Locations that we should manage, we got to do that if we desire to win. If were constant in our play, like we touched on earlier, we can win a lot of video games, put a lot of pressure on other teams.”
Mike Malone thinks hes been here before.
Denver has seen this film before, and they liked the ending.
Denver is not an elite protective team, they were middle of the pack for the routine season. What they can do throughout a series is become more disruptive. They have actually done it this series, quieting the Lakers halfcourt offense. The Lakers scored less than a point per belongings– 92.8 points per 100 possessions– in their halfcourt in Game 3 (stats via Cleaning The Glass). Add to that the fact LeBron James is fading as video games go on– he is dominant in the very first quarter but having a hard time more in the fourth. Denver got a great video game from Jerami Grant in Game 3, they will need more of those games, however the Nuggets have a plan that works which they can execute.
Not simply down 2-1 in an NBA bubble playoff series and needing to come from behind, but the pattern of it– his group getting stronger and figuring things out while the challenger fails.
Anticipate the Lakers to come out with strength in Game 4, possibly assisting them race out to a big lead. Perhaps. Even if that takes place, the Nuggets will not be phased– they came from 16 and 19 back against the Clippers to win last round.
Malone made sure that was not the takeaway from the video game.
The secret to the remainder of this series is defense. For both teams.
“Last year we understood what we were getting from Nikola, but what kind of video game would Jamal have. The Lakers scored less than a point per possession– 92.8 points per 100 belongings– in their halfcourt in Game 3 (stats by means of Cleaning The Glass). Denver got a fantastic game from Jerami Grant in Game 3, they will need more of those video games, but the Nuggets have a plan that works and that they can execute.
” After that, my objective was when we got done with that film, they saw numerous favorable clips people doing the best things, which put us in a position to win. Now we needed to do that for more than just a 2nd half. We needed to do it for four quarters.”
” I believe what Ive seen from Jamal this year, aside from the growth defensively, which has been incredible, Im so happy with him in that regard, but now I know every night what Im obtaining from Jamal,” Malone said. “Last year we understood what we were obtaining from Nikola, however what sort of video game would Jamal have. Thats no longer the case. We have 2 superstars in Nikola and Jamal and a great deal of young, skilled gamers behind them.”
” This is to me kind of similar to the last series,” Malone stated after the Nuggets Game 3 success. “Game 1 the Clippers blew us out. Game 2 we win. Video game 3, we felt we offered that video game away against the Clippers.
” [The Lakers] blew us out in Game 1. Video game 2 we handed out at the end. We needed to right that incorrect and try to get a video game under our belt, which we did tonight. This provides us that far more confidence going into this series letting them understand that were here, were in this for the long haul. Were going to continue to do and battle whatever we can.”
Those propensities and patterns, that history of success, has Denver feeling more and more like this is a series they can win. There is a confidence that is teeming from the Nuggets stars, particularly Murray. He has actually stepped up his game, and its not just the three-point shooting– 34.6% in the regular season 47.7% in the playoffs– its his aggressive attacks and finishing at the rim. Murry, an irregular finisher at the rim even throughout this regular season, has actually been lights out when he gets in the playoffs. It comes from confidence.
It ought to not be a surprise to anybody that the Nuggets played their best basketball with their backs against the wall– this team has actually been in 4 straight seven-game playoff series, winning three. Some in Lakers nation thought Anthony Davis game-winning 3 to put the Lakers up 2-0 was a gut punch that would flooring the Nuggets.
The heart of that strategy is keeping the Lakers out of shift, which brings us to the other side of the equation: The Lakers intensity and physicality on defense almost won them Game 3. When the Lakers run, they win.
They did it for 3, however that was enough to get the win thanks to some late heroics from Murray.
Murray POURING IT ON pic.twitter.com/lqHEAhVSfw
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) September 23, 2020
” [Monday] when we fulfilled and we saw the movie, I began by seeing the last play of the game,” Malone said. “Get the elephant in the space out of the way. Lets discuss the play, what occurred. When were in this scenario again, lets learn from it. Yes, we all take ownership. Lets gain from it.
The heart of that plan is keeping the Lakers out of shift, which brings us to the other side of the formula: The Lakers strength and physicality on defense almost won them Game 3. Expect the Lakers to come out with intensity in Game 4, possibly helping them race out to a big lead.
