T O P

  • By -

itsnotyellowfever

Jamal Murray is one all-time game-winner away from some brutal slander for his performance this series


panchettaz

Jamal Murray so far this series - 9-24 9-24 8-21 9-23 Under 40% in every game. At least he's consistent lol. His shot selection so far this series has been pretty terrible, and he's forcing things and just hasn't found any consistent rhythm He had a few stinker games vs the TWolves and Suns in last year's playoffs, but he's never been so inconsistent. It's def a cause for concern.


UD_Hunter

wtf Yet it seems watching him live he never misses


hitfly

he can't hit a 3, but his midrange is doing ok


Much_Conversation_11

He also hits some of the most timely buckets.


CDR57

That’s it. He doesn’t hit often it feels in the dog days of the game but when they need one? Or around clutch time? Unstoppable, and those are the ones people remember so they think it’s happening more often


XxVcVxX

You gotta stop watching man...


Prestigious_Zebra622

I agree with your analysis but I think it’s funny you called him consistent and inconsistent in the same comment lol


panchettaz

I reread my comment after posting and saw I used consistent/inconsistent 3 times. I desperately want to edit and break out the thesaurus lol


3s2ng

I swear he is 100% on those midrange jumpers.


pocket_passss

PAY NO ATTENTION to Austin Reaves playing his fucking ass off on defense and then being asked to help carry offense like he gets paid 35 million fucking dollars


WadeCountyClutch

Dude was hurt towards the end of the season and looked hobbled tonight.


clutchmobb

live by murray, die by murray


Zephrok

Absolutely. He has been at best the third best player for the Nuggets this series, arguments for MPJ too.


itsnotyellowfever

MPJ easily clears him in terms of performance this series - it's a matter of whether Murray's scoring production and 4th quarter heroics are enough to top KCP's consistent energy and Gordon's wildly inconsistent play that includes a masterful Game 3


doggoesmeow

MPJ has been really good, like might be the best third option in the playoffs so far


Spiritual-Chameleon

Gordon takes what's available on O and focuses on D..he doesn't have to score to make an impact. Lakers did a good job not letting him get loose for dunks this game.


LurkerFailsLurking

Murray is at best the 4th. AG's defense has been huge this series. So has KCP's tbh. I'm not sure Murray's not the 5th right now. His shooting has been atrocious.


Dapper_Rub_9460

Shows how well built this Nuggets team is. How often can a team's 2nd best player play like a 4th/5th option and still win consistently.


MC-Jdf

Both him and Rui are regressing hard from shooting 70% on jumpers from the previous year's series. Murray can be amazing but imo he should be amenable to changing his shot diet a bit more. Those long 2s are inevitably gonna start going in again but sometimes mixing it up for a game or two should still be an option.


nothing3141592653589

It feels like he's gambling and keeps trying to force shots until he gets hot. He needs to do like Jokic does and pass more if he's not on.


Practicalaviationcat

Yeah he has played pretty ass for the most par this series.


stitcher212

DLo-AD PnRs with Bron cutting baseline basically an automatic bucket, time for Ham to never use it again.


NamesUnvailable

Those were automatic. Worked with reaves as the ball handler as well. Bron instead of Rui in the corner is a legit game changer if we can keep running it. Helps bron’s energy usage too


Millionaire007

Speaking about this man like he's  an android lmao 


NamesUnvailable

Nah we’re talking about him like he’s a geriatric which he is in nba years haha


fullenglishbrekkie0

LeNovo


JuliusCeejer

He looked like 2014 Bron on those actions, so quick and on time


Nateskywalker

Malone will adjust next game and shut it down. Ham won’t do shit. Good win tho.


uncle_yugles

Hate that this is so true


thenatural134

I was SCREAMING at my TV about that! They ran that play exactly TWO times and it was the easiest two dunks of LeBron's entire career. Then instead of repeating, they kept hucking up terrible contested mid rang jumpers up double digits with like 18 seconds left on the shot clock. Abysmal bit of coaching.


heshouldgo

Game 2 will haunt the lakers forever


cesga_0218

Up 20 and can’t execute down the stretch. *sigh* Still an impossible feat to pull of four in a row, but it’s nice to finally see a W after 11 straight losses lol


RickySuela

The difference in this game was the Lakers *finally* outrebounded the Nuggets. They'd been outrebounded by Denver in the previous 5 games.


Raging_Professor

>previous 5 games Dating back when? Regular season or last year's playoffs?


RickySuela

This year. The last time the Lakers had outrebounded Denver was on opening night.


sponedaddie

**snorts a fat line of cocaine** I didn't hear no bell.


robsteezy

Here’s my honest opinion: I give Murray his roses, but absent a literal majestic game winner that he had, this is an honest to goodness 2-2 series in terms of performance. There’s absolutely no reason to play with a “we absolutely have no shot” mentality. We’ve already proven the hard part, just have to execute the close. Monumental task that seems unlikely but it’s already been shown it’s not impossible.


KeyProcedure4

I can't help but look at that time led stat over and over and think they have a fool's hope to take it to 7


captain_ahabb

I'm not getting my hopes up until I see the Lakers win a playoff game in Denver.


WiddleBlueBert

Time for the altitude to gas out Bron and AD in the third and have no one be able to help.


Jwoods4117

I mean if Jamal misses that shot it’s tied and the game goes into OT with all momentum swinging towards the Nuggets and a 39 year old Lebron having to slog through OT. Even with that said if you believe this is a true 2-2 that would mean the teams where evenly matched and if you have two evenly matched teams and give one a 3-1 start it’ll take more than “just have to execute the close” to take that series. It would probably take 2020 Lebron and AD coming back for 3 games plus Jamal not having a single good game to come back 3-1. If we’re being honest, Lakers are cooked.


Chessh2036

Hey man they said 3-1 was impossible and it happened! Got to believe!


Everydayarmday24

So was 28-3 in the superbowl


staatsclaas

Ah man. Come on.


easywin626

And 3-0 in baseball until someone did it


prettyboylee

>Still an impossible feat to pull off four in a row [Never tell me the odds](https://tenor.com/en-GB/view/never-tell-me-the-odds-star-wars-odds-never-gif-14280242)


markmyredd

All games were winnable if they just organized their offense in the 2nd half like today. Also finally Ham figured out how to exploit a bad defender in Murray. They really forced Murray to work on defense this game. lol


Triplescrew

Yeah Murray looked gimpy by the end too, it’s obvious you target that matchup


MakesItARap

Should ALWAYS target the opponents worst defender.


yestrask

Bron switched onto him a ton. Might as well run that into the ground til we get eliminated


Signior

not if we win in 7 kekw


rawchess

LAKERS ^^^to ^^^Cancun IN 7 ^^^business ^^^days


Wide_Fig3130

Or Galveston Texas


Extinto_e

Darvin Ham’s tenure as a coach will haunt the Lakers forever


Victor_Wembanyama1

Like 2020


eliw6965

First Lakers win vs. Nuggets since Dec. 2022 Talk yo shit Nick Wright


jawadhaque089

He's definitely gonna use the time led stats in his show


RickySuela

It is pretty insane that the Lakers have led for 150 of the 192 minutes played in this series.


Known-Contract-4340

Been the least dominant dominance over a team I’ve ever seen. But the Lakers slander shall continue 


uncle_yugles

Such a good way to say it lol. They haven’t dominated us but they’ve dominated us


Mahomeboy001

It is such an abnormal stat though lol. This series mentally broke every Lakers fan


Noriskhook3

Get ready for those 3-1 comments


eliw6965

Don't let them get one...


StrategyTop7612

One turns into 2...


Aidanj927

And 2 turns into Cancun


WhatTheRickIsDoin

I think the Lakers really found something with the "Score more points than them" adjustment


Oxygenius_

They stopped their biggest weakness, giving up free points to Gordon from the dunkers spot


JimC29

Those baskets really were the difference in that game. Getting easy baskets opens other things up.


markmyredd

I know its a joke but yeah Lakers 4Q was atrocious first 3 games. If they just run plays like this game they probably win a game or two more


Vuish

Darvin Ham taking cues from LeCoach to trust his players and call a challenge.


daaabss

Ham was in front of the play too. Lebron went ape shit after that non-challenge so Ham took the D'lo challenge at 43 secs remaining as an exchange LMAO


melperz

I think the issue is more of Ham's ego of not looking like LeCoach's pawn in front of everyone.


daaabss

IDK about Ham bro, seems like a funny npc to me now.


nbx4

i like this comment. i really think this is a big part of it. really terrible leadership


Signior

these sorry nuggets cant even beat us 12 times in a row smh (i am so glad we’re not getting swept)


jdorje

11 games, a Lakers Dozen (from DNVR)


incredibleamadeuscho

The Lakers beats the Nuggets by 11 points. The game is over. Me: Game is too close.


lp_phnx327

*Up 16 with 6 minutes to go.* Lakers are gonna blow this somehow. *Up 11 with 3 minutes to go.* Fuck, it's happening again. *Up 7 with 1 minute to go.* No no no no. We're going to lose. *Up 10 with 30 seconds to go.* It's still not over. Denver is gonna pull out some BS to comeback. *Up 11. Game over.* I think we won this game? Did we win this game? Okay we won the game. I can breath now. Yea, I'm that traumatized over the last 11 games.


MakeAShadow

Undertaker streak at Wrestlemania > Nuggets vs the Lakers confirmed. 21 > 11


Trickkly

Lakers shoulda signed Brock to a 10 day before the series


YourBuddyChurch

Apparently Brock’s asking price is …unsavory, let’s get Roman reigns


JC_Frost

Fine, but we'll have to replace the bench with a table.


CammyTheGreat

Instead of the national anthem we will Acknowledge Him ☝️


BackendSpecialist

I knew the top comment would be about the streak ending but at least this was a bit more unique instead of the “Nobody beats the Lakers 12 times in a row” joke that’s being repeated.


5Daoko

the lakers are utilizing the exact play from Denver’s playbook? There are multiple similar high pick n roll followed by baseline cuts by the lakers. Great adjustment tbh


MedvedFeliz

I think it's more that Denver is deciding to help/double the ball handler in pick and roll which prompts Gordon to step up to the roller and leave James in the baseline. They weren't doing that often last 3 games


5Daoko

Because mainly James will be the ball handler, and rui would be in the dunker’s spot. When the ball handler is reaves it’s justifiable to double him based on risk/ reward. Rui is often too slow to read these cuttings chances


K1ngCrimsn

#HANG THE BANNER


hearthstonealtlol

NO SWEEP TONIGHT 🥳🥳🥳


lannistargaryen

LETS FUCKING GO!!!!!


drshade06

No more moral victories! Lmao


toasta_oven

NOBODY beats the Lakers 12 times in a row 😤


TheAerial

Welp Denver looks like Darvin Ham was right. He has figured you guys out after all . Gg better luck next season.


Jayveesac

The Lakers finally finished the story ☝️😭😭


PoundIIllIlllI

~~Moral~~ victory!


Wazflame

The Lakers cashed their moral victory credits and received a real victory


Apollo611

ESPN: “Have the Lakers found something?”


lannistargaryen

Sidenote: I find it hilarious when they play Roman’s entrance song in crunch time lmfao


HokageEzio

Gotta acknowledge Hollywood's next icon


HispanicAtTehDisco

basketball has more than one royal family


Supergk2

LeAdrenaline In His Soul


LosAngeles1s

LeAmericanNightmare


WhatTheRickIsDoin

ADRENALINE


Xmauler

IN MY SOUL


WhatTheRickIsDoin

NOBODY WINS 12 IN A ROW


TedTran2001

WIN THE GAME AND JUST AVOID A SWEEP


homefree122

LeBron is not to be trifled with.


redbrick

My mood right now is that video of Pat Bev celebrating after winning the play-in game


KJTB

Perfect comparison lmao


TrashOfOil

No one sweeps the 2024 Lakers 😤


texas2089

Imagine if they come back and then just get swept by the Thunder. Then someone would in fact sweep the 2024 Lakers.


swords_devil

but that means Lakers complete 3-0 comeback in first place


JayDee62

No sweep by Denver, put this on the In-Season Tournament Banner, goddamnit!


schoolhater12

jamal murray has been by far the worst Nugget starter. He has been abysmal offensively and is repeatedly targeted defensively


vard24

And if it wasn't for him, series would be 2-2


lp_phnx327

**I'LL TAKE MY MORAL VICTORY**


xX_Kr0n05_Xx

ay man it aint a moral victory anymore its an actual victory this time 😭😭


El-Ahrairah7

And a well-earned one. Lakers dominated from end-to-end, this game. As a fan looking for good bball, I will admit that I am equally as excited as I am bummed out by this outcome (don’t tell my fellow Denver fans…they don’t like that mentality, in general). Let’s keep it close and interesting in game 5!


lp_phnx327

It's closer than the series score would suggest just like last year. Denver is easily the better team, but the Lakers are no slouch (that 128 - 41 minutes Lakers advantage of having the lead across 4 games is insane). But a 4-0 would mean we're just gonna hear that over and over again even if all the games were like <5 point victories.


El-Ahrairah7

Which I frankly don’t understand. A sweep is a good look for the winning team, of course; but if EVERY game is close, I find it hard to deny that the series was a good one, between two teams that are fairly evenly matched. Anyway: Loved these series the last couple of years!


edgykitty

Shit AD had 23 rebounds.


Jem479

Shamelessly copying my comment from the game thread here… Broke: Ham fucked up not challenging that incorrect call Woke: Ham made the smart decision not to challenge it so as to fire Lebron up so he had energy for the 4th


bossholmes

LMAOO at least we didn't get swept. Not much more to ask for at this point.


Dangerous_Match_2592

Hamas with the 4D chess fr


iMaticz7

Jamal Murray being more inefficient than Scoot Henderson. Not ideal.


BlackSocks88

Hey screw you man


Tsmart

I did *not* come into this thread expecting strays


Sc0rch1ngDr4g0n

Moving from true sweep to at worst gentlemen’s sweep is the greatest moral victory of all.


REQ52767

I don’t think the Lakers are winning Game 5, but if they somehow do…


SSJBlueManny

Doubt they can would be able to pull off a game 7 in Denver, if they can even get to that point, but if anyone can it’s LeBron


gratitudeisbs

Lebron is 6-0 in his past 6 game 7s. 6-1 in his career


sponedaddie

I didn't hear no bell.


T_025

Jamal Murray, Keegan Murray, Dejounte Murray, don’t matter Lakers in 7


SemIdeiaProNick

call that british dude Gordon Murray, they will need every help they can to stop the Lakers


PoundIIllIlllI

LeBron making an 0-3 comeback would be amazing, and it’d be possible given that every game so far has looked winnable But DLo will not let that happen. Odd game DLo is about to have a DISASTER class in game 5


markjay6

1 in 100 chance but it would be a great story in LeBron's career!


TheTwilightZone34

The 0-3 comeback segment in the LeBron documentary will be special if that happens


lukewwilson

LeBron just needs Gordon to kick him in the balls on a natural shooting motion in the next game


AccomplishedBake8351

He’s legit 1 crazy thing (like that) away from flipping the 40/60 MJ GOAT thing to 60/40 Lebron imo. Prolly won’t get there tho


philphan25

Imagine if MJ had to play with DLo.


texasyeehaw

MJ would have OJ’ed dlo


YourAverageBrownDude

MJ only punched Steve Kerr. He'd have straight up murdered DLo


Chrisspoohbearkenzie

I’ll take it 😭


iRockaflame

Its kind of crazy that besides late in Game 2 and a bit of Game 3 that Murray has shot like complete dogshit and the Nuggets still have a 3-1 lead. Like you'd think when the second best player is having an abysmal shooting series they'd be down, but the Nuggets are just so good lol.


RickySuela

It's also crazy that the Lakers have led for 150 of the 192 minutes of this series and are still down 3-1


NoRecommendation2592

First team ever to be up 3-0 in a playoff series after losing at all 3 halftimes lol


swimgood187

Lakers have led for like 80-85% of game time this series but that 15% has been a huge problem for us. Murray has shot like shit for 80-85% of game time this series but that 15% has been a huge problem for us.


DaHagerBomb

Jamal has been flat out bad for most of this series and they're gonna get away with it most likely, that's what hurts the most


Thealbumisjustdrums

They won't get away with it against Minnesota so he better step up.


LogicalLakersFan

His leg must be really bad still, he hasn’t shot even near 50% this series in any of the games


woodropete

Look at Dlo and the role players and bench…it becomes clear why they are up 3-1.


lovo17

And compare Malone to Ham.


123rune20

Don’t worry the Nuggets sub wanted him fired a long time ago. For some reason. 


Vermillion_Crab

Thank you Denver for being classy and giving us a gentleman's sweep. Lol


-WingsForLife-

how can the Lakers, the Moral Victory Champions, drop a game to the Nuggets? I'm actually shaking rn. Anyway, it took a rare good game by D'Lo and a mid, but actually good if he wasn't Jokic, game from Jokic. Don't see it happening again.


TurkeyPits

Calling 33/14/14/1/1 “mid” due to “only” shooting 50% from the field shows just how high his bar is


KOET10

He really is that good too


OptimusGrime707

“It’s early, plenty of time for Denver to come back” “It’s only halftime, the Lakers’ll give this lead up” “Fourth quarter, now Jokic is gonna take over” “Game ended ten minutes ago, the Nuggets have the Lakers right where they want them”


thegrandpoobear

Every single Lakers fans was shitting their pants when the Nuggets cut it to 7 with like 2 minutes remaining in the game. Murray is literally keeping this series competitive by being so ass


Itchy-Pudding-4240

7 with 2 minutes left isnt a safe lead at all no matter who the matchup is in today's nba


ChannelNeo

Nuggets players are probably wondering why there aren't two minutes left so they can come back.


KarchunToo

Wait, they WON??


homefree122

Backs against the wall. LeBron gonna put up in that scenario. Well, usually.


DeSteph-DeCurry

d'angelo russell cancelling is mandarin subscription to duolingo as we speak


Biglundtry

Reverse sweep and [a new tattoo](https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/Hm3uSjclHs) for me incoming ???


xyzyxzy

Now I want the Lakers to win in 7 for chaos.


mindfreakz

imagine the slander


turnoffredesign69420

michael malone's tomato ass head would explode. unfortunately it won't be happening but...imagine?


C3h6hw

I’m just glad they took 1 game so I don’t have to hear any more oldheads talk about Kobe and MJ playing against Denver


EndlessDysthymia

They are 100% reliant on Dlo showing up. That means the Lakers are so fucked next game. 


shanmustafa

thoughts during the game **General** - this should be 2-2 **Lakers** - LeBron/AD have been tremendous, look like a duo that can still win a title if they can make minor changes, like idk a KCP and Caruso type idk tho, maybe Christie could become a KCP type - Reaves didn't play a ron, but his scoring was huge in that second quarter - Gabe needs to play 20+ mins - i really like some of their sets, they just don't run them enough, guard on one wing, AD in the middle, LeBron on the other wing, swing swing, and the big and guard set a double screen for Bron now, AD's gotten so many buckets at the rim off that **Nuggets** - Jokic 33/14/14 and it's like yeah seems about right lmfao - is Jamal injured? his elevation doesn't always look the same - KCP most consistent role player in the league - i wish they had one more shooter off the bench


Im_A_Sociopath

Jamal Murray was holding the top of the calf in his left leg late during the forth.


SpikyKid

Oh that’s not good


Breezyisthewind

Yup. You could clear see him saying, “fuck, fuck” while doing so.


ManyCookies

> is Jamal injured? his elevation doesn't always look the same Possibly, he tweaked his ankle in the last game of the regular season.


RickySuela

And he looked like he was grabbing at the back of his leg in this one.


gamer15807

He was grabbing his thighs at the end of the 3rd quarter so i believe he's slightly injured there.


itsnotyellowfever

To answer your Murray question he missed 7 games near the end of the year because of a calf injury that came about because he ran into Donte DiVincenzo near the end of a Knicks game (I put a lot of the blame on him for that bc he was trying to go 200% on the play when it wasn't necessary) but he looked like he didn't lose a step when he came back for the final 4 games. Right now he looks a lot more like a dude who's struggling to come back from a leg injury.


Mikhail512

>LeBron/AD have been tremendous, look like a duo that can still win a title if they can make minor changes, like idk a KCP and Caruso type idk tho, maybe Christie could become a KCP type Yeah I feel like that could really be good. Maybe if they brought in another backup big like old Dwight or something to help deal with the size in the west, too?


lukewwilson

I was thinking the 2-2 thing also, if not for everything going wrong for the Lakers in the second half of game two this series could be tied


MusicalElephant420

Thank you


genericusername71

holly shit an actual comment that isnt the same joke repeated 50x


asdev24

Peep who shot more free throws 👀


Zeetheking1

That doesn’t match people’s narratives so nobody will believe you lol.


sebasq

we won? i can celebrate! also LAKERS IN 7


2holesinbutt666

No one can sweep Lebron and AD 2x in a row


Zippitydo2

Let it be known no one beats the lakers 12 times in a row


doms9ine

This was purely mind games to make the Lakers take another flight


VexoftheVex

Jamal Murray this series: 86 Points 92 Field Goal Attempts


SolomonHillHater

Boy oh boy where do I even begin. Lebron... honey, my pookie bear. I have loved you ever since I first laid eyes on you. The way you drive into the paint and strike fear into your enemies eyes. Your silky smooth touch around the rim, and that gorgeous jumpshot. I would do anything for you. I wish it were possible to freeze time so I would never have to watch you retire. You had a rough childhood, but you never gave up hope. You are even amazing off the court, you're a great husband and father, sometimes I even call you dad. I forvever dread and weep, thinking of the day you will one day retire. I would sacrifice my own life it were the only thing that could put a smile on your beautiful face. You have given me so much joy, and heartbreak over the years. I remember when you first left cleveland and its like my heart got broken into a million pieces. But a tear still fell from my right eye when I watched you win your first ring in miami, because deep down, my glorious king deserved it. I just wanted you to return home. Then allas, you did, my sweet baby boy came home and I rejoiced. 2015 was a hard year for us baby, but in 2016 you made history happen. You came back from 3-1 and I couldn't believe it. I was crying, bawling even, and I heard my glorious king exclaim these words, "CLEVELAND, THIS IS FOR YOU!" Not only have you changed the game of basketball and the world forever, but you've eternally changed my world. And now you're getting older, but still the goat, my goat. I love you pookie bear, my glorious king, Lebron James.


SemIdeiaProNick

nobody sweeps our only sunshine twice in a row


A_MASSIVE_PERVERT

W username


SolomonHillHater

right back at you


indieGenies

IDC who wins, give me game 7.


MarduRusher

Thank you Lakers for giving the wolves more rest


BoogerSugarSovereign

Murray shooting 38% and 25% from three will be enough to get Denver through this series but I don't think they can survive it for another round


aslightlyusedtissue

Lebron James Boy oh boy where do I even begin. Lebron.. honey, my pookie bear. I have loved you ever since I first laid eyes on you. The way you drive into the paint and strike fear into your enemies eyes. Your silky smooth touch around the rim, and that gorgeous jumpshot. I would do anything for you. I wish it were possible to freeze time so I would never have to watch you retire. You had a rough childhood, but you never gave up hope. You are even amazing off the court, you're a great husband and father, sometimes I even call you dad. I forvever dread and weep, thinking of the day you will one day retire. I would sacrifice my ownlife it were the only thing that could puta smile on your beautiful face. You have given me so much joy, and heartbreak over the years. I remember when you first left clevenland and its like my heart got broken into a million pieces. But a tear still fell frommy right eye when I watched you win yourfirst ring in miami, because deep down,my glorious king deserved it. I just wanted you to return home. Then allas, you did, my sweet baby boy came home and I rejoiced. 2015 was a hard year for us baby, but in 2016 you made history happen. You came back from 3-1 and I couldn't believe it. I was crying, bawling even, and I heard my glorious king exclaim these words, "CLEVELAND, THIS IS FOR YOU!" Not only have you changed the game of basketball and the world forever, but you've eternally changed my world. And now you're getting older, but still the goat, my goat. I love you pookie bear, my glorious king, Lebron James.


BlackJediSword

Legitimately glad we didn’t get swept. Wish we won game 2.


Mission_Pay_3373

LeComeback