The Los Angeles Lakers demonstrated that they were not aiming to avoid postseason matches by working hard to climb the Western Conference rankings and qualify for the 2024 NBA playoffs.
There was chatter that the Lakers should lose their Play-In Tournament game against the New Orleans Pelicans to avoid seeing the Denver Nuggets in the first round, but they demonstrated that was never an option for them.
Los Angeles performed well against Denver in Game 1 of their playoff rematch, leading by as many as 12 points in the first half.
However, the bottom fell out in the third quarter, as the Lakers were unable to purchase a bucket while the Nuggets scored at will.
Nikola Jokic took over the game in the second half, destroying every defensive scheme Los Angeles attempted at him.
Shannon Sharpe discusses how the Lakers can slow down the two-time MVP on “Nightcap.”
“Lakers need to switch their looks up on Jokic,” Sharpe said.
As Sharpe pointed out, Los Angeles chose to open the game with Rui Hachimura guarding Jokic so Anthony Davis could roam off Aaron Gordon and assist in the paint.
The tactic worked before head coach Mike Malone made changes to bring Jokic into single coverage and let him run wild in the painted area.
Jokic has seen almost every defensive a team can throw at him, but the Lakers’ best hope of pulling off an upset is to vary it up and keep him off balance as much as can.
