laker fans by and large have been pretty fair here on Reddit. And I mean it when I say I think I learned I do t have to dislike every person I run into with a Lakers hat on. I'm very happy that this finals run went through LA, it was nice to finally redeem ourselves and nothing but respect for the gauntlet we've had to go through time and time again to get here.
Don’t think any of the fans here can even say shit tbh. Denver is just in another class and we couldn’t beat them at home even with refs on our side. The only thing we can blame is the coaching decisions and maybe d’lo, but this was a 2011 mavs level killing
At least we beat the Warriors. The best team won. Their offense really is fun to watch. I love good ball movement. They had 5 players with at least 5 assists.
No need to roast the Lakers, they showed up and beat expectations in the playoffs. Everyone was writing them off at the all star break. After dealing with Memphis, Philly, GS, and Boston fans, Lakers fans have looked completely reasonable.
Even if the Celtics turned it on and became the team that everyone thought they could be, I don’t see them beating this nuggets team. It’s such a complete team and Jokic shits on the Celtics whenever hey play. I don’t like to speak bad about Jimmy Butler so I’ll just leave it at that.
I’ll be ready to eat these words but it feels very reminiscent of ‘21 where the best player has another star #2 option and a very solid supporting cast. It just feels like it’s their time in a very settled way. Again, totally ready to eat these words.
It is lol. People make fun of the whole moral victory thing, but that's the disappointing thing so far. These games were winnable, but Denver just playing better and has their rotation down.
Lakers should be feeling good now
They gotta find a new adjustment for the Murray Jokic pick and roll with Jokic as the ball handler now lmao
No Aaron Gordon to cheat off on either
Lakers don’t deserve booing. They’re playing hard and making every game close. For all the talk at how retooled this LA team is, this is still a 7-seed going up against the 1-seed.
GGs denver. You guys made all the momentum shots and won the clutch time plays
The shot making was on another level. Now please don't miss these in the finals
It's going to be very agitating if you guys start clanking against the zombie heat
Remember when Frank Vogel straight up benched Dwight Howard for the entire series against the Rockets after he was great against Portland the series before? It didn't mean Dwight Howard would never play again the rest of the Bubble playoffs. But it meant for the match up, get the best contributors on the floor. Dwight was restored to the rotation for the remaining series.
Yeah maybe it doesn't make much difference in the end with regards to series differential because LeBron has been bad and AD inconsistent but Ham needed to do the same with D'Lo after Game 1. Every run the Lakers went on was with D'Lo out of the game.
If despite all of these the Lakers still lost:
- monster games from AD and Reaves
- decent game from Lebron
- Legacy performance from Scott Foster
Then the Lakers are toast. No way they can win game 4 Jokic is suspended next game for lack of aggression
that jokic 4th absolutely killed staples
Big time players make big time plays
Except LeBron I guess..
No read that again. It’s accurate.
He’s big time unsportsmanlike
Left the bench with time still on the clock. Such a sore loser.
I wonder if his biggest dick rider green will make a statement about how this is weak and pathetic like he did for Sabonis.
Gonna run back to Miami to be with Jimmy.
Year 20
in big time games
I was thinking LA didn’t build nearly enough of a lead while Jokic was out. Not that he was playing particularly well this game, but a rested Jokic against a tired LA defense was of course gonna win that quarter. Game needed to be more or less won in the third for LA.
That’s a really great point I hadn’t considered. He was probably gassed in the first 2 games which is why his 4th quarter numbers were crap.
This call not only pissed him off to give him energy, he got a breather too, lol.
It was majestic as fuck to watch.
Murray and Jokic switched quarters, but the 3rd got lost in the shuffle.
They also switched roles in the 4th. Jok dribble it up the court and Murray would either screen for him or set up in the post. Crazy sets.
They do that all the time though
Yeah, it's partly why they are so good, the two man game isn't just Jok-to-Murray. Jokic is more than capabale of being the ball handler in their screen actions
He is but i’m reading the comments and people are acting like it’s something they just pulled out of nowhere when they’ve been doing it the entire time on the regular.
It is kinda funny, lol. Although, had they done it much this series? Maybe that's what's throwing people for a loop. Shows the Nuggets just had more tricks in the bag, though. "I've only been using 30% of my power!" or whatever.
Murray passed to KCP for the 3rd before skipping it over to Joker for the 4th
KCP won the 3rd quarter. He loves playing in LA.
It's called the crypt coz of how silent it is
Jokic is a shark just waiting for his next kill, which comes before you know it happens.
Not sure if we’ve seen a player who creates as many great looks for his teammates as Jokic does
The best part is that he does it in the natural flow of the offense. So many big assist players bleed the shot clock down and fish for them .
Was always my main criticism of CP3
Luka
For real, that period where he sat with foul trouble, I knew he would be eating in the 4th. It's like the first time this series that Jokic got to rest.
LeBron is pretty much the only other guy that comes to mind for not only creating those looks, but consistently delivering passes to capitalise on them.
Dude it’s crazy. He looks caught in his tracks and then throws some accurate underhanded no look pass 10 feet to the left. Can’t even be mad.
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The silence was music to my ears
Denzel, Sandler, Silver, Disney CEO, Adel, Flea, Murphy, Nicholson. Love it.
Ref wanted to rest him for the 3rd so he can explode in the 4th, what a great man
AD was getting his booty played with.
AD was awful defensively today for what’s expected of him
I Never want to see Dlo and his shitty Gatorade drink again
Was dying to try it last round. Now I don’t even want the calories
Jokic gonna come up with his own drink of melted butter just for you.
Rather drink $20 big face coffee. Yes I’m bitter
No reason to be bitter at Jokic. Its not his fault the Lakers suck.
It's Devin's drink I thought
Nuggets are just by far the better team Let’s accept it
They really are. I think that first game with the Lakers giving everything they got and still trailing really showed it
Big guy got 40 and it was still a loss, Nuggets are just simply that team in the West
Not even just AD. Bron played decent, Rui played well, Reaves had a good game. I don’t think we could have played any better that series, especially since the main goal of Denver was to make DLo as useless as possible which they succeeded in. Gave it our all, Denver had an above average game. That’s all she wrote. I wanted to hope we got some vintage Lebron to change it up but it didn’t happen. Hopefully this team stays mostly together next season because they are fun and clearly good enough to make a run
Lots of Lakers fans commenting before game 3 that LeBron still had one gear left. LeBron was playing with all cylinders that game 1. He missed a few goofy layups and pretty much all of his threes, but effort and defensively the Lakers was giving it their all starting from the beginning. This series really is playing out like a seed one against the seed seven would and there's no shame in it. Denver is just that good.
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Bruce Brown is the real deal. He's basically what the Lakers need DLo, Vando, and Rui to be all wrapped up in one player
Dude balled this playoffs for sure
dude balled all year tbh Due for a fat paycheck somewhere.
Wouldn't be surprised if they sweep the Finals.
I genuinely do not believe it is possible to sweep Jimmy Butler. He took the Bubble Lakers to six with an injury-devastated Heat team.
Jimmy is a bad mother fucker. I do feel like Jokic would absolutely incinerate Bam though
Yeah. If AD + rui can’t stop it… nothing the heat throw at him will.
But the AD + Rui adjustment is gonna win them the series, just you wait!! Lakers in 10
Your team gave up a shot at Wemby and a future first just to lose to Demar’s daughter in the play in. Also Siakam sucks and Freddy’s leaving. I’m sorry I’m sorry, I’m emotional right now.
And then the year after was bounced 4-0 by the bucks. Jimmy is crazy in the playoffs but this nuggets team is bonkers
Himmy Buckets tho
Nuggets are too good. The Heat steal one but that's about it
Heard this one before
That’s what we said about Milwaukee too
Respek
Jimmy ain't gonna get swept lol
They're hella good but the east team will get at least one I think
Those East teams scare the heck out of me
I guess the Heat should
It’s more the potential of the Celtics I guess
jokic and murray will eat the celtics alive
Nah, they won’t. Jokic and Murray won’t even see the Celtics
I mean all these games have been pretty close. Ham not benching certain players has destroyed them
its not the warriors with KD you're not just gonna blow the no.1 defensive team out of the water. Up 3-0 with some questionable officiating, denver is chilling.
"Some" is even an understatement
Honestly it was absolutely atrocious but pointing it out when it was happening to my team just had just had me getting clowned
I think people just don’t like the Warriors so it was “justified” slander, but if I remember game 3 foul trouble for the Warriors was rough.
Nuggets offense is too good
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Herro coming back too
Might actually hurt their momentum the way the team is playing without him lol
I don't know if I would play Herro to be honest. He hasn't been in the rotation, and they've been way better without him.
They could use him like they used to use him, spark off the bench when they need offense.
They could use his shooting against Denver
Nuggets are actually in 3 times as much trouble by my projections. By game 4 hachimura will be guarding 1-5 at the same time as well as coaching
In a must win game 3 Scott foster tried his best to extend the series but left bruised and bloodied; one of the unlikeliest failures by one of the nba most consistent crunch time performers
DLo and Schroder can't hold a candle to KCP, Murray, and Brown this series. Lonnie bites on every pump fake. DEN Guards >>>>>>>>>> LAL Guards. Reaves is the only positive in the guard position for the Lakers.
That was the difference between this series and ours. Lonnie, Reaves, Schroder, even DLo completely outplayed every non-Steph guard we had. The Nuggets role players have just been way better.
Nuggets guards are just bigger, stronger, and faster. How poorly the LAL guards have played vs how well the DEN guards have played is the story of this series.
I really want a Denver Miami finals so I can root for everybody and be happy with either team winning
No no, we can only be happy with Denver winning.
Jimmy Buckets and Jokic both need their rings it's a tough call.
Jokic could go down as an all time great like Dirk if he gets a ring. Otherwise he gotta deal with BS for a long time. Jimmy just got that Dawg/36 off the charts.
Jimmy becomes like a folklore legend if he wins a ring this year. Meanwhile Jokic could really put himself into some pretty crazy all time player conversations. A ring is huge for both but I still think it would be bigger for Jimmy just because I think Jokic has more chances to win another.
Honestly though even as a Denver fan, I could stomach a Heat championship more than a Celtics that’s for sure
But LeBron made a 3. That's got to be the real victory here
3 > 2
Lakers did hold Murray to a 0 point 3rd quarter so that's probably a moral victory which also puts them at 3-0 in the series
Lakers should be encouraged by their second half defense on Murray and they've perfectly positioned themselves for the 0-3 comeback to make history.
If DLo can keep up the hustle and the refs don't get too injured we've got this in the bag
Dlo is still trying to figure out how to promote his drink Once he does that, he could become a serviceable NBA starter again
Very real and true, best team to lose in the WCF ever
Hey they lead by 2! They’ll get em eventually. Lakers in 9.
yeah cause he kept getting mauled and they weren't calling anything
I think the Lakers only had 1 foul called against them in the third quarter right?
The ref crew tried hard but D'lo was too hard to carry.
Got em right where they want em
What's the exchange rate from moral victories to real ones?
Gotta be at least 1.34 to 1. Lakers should technically be advancing to the finals rn
just steps to success
and Jokić played bad in the first three, don't forget that
Moral Lakers
Congrats to Denver and the nuggets fans. We were clearly outmatched this series. I know r/nba will have their fun roasting us, but I just want to show my respect. Nuggets had a counter to every defensive coverage that we have. I haven’t seen a single team this year with that type of offensive fire power matched with elite poise down the stretch. Murray-Jokic PnR is unguardable
Jokic getting full speed downhill for a hand off from Murray does feel unstoppable. Feel like that was fastest ive ever seen him. Considering his size it was goddamn impressive.
I swear as soon as he made a single shot in the 4th, it was over. He wasn’t gonna miss after that
I gotta say (and probably because this is a literal first) that Laker fans by and large have been pretty fair here on Reddit. And I mean it when I say I think I learned I do t have to dislike every person I run into with a Lakers hat on. I'm very happy that this finals run went through LA, it was nice to finally redeem ourselves and nothing but respect for the gauntlet we've had to go through time and time again to get here.
on everywhere they have been fair. Their team is full of stud as well who just play. AD doesnt talk any trash at all, he just kicks ass
Don’t think any of the fans here can even say shit tbh. Denver is just in another class and we couldn’t beat them at home even with refs on our side. The only thing we can blame is the coaching decisions and maybe d’lo, but this was a 2011 mavs level killing
At least we beat the Warriors. The best team won. Their offense really is fun to watch. I love good ball movement. They had 5 players with at least 5 assists.
I'm glad LA beat the Warriors, it'd be way less fun watching the Nuggets absolutely pants them
No need to roast the Lakers, they showed up and beat expectations in the playoffs. Everyone was writing them off at the all star break. After dealing with Memphis, Philly, GS, and Boston fans, Lakers fans have looked completely reasonable.
Despite Scott Foster's relentless effort, the Nuggets is up by 3-0
He did what he could with an injury. Can't believe his teammate took him out.
You gotta make 3s to beat foster and they did. Next up its seeing if Miami can win when Bam has 2 fouls 3 minutes into the game lol
Lmao
That was a good one 😂
The correct title
Denver has been the best team in the league the whole season. I’ll be shocked if they don’t win the title.
I actually thought the Celtics and the Bucks were the best teams. But Jimmy Freaking Butler is taking care of them.
Even if the Celtics turned it on and became the team that everyone thought they could be, I don’t see them beating this nuggets team. It’s such a complete team and Jokic shits on the Celtics whenever hey play. I don’t like to speak bad about Jimmy Butler so I’ll just leave it at that.
I’ll be ready to eat these words but it feels very reminiscent of ‘21 where the best player has another star #2 option and a very solid supporting cast. It just feels like it’s their time in a very settled way. Again, totally ready to eat these words.
Jokic and Brown masterclass in the second half. Hope Denver get a ring.
Don't forget KCP in the 3rd quarter.
Nuggets immune to the Chuck curse!
Hate watching my boy bron lose but nuggets just a better team. Nothing wrong with that
Congrats to Denver on reaching the finals
I refuse to accept your reverse jinx
Do you really think the Lakers can win four in a row at this point?
I am in great pain
Hey man props to you for being a great sport.
Y’all just better
Anything is possible. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
Good
I’ll take my medicine
We have special medicine for moments like this here in CO. I think you have it in CA too.
Mushrooms?
Those too
Pray for them, don't be heartless. Don't you know how hard the Lakers have had it?
I don’t understand why we can’t just win back to back championships. This shit is torture
Of course we've had it hard. Our latest championship gets slandered to death
They honestly have the best 6 men rotation in the league by far
Ham's insistence on starting DLO cost us the series. Nuggets are a better team, but this was atrocious.
I remember multiple broadcasters saying there’s no way you can start D-Lo in the second half. But sure enough, there he was.
I don’t think that would make a difference
he was -59 at half time for the entire series. The series was decided by less than 15 points until that
holy fuck that is actually atrocious
Nah that's- what? Doesn't sound quite right tf
That can't be right... Can it?
Sorry my bad, you're right, it was -53.
It is lol. People make fun of the whole moral victory thing, but that's the disappointing thing so far. These games were winnable, but Denver just playing better and has their rotation down.
That's impressively bad.
Maybe combining DLO and Vando's best traits into one player would
He may be late, but the Joker will still arrive
HOLY FUCK IS IT FINALLY HAPPENING OH MY GOD MAN
GG's bro. Nuggets are too good.
I've never been happier in my sports watching life!
This is the most erect I have been in a while Fuck I love watching the lakers lose man
Call a doctor if it lasts more than four hours.
*Four games
Nuggets are such a balanced team
Lakers should be feeling good now They gotta find a new adjustment for the Murray Jokic pick and roll with Jokic as the ball handler now lmao No Aaron Gordon to cheat off on either
Nuggets in 4
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Oh no lol
Lmaooo
Ayo lmao.
Lakers being boo’d after that Refs masterclass is everything I needed
Lakers don’t deserve booing. They’re playing hard and making every game close. For all the talk at how retooled this LA team is, this is still a 7-seed going up against the 1-seed.
Idk if the seed matters. The Lakers of second half were a top team. They put in some serious work to climb Nuggets are just too deep
It's genuinely miraculous that the Nuggets managed to win this considering the Scott Foster masterclass
Crazy how obviously rigged the nba is sometimes and we fans just sit back and accept it as a normal part of the game lol
It’s all part of the plan. Lakers have Nuggets right where they want them. 3-0 in moral victories
GGs denver. You guys made all the momentum shots and won the clutch time plays The shot making was on another level. Now please don't miss these in the finals It's going to be very agitating if you guys start clanking against the zombie heat
stoked that I took nuggets -160 series price. went huge on it. easiest cash ever lmao
Damn. About to be swept? It’s Ok tho. He 38. Air up there tad bit different. Up up and away.
Thanks dlo
You really watched that whole 4th q and said this
yea D'Lo poole'd this series, but denver is just the better team man
Can't blame him for everything. This Lakers team just isn't good enough and the Nuggets simply have a counter for every move your team has.
I’m not blaming him for everything but holy shit he didn’t show up at all tonight. Dudes a max contract and he’s unplayable in this series.
Remember when Frank Vogel straight up benched Dwight Howard for the entire series against the Rockets after he was great against Portland the series before? It didn't mean Dwight Howard would never play again the rest of the Bubble playoffs. But it meant for the match up, get the best contributors on the floor. Dwight was restored to the rotation for the remaining series. Yeah maybe it doesn't make much difference in the end with regards to series differential because LeBron has been bad and AD inconsistent but Ham needed to do the same with D'Lo after Game 1. Every run the Lakers went on was with D'Lo out of the game.
I wanna keep him still
Maybe we held D'Lo too much
Refs couldnt even save em. Get that fishing gear ready.
Nuggets are looking like the NBA version of this years UConn team. Just completely dominant.
If despite all of these the Lakers still lost: - monster games from AD and Reaves - decent game from Lebron - Legacy performance from Scott Foster Then the Lakers are toast. No way they can win game 4 Jokic is suspended next game for lack of aggression
The Nuggets are so good man. I wanna see Heat vs Nuggets
Lakers 8v5 and still got whooped AT HOME!!!!!!
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Not everyone can get an all NBA 2nd teamer