Lakers' rout of Nuggets an inside job
Middle of Denver defense trashed as Gasol dominates
By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published April 20, 2008 at 4:12 p.m.
What was the worst aspect of the Nuggets' Game 1 loss to the Lakers?
Photo by Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press
Nuggets guard Allen Iverson is fouled by Lakers guard Kobe Bryant as Los Angeles' Luke Walton reaches in to defend Sunday.
Being from Spain, Pau Gasol knows about matadors. Now he knows about the Nuggets' matador defense.
The 7-foot Lakers center is a former All-Star, but perhaps he never has had it easier than Sunday in a 128-114 win against the Nuggets in Game 1 of a first-round Western Conference playoff series at the Staples Center.
Gasol dropped in 36 points, many on dunks and layups, as the bewildered Nuggets looked on helplessly.
"I think Coby Karl could have scored the baskets that Gasol scored," Nuggets coach George Karl said of his son, a Lakers guard who was inactive for the game after a season in which he averaged 1.8 points.
The eighth-seeded Nuggets have had their defense ripped around the country, including regularly by the Round Mound of Rebound, TNT analyst Charles Barkley. But they vowed it would be different against the Lakers.
So what happened?
"We've been working on our defense all season, and now you get to this point and you lose with no defense," Nuggets guard J.R. Smith said.
Smith's defensive contribution included a flagrant foul 1. The Nuggets also picked up four technicals, two resulting in the late-game ejection of guard Allen Iverson, who scored a team-high 30 points along with forward Carmelo Anthony.
The Nuggets did do a solid defensive job on Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, holding him to 9-for-26 shooting. But with Bryant, who finished with 32 points thanks to plenty of late free throws, being defended mainly by power forward Kenyon Martin, the middle was open.
Gasol also had eight assists and 16 rebounds. It's a good thing for Nuggets center Marcus Camby, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, that votes have been sent in for this season's award.
"You could take it personally if you knew he had the ball and he was going at me," Camby, who shot 2-for-9 for four points and had seven rebounds and two blocked shots, said about the opposing center coming up big.
"Sometimes he did go at me and I blocked his shot. It was more of those guys finding him. . . . They did a great job of passing the ball (33 assists)."
Nevertheless, Karl benched Camby for the fourth quarter; Camby said he didn't take it personally. Karl said he didn't believe Camby played poorly but wanted to go with more players who would attack the rim.
The game was all but over after the Lakers outscored the Nuggets 39-22 in the third quarter to take a 97-78 lead.
Gasol scored 16 points in the quarter on 5-for-6 shooting.
"I'm in a good position and I'm enjoying it," said Gasol, who was on the winning side in a playoff game for the first time after going 0-12 with Memphis before he was dealt at midseason to the Lakers. "Every guy on our team is doing an amazing job out there, and I'm just one of them."
Bryant wasn't so amazing at the start, beginning 1-for-9 and going 2-for-10 in the first half. But the Lakers still were able to overcome a 41-33 deficit to take a 58-56 lead.
Then came the third quarter and a play that really got the Lakers going. Leading 64-58, Bryant made a steal and was fouled hard on a breakaway by Nuggets guard Anthony Carter, who was whistled for a technical.
Bryant made all three free throws to make it 67-58.
"That was a bad call on Marc (Davis, the official)," said Karl, who said Carter's eye was swelling after he was hit by Bryant. "I think it will show very obviously on the film that . . . at the minimum, both should have gotten a technical."
Bryant said Carter "shoved me out of bounds."
Told Karl felt he also should have received a technical, Bryant said, "He's just sticking up for his players."
After that, the Lakers' lead kept growing. So did the Nuggets' frustrations.
Martin and Bryant got double technicals with 4:30 left in the game. Iverson was ejected with 2:10 remaining for jawing at official Ken Mauer while the Nuggets trailed 118-107.
"He made the right decision about throwing me out," Iverson said. "I deserved to get thrown out at that point. Obviously, I thought I got fouled on a hand check on that play, and I felt he was (close to) that play and didn't make the call, and I was frustrated."
Karl said Iverson lost his composure "a little bit" because of frustration. But he's confident bad feelings won't carry over to Game 2.
"I don't think anybody in our locker room is deflated," Karl said. "We know we can play better than we did, and defensively is probably the first thing we'll address."
Karl will do what he can. After all, maybe Lakers coach Phil Jackson will unleash Coby Karl on the Nuggets defense.
Lakers 128, Nuggets 114
FG FT Reb
DENVER Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts
Anthony 37:30 11-26 8-10 7-12 3 4 30
Martin 30:29 1-7 3-4 5-8 0 4 5
Camby 30:15 2-9 0-2 2-7 3 3 4
Carter 17:52 2-4 0-0 0-3 5 2 4
Iverson 41:41 11-24 7-13 2-5 7 1 30
Kleiza 37:52 9-13 2-3 1-4 1 1 23
Najera 21:31 1-5 0-0 2-5 1 3 3
Smith 22:50 6-8 3-5 0-3 0 6 15
Totals 240 43-96 23-37 19-47 20 24 114
Percentages - FG .448, FT .622. Three-point goals - 5-12, .417 (Kleiza 3-5, Iverson 1-2, Najera 1-2, Anthony 0-1, Carter 0-1, Smith 0-1). Team rebounds - 16. Team turnovers - 12 (14 pts.). Blocked shots - 5 (Camby 2, Anthony, Iverson, Martin). Turnovers - 12 (Camby 4, Anthony 3, Iverson 2, Carter, Martin, Smith). Steals - 7 (Anthony 2, Camby, Kleiza, Martin, Najera, Smith). Technicals - Carter, 9:50 third; Martin, 4:30 fourth; Iverson, 2, 2:10 fourth. Flagrant fouls - Smith, 11:24 fourth. Ejections - Iverson, 2:10 fourth.
FG FT Reb
LAL Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts
Radmanovic 19:57 3-6 0-0 1-1 6 4 8
Odom 39:14 8-14 1-4 6-14 6 2 17
Gasol 44:40 14-20 8-8 3-16 8 3 36
Fisher 29:15 1-5 0-0 0-3 4 4 3
Bryant 37:03 9-26 13-14 0-3 1 5 32
Walton 27:00 6-8 3-4 1-4 5 4 16
Farmar 18:45 2-5 0-0 1-2 3 2 6
Vujacic 20:46 3-6 0-0 0-0 0 4 8
Turiaf 3:20 0-2 2-2 1-2 0 0 2
Totals 240 46-92 27-32 13-45 33 28 128
Percentages - FG .500, FT .844. Three-point goals - 9-20, .450 (Radmanovic 2-3, Farmar 2-4, Vujacic 2-5, Walton 1-1, Fisher 1-2, Bryant 1-5). Team rebounds - 10. Team turnovers - 13 (15 pts.). Blocked shots - 7 (Gasol 3, Bryant 2, Radmanovic, Vujacic). Turnovers - 12 (Gasol 3, Farmar 2, Radmanovic 2, Bryant, Odom, Turiaf, Vujacic, Walton). Steals - 7 (Odom 2, Bryant, Fisher, Radmanovic, Turiaf, Vujacic). Technicals - Bryant, 4:30 fourth.
Denver 22 34 22 36 - 114
L.A. Lakers 26 32 39 31 - 128
A - 18,997 (18,997). T - 2:42. Officials - Joe Crawford, Marc Davis, Ken Mauer.
Nuggets vs. Lakers
* Game 1: Lakers 128, Nuggets 114
Lakers lead series 1-0
* Game 2: at Los Angeles, 8:30 p.m. Wednesday TV: Altitude, TNT
* Game 3: at Denver, 3:30 p.m. Saturday TV: Altitude, TNT
* Game 4: at Denver, 8:30 p.m. April 28 TV: Altitude, TNT
* *Game 5: at Los Angeles, TBA, April 30
* *Game 6: at Denver, TBA, May 2
* *Game 7: at Los Angeles, TBA, May 4
All times Mountain; * If necessary
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April 20, 2008
4:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
venturakid writes:
I think we might have seen Denver's best try and the Laker's weakest game.
Bad news...
April 20, 2008
5:24 p.m.
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anugsfan writes:
all around crap effort. george karl pulls 3 guys off the court when the nuggets are on fire in the 2nd, lakers get off and come back to take the halftime lead - game, set, match.
April 20, 2008
5:42 p.m.
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Condor writes:
Kobe had a bad day, for Kobe, and the Lakers still won easily. Bad news for Denver. I would say so. Makes for a long series.
April 20, 2008
5:45 p.m.
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Highcountry writes:
Smith didn't throw Walton to the floor for the flagrant. He fouled him hard and J.R. fell to the floor. Walton never fell to the floor.
April 20, 2008
5:50 p.m.
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R8R_H8R writes:
spoiled millionaire gang banger wanna be's lost??? NO WAY! Thank god for Hockey, where athletes aren't so damn self absorbed and worried about showing everybody all the crap that they buy, and more focused on working for the money they earn to play a game for a living.
April 20, 2008
6:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
ParkHillPosse writes:
Disgusting. Try to make some defensive adjustments, George Karl. The Nuggets just made Pau Gasol look like Kareem.
April 20, 2008
7:06 p.m.
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moles3144 writes:
R&R_H8R,
Nice comment, so can we call hockey players toothless redneck millionaires? Quit the stereotype crap, because people where watches,jewelry, or a cap backwards doesn't instantly make them a gangbanger.
Now on to basketball. Tough loss, better FT and they Nugs are right there at the end. Karl needs to sit Carter and get size in the lineup. The size mismatch in the backcourt has been an issue all year and the Laker captalized on it today.
April 20, 2008
8:11 p.m.
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maybenextyr writes:
Camby made Gasol look like Kareem when he was in there
The nuggs couldnt stop anyone
Karl takes out Camby, Melo, and AC
And put in Najera, Smith, and Klieza
The lakers couldnt score
Thats including Gasol
Soon as Karl breaks up AI, kmart, najera, Jr smith, kleiza.
the lakers start getting easy buckets again
Especially when CAmby came back in the game
He had no impact on the game period
He had less fouls than Kmart which says a whole lot!!!
Offensively with that line up the nuggs were getting where ever they
wanted on the floor
They didnt have jump shot melo. in to bail out the defense
they didnt have marcus jelly bean camby in to play no defense
and go in the paint like he was going to break
they didnt have AC in who is just not a good fit for this
series
And forget the Free throws the nuggs were still winning with AI missing
FT's when that lineup was in there
Defense win games- and particularly camby didnt play any-
April 20, 2008
8:47 p.m.
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joeblow writes:
Yikes. Sounds like a pretty interesting game. Who was playing?
April 20, 2008
9:44 p.m.
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JGagnon19 writes:
For all the Karl haters,
You can't just ask Karl to make adjustments when the vast majority of the team refuses to play defense. The Lakers were going RIGHT AFTER CARMELO because they knew he cannot play defense.
I really don't think that a coach can change the mind of many of the primadonna NBA players out here. A player has to think team first -- something I don't think Melo does -- before he can be asked to play a well rounded game.
I love the Nuggets as an organization, and I always have. But often the players just drive me crazy.
Last night I saw heart from everyone in an Avalanche sweater--especially from its biggest stars. Tonight, with the exception of maybe AI, I didn't see much heart from anyone.
I hope the Nuggets show up for the rest of the series.
April 20, 2008
11:34 p.m.
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AnToneB writes:
I am going with what ( JGagnon19 ) said A.I is the only one out there playing with any heart, always has. I have no clue what Melo is doin, none what so ever. Our bench is playing better than the starters. And who thought having Anthony Carter defend kobe? What shmuck, thought that was a good idea? Play with some heart guys, come on!! If we lose the series then take it to game 7. Because right now its not only the Lakers you have to beat, but everyone. No one believes you should exist in the playoffs. Show then different.
April 21, 2008
6:22 a.m.
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maybenextyr writes:
CAMBY
What a LOSER
"I COULD TAKE IT PERSONALLY IF..."
CAMBY you are a HELP DEFENDER - A WEAK SIDE SHOT BLOCKER
YOU CANT DEFEND one on one
YOU should always take it PERSONALLY when you allow DUNKS and LAYUPS
without you even bothering The shot
Come on - This is the playoffs -BENCH THIS LOSER!!!!
CANT BELIEVE HE SAID WHAT HE SAID IN THIS ARTICLE
April 21, 2008
6:26 a.m.
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maybenextyr writes:
KARL YOU KNOW
CAMBY was playing POORLY
That's why you BENCHED him
SHOULD of Did it EARLIER THO
April 21, 2008
6:30 a.m.
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AMTonyP writes:
The Nuggets can win this series, Karl has to get that second unit in as the above cat said. When AI, Najera, Jr Smith, Kleiza also Martin were in the game they played some really good ball. Najera was really physical on Gasol which he didn't score much. Everyone on here is right about playing with heart which I know these guys can do. Martin played some great D on Kobe 9-26 from the field, Lakers other guards didn't do anything. But Karl has to put JR and Kleiza on the floor more because the Lakers have no answers for them as long as JR is not guarding Kobe. Melo has to go down in the post more and stop shooting so many J's he can't be stopped in the paint. AC doesn't fit in this series because of the matchup. Guys you have to play physical and tough and as Karl said do what you do on offense. The zone might work as it did in that second quarter when they took the lead with that second unit. You can win Nuggets...........
April 21, 2008
8:43 a.m.
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JoeBarryCarroll writes:
PLEASE GIVE JR MORE BURN. HIM AND AI ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE CONSISTENTLY TAKING THE BALL TO THE RACK. ANTHONY CARTER IS WORTHLESS IN THIS SERIES!!
April 21, 2008
10:21 a.m.
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RaiderNation82 writes:
Maybe Melo should have taken a sobriety test before the game. The Nugs looked like they should be in the WNBA.
April 21, 2008
12:06 p.m.
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rocketryder writes:
Big_D,
The reason why we're skeptical is because what's done in the regular season will be done in the playoffs. If you play NO D in the regular season, you will not miraculously learn how to start playing it in the playoffs. And this time of the year, the team(s) that play the best D are the ones that advance.
Melo is the same gunning, no defense whatsoever playing Melo. It's a shame that Karl has to put his power forward on Kobe Bryant in order to give Kobe a hard time.
Letting Pau Gasol go crazy like that was well, crazy. How are you gonna constantly lose track of the biggest dude on the floor? He's a 7 footer. He is not that difficult to locate. You would think after him killing the Nuggets in the first quarter, someone would pay more attention to him.
It's no secret this team with the exception of two people, doesn't play defense. As we all saw yesterday, ain't much changed. lol
Again. This will be a quick, first round exit.
April 21, 2008
12:21 p.m.
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rocketryder writes:
And I'm dissapointed in Camby with his comments.
You're the center. You're the defensive anchor. The landlord. You defend the rim, and protect the paint. Nothing is supposed to go down in the paint without him having a say in it. He used to have that mentality.
What he said is the root of the Nuggets problems. "It's not my fault." Nobody takes any accountability for anything on that team, except for getting buckets. The Nugs are not a team. No teamwork, no passion, no heart. Marcus Camby should literally be foaming at the mouth to get another crack at Gasol.
It's sad to see a team this talented look like this, while teams that are not as talented are flourishing.
April 21, 2008
12:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
TONE writes:
Here we go again....
5 and out!!! Hey that seems to be what the number is!!!
How can you win when it is 5 on 2 in defense all night!!!
Come on!!! I said it before, they should of let Golden state get in and take the draft choice. At least it will not be so painful!
Melo is pretty Mellow on the denfensive side. Why can't he be melo-yellow, make who ever he is guarding look yellow!!!
Oh well, history is repeating itself again. Not unless the 'CHECK' step in and do something this off season, history will keep repeating itself. Or maybe we should move them to the EAST where they can be the Elite of the East!!!
The West is the NCAA tourny and the East is the NIT tourny. We need to be in the NIT so we can be NIT champ!!! YEAH!!!
DAMMMMMMMM..... I am just FRUSTRATED WITH THIS 5 and OUT CRAP!!!!
DO WHAT EVER IT TAKES, MAYBE EVEN A NAME CHANGE FOR THE TEAM ALSO, MY GOODNESS. THIS 'SUCKGGET' REALLY NEED SOME KIND OF IDENTITY!!! NO SWAGGER IN THEIR PLAYS AND JUST AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!
I CAN'T EVEN FIND A WORD TO DESCRIBE IT NOW!!! HIRE SOME ONE TO COACH THEM ON DESIRE PLEASE!!! PLAY LIKE THE LAST 2 OR 3 GAME YOU WERE PLAYING TO GET INTO THE PLAYOFF PLEASE!!! AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!
sorry about the screaming..... I'm out before I explode.... man!!!
April 21, 2008
1:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
nascere25 writes:
All Yall need to calm down....its game 1 and there will be adjustments. I don't see these dudes just folding....so ease up.....I say start LK or JR and man up on kobe...if he scores...so be it..stop everyone else from contributing...2 stars are better then one.....think about it...I see a totally different game 2...
April 21, 2008
2:01 p.m.
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basketballgirl writes:
The one key aspect that is lacking is that I don't see many comments on is the number of missed free throws the Nuggets have had for the last 20 games or so.
This proves to be a huge as they are averaging missing between 12-16 free throws a game, that is huge. I can understand maybe 4 or 5 but anything more than that can make or break the game.
How can we get the team to make more free throws and play better defense are the biggest unknowns at this point.
Bottom line is you can not win playoff games missing free throws.
April 21, 2008
2:47 p.m.
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FatTony writes:
Rotation is definitely an issue. I'm not so sure Anthony Carter should be in the starting lineup. I've been rooting for Kleiza to take that next step, and can really help not only attacking the rim, but getting open when there is so much pressure on AI & Carmello.
Defensively...we suck. We cannot play man to man, as evidenced by the zone scheme we've been playing lately. Zone will help change things up, but you can't play it for 48 minutes. Part of the problem on D is that we overplay, and don't rotate well. Unselfish teams will always expose our D when the help D has to rotate over.
Offensively...we're selfish. Iverson dribbles way too much. The ball needs to be rotated around, finding the open guy. Drive and pass. Find the guy with the open shot. Trust your teammates. To beat good teams, we've gotta play like a team. Our subs saved us in the 2nd quarter because we played like a team.
My coach used to say, you can always find an open shot...but that open shot isn't necessarily a good shot.
Those are my biggest complaints, and that's not just about one playoff game, but the whole year (really, it's longer than that) in summation. If we can do these things better, we WILL be better. That's a big IF...
April 21, 2008
2:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
RaiderNation82 writes:
if the nuggets cared about defense and rebounding as much as they do about pot, alcohol and getting hammered they would be champs those bunch of pany wastes
April 21, 2008
3:51 p.m.
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blm69 writes:
Nene needs to play. Camby is too physically weak to muscle the Laker Big Men. Nene is the difference. Without him we lose in 5, with him we take it to seven.
April 21, 2008
5:26 p.m.
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TroyJGrice writes:
Great analysis by Van Gundy- the dude is right on.
This may sound as sacriledge...but I suggest trading Melo after the Nuggs go down to LA 4-1. Let's face it, there are 35 players in the NBA that can score 25 points on 40% FG%, grab 5 rebounds and play matador defense with Melo's # of touches. You've got 2 on this team already in Kleiza and JR.
Think of what you could get for him! Can you say 60 wins?
Package Nene (who makes Sam Bowie look like Lou Gehrig) as well.
My money says Karl checked out 2 months ago.