L. A. v.s. Denver

[thirstyboots18]

The Denver Nuggets, led by Chauncy Billips and minus Carmelo Anthony blew out the L. A. Lakers in L. A. last night

Chauncy had a career night, 39 points with 9 threes.

Woooo Wooo  Go Celts, Go Nuggets

[sk7326]

The Denver Nuggets, led by Chauncy Billips and minus Carmelo Anthony blew out the L. A. Lakers in L. A. last night

Chauncy had a career night, 39 points with 9 threes.

Woooo Wooo  Go Celts, Go Nuggets

Lesson of the day = Shoot 15 for 22 from 3 point land, it's very very hard to lose

[thirstyboots18]

Whoops...didnt realize there was already a thread for this.  Feel free to move.  Sorry.

[liam]

LA's defense is not good at all so out scoring them is the way to go. Well, that's the way you win any game but you have to run up a lot of points on the Lakers because they will score on you.

[sk7326]

LA's defense is not good at all so out scoring them is the way to go. Well, that's the way you win any game but you have to run up a lot of points on the Lakers because they will score on you.

Lakers 5th best defense in the league, so this is quite surprising.  But Denver is a Top 2 offense - although normally they do it by getting to the foul line a LOT more than any other team.  But last night it was really simple.  They went 15-22 from 3 point land.  Remove the 3s, and Denver shot 33-62, the Lakers shot 36-72.  15-22 , 68% from 3 point land is hard to replicate and a percentage that high has little to do with poor opposing defense - just one of those days. 

If Denver shoots like that every night, they won't lose another game.

[celticinorlando]

denver is going to win the west....

[scoop]

LA's defense is not good at all so out scoring them is the way to go. Well, that's the way you win any game but you have to run up a lot of points on the Lakers because they will score on you.

I think the Lakers defence is highly superior to their offence. They are vulnerable to quickness/fastness and Fisher is a sieve, but they're still very good. Their offence, on the other hand, isn't working. Too much guys wanting to play the post, too little penetration and outside shooting, underwhelming ball and player movement, declining Kobe becoming more self-absorbed.

That said, I think Denver's chances of beating them are really small. They lack another quality big man + rebounding + another big time scorer/shot-creator.

[liam]

LA's defense is not good at all so out scoring them is the way to go. Well, that's the way you win any game but you have to run up a lot of points on the Lakers because they will score on you.

Lakers 5th best defense in the league, so this is quite surprising.  But Denver is a Top 2 offense - although normally they do it by getting to the foul line a LOT more than any other team.  But last night it was really simple.  They went 15-22 from 3 point land.  Remove the 3s, and Denver shot 33-62, the Lakers shot 36-72.  15-22 , 68% from 3 point land is hard to replicate and a percentage that high has little to do with poor opposing defense - just one of those days. 

If Denver shoots like that every night, they won't lose another game.

We'll see they've had the softest schedule in the NBA and a good defense at some point adjusts and chases a team off that 3 point line.  I'm not impressed by there defense or there offense. If the playoffs started right now I don't think the Lakers get out of the west. ( The Celtics wouldn't go anywhere either.....) But LA is no great defensive team no matter how many crappy teams they beat up on.

[Overrated]

Kobe's stellar defense on display 

[cornbreadsmart]

love carmelo's game. the dude is just ferocious going to the hoop.

[Fafnir]

LA's defense is not good at all so out scoring them is the way to go. Well, that's the way you win any game but you have to run up a lot of points on the Lakers because they will score on you.

I think the Lakers defence is highly superior to their offence. They are vulnerable to quickness/fastness and Fisher is a sieve, but they're still very good. Their offence, on the other hand, isn't working. Too much guys wanting to play the post, too little penetration and outside shooting, underwhelming ball and player movement, declining Kobe becoming more self-absorbed.

That said, I think Denver's chances of beating them are really small. They lack another quality big man + rebounding + another big time scorer/shot-creator.

Not to mention that Billups and Melo haven't been healthy at all this year.

[Bankshot]

I always thought Kobe was an overrated defender.  Not saying he's not decent, but not as good as he's made out to be.

[Who]

I always thought Kobe was an overrated defender.  Not saying he's not decent, but not as good as he's made out to be.

Kobe is a gifted defender but he takes too many plays off.

Cheats off his man too much too.

[thirstyboots18]

I always thought Kobe was an overrated defender.  Not saying he's not decent, but not as good as he's made out to be.

Kobe is a gifted defender but he takes too many plays off.

Cheats off his man too much too.

Kobe is like Paul Pierce on the past, but not forgotten, sad Celtics teams, in a way.  His team's offense's depends so much on him that he has to conserve energy on the defensive end.  Not that he can't do it, just that he can't do everything...