Every so often, a good team will have a game where things don’t just bounce the right way. Usually, this happens on the offensive end of the court. The team seems to press; they’re working hard, but the shots are rattling out, the passes aren’t getting through and the rebounds are bouncing just out of reach. Everything’s a struggle, and nothing comes easy. It can be quite frustrating.
This was one of those nights for the Denver Nuggets. They just didn’t have it.
Championship-caliber teams are able to offset these types of games by playing great defense. While the Nuggets are improved on that end of the court, they still don’t focus and execute on every possession defensively. The Lakers shot 57% from the field, and while Kobe Bryant led the way with 35 points (along with 10 assists), Pau Gasol, Trevor Ariza, Luke Walton and Lamar Odom combined to shoot 27 for 40 from the field (68%). From the Nuggets point of view, it’s inexcusable to allow that kind of shooting in an elimination game.
Conversely, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups combined to shoot 8 for 24 from the field (33%). The Lakers didn’t have a great series defensively, but they did a nice job tonight of making things tough on the Nuggets. They recognized their opponent was pressing and they never allowed Denver to get in synch.
The Nuggets had a nice season, and they have something to build on. Had they executed better at certain points earlier in the series, they would have been in a position to close out of the Lakers tonight instead of being closed out themselves. What’s worrisome is the lack of intensity and focus that Denver showed tonight. To lose by 27 in a Game 6 on your home court is nothing short of embarrassing. But sometimes when the game gets out of hand and it’s clear that the season is about to be over, the wheels come off. And they most definitely came off tonight.
