Nuggets, Lakers both have sense of urgency
By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published April 23, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld / Getty Images
Lakers coach Phil Jackson's teams are 17-0 in series when they go up 2-0, an edge Los Angeles will be shooting for tonight.
It's rush hour in Los Angeles. A new reason has emerged why the Lakers wouldn't mind making quick work of the Nuggets.
The Lakers have seen Utah go to Houston and take a 2-0 lead. With a quick series possible and the Jazz being the Lakers' next possible opponent, a drawn-out series against the Nuggets would not be considered ideal.
"Our potential opponent in the second round is already up 2-0, so we definitely need to take care of our opponent," guard Derek Fisher said.
Fisher, whose Lakers won Game 1 of the Western Conference first-round series 128-114 on Sunday, knows very well the importance of tonight's Game 2 at the Staples Center. He needs only to look at the numbers.
In NBA history, teams having taken a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven series are 191-13. That's a staggering winning percentage of .936.
"If you can win those first two games, it's tough for a team to think about, 'OK, now we have to win four of the next five games,' " Fisher said.
When it comes to facing a Phil Jackson team, it's so far been impossible. The Lakers coach is 17-0 after his team leads 2-0 in a best-of-seven series.
With that in mind, the Nuggets don't need much reminding about the urgency of tonight.
"This is a playoff game, a game that you don't mess around," Nuggets coach George Karl said.
Karl isn't. In order to get some more size, he's replacing 6-foot-2 Anthony Carter in the backcourt with 6-8 Linas Kleiza, who will play shooting guard while 6-foot Allen Iverson moves to the point.
"We want to start big and that's why I'm starting because we're having some problems down low," Kleiza said. "We have a size issue, and they do a great job using mismatches."
Sunday's biggest mismatch was Lakers center Pau Gasol breaking loose for 36 points. With Karl planning to stick with power forward Kenyon Martin on Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, he's looking for Kleiza, who scored 23 points Sunday, to provide defense inside as well as more early offense.
But there are trade-offs. Fisher said the move hampers the Nuggets' scoring off the bench and Jackson said it affects their ballhandling.
"We'd probably go back to full-court pressure that we like to use, little things that we can do to disrupt their advance of the ball," Jackson said.
As much as strategy, though, Jackson has been stressing to his players they can't relax after the easy win. Jackson and Bryant said the pressure is on the Lakers to hold serve at home, with Bryant saying the Nuggets are "still comfortable" because they can reach their goal of getting a split in Los Angeles.
"There's just a natural tendency to relax," Jackson said. "(The Lakers) have to come out and play hard and understand when they have the foot on the neck to keep it there."
If the Lakers can take a 2-0 lead, the sneaker on the Nuggets' neck will feel like a size 22.
"We're ready to go down there and try to get Game 2," Nuggets center Marcus Camby said. "It's all about trying to get some momentum, and, hopefully, it starts (tonight)."
For Karl, it starts with defense. He blamed everybody except the water boy for Game 1 lapses.
"There's no excuse for giving up over 120 points in a playoff game," Karl said. "That's the coaches' fault, that's players' fault, that's not-playing-hard-enough fault."
Sunday's loss brought out the worst in the Nuggets, who had four technicals. One was for a hard Carter foul on Bryant, with the Nuggets saying Bryant also should have been penalized for hitting Carter in the face.
The NBA didn't agree. A spokesman said there will be no further action.
Players on both teams, though, believe Game 2 will be clean. Lakers forward Lamar Odom is hoping fans won't continue to yell "DUI" at Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony because of his recent arrest on suspicion of drunk driving.
"That's tough," Odom said. "You don't like to see that."
What the Lakers want to see is a 2-0 lead, which historically has been the NBA's ultimate foot on the neck.
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April 23, 2008
10:28 a.m.
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blm69 writes:
Lakers fans have no class. What if nuggets fans chant "rapist" when Kobe gets the ball
April 23, 2008
10:44 a.m.
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kmeissner writes:
So basically it sounds like the Lakers are thinking about Utah now. Aren't we only down 1-0?
I really hope the Nugs take game 2 tonight. It will make for a great game 3. Plus it's always good to see Jack Nicholson puting when his team loses.
Kobe is getting too cocky and I'll be amazed if Kenyon doesn't get ejected from a game this series. If I was him, it would almost be worth getting in a fight with Kobe to wipe that Smug smile off of his face.
All joking aside, we NEED this victory! Linus needs to have the series of his life! We need him big time!
April 23, 2008
11:43 a.m.
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Tinman writes:
Hey blm69 (is that the year you were born or just a reference to a position that Ms.HOever did not offer up to Kobe?...Laker fans have class, Kobe got razzed in Denver back then, but it's all good now. The Laker players and organization are being sensitive to it by sticking up for Carmelo (great player)....if you want, you guys can cheer "your owner got a DUI too!!!!) when the Lakers come to Denver...
Hey kmeissner...reporters ask leading questions...then responses taken out of context...think about it. Fisher has always been a responsible spokesman for the Lakers back to his first time around.
The game is emotional, if Nicholson pouts, he pouts, the greatest bad reaction is watching Mark Cuban...that guy is going to blow an arterey if his Nachos are cold...Kobe is not getting "cocky". He's actually more subdued now than ever before, now that he does not have to score 40 plus to win. You say "smug smile". That's your take on it. He's getting under your skin. He wins, you lose. Go back to Jedi school and take Force 101 again. OK I am a Laker fan in LA, but my take on the series is that Denver is a very good team that cannot put it/and hold it together. That is what the LA coaches and players will pick apart. Hopefully LA in 6. Also smart move to keep Linus and avoid Artest.
April 23, 2008
12:11 p.m.
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jay24kobe writes:
Hey mr.blm69 that kobe's rape case is not a guilty plea!. . . but that melo's DUI......hahaha la ko masabi! niyahahah!
April 23, 2008
12:38 p.m.
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lv2dance writes:
To Mr. blm69
That's exactly what Denver fans did! Duh!
April 23, 2008
12:41 p.m.
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la_times writes:
No class? Denver fans we're all over KOBE after the rape allegations came out, Are you kidding me. And everybody knows Melo's a knucklehead who hangs out with druggies and losers. Denver's going down in 4, maybe 5.
April 23, 2008
12:48 p.m.
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c_bartsch530 writes:
Dont get all pissed off that the lakers did the same thing to melo that they did to bryant when he came to denver. The lakers palyed better and won, take it with class as you would say and admit that the lakers are better. Season lakers 3 denver 0, playoffs lakers 1 denver o.
April 23, 2008
1:13 p.m.
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jazzfan writes:
I think instead of Nugget fans to make fun of Kobe and stuff, maybe it is time to get tough, play defense, get your teamates involved instead of relying on AI and Melo all the time. You will never winb a playoff series or championship until you learn to play defense. Face it, you never will win without defense. Look at how fast it took the Jazz to overtake you and become the kings of the Midwest Conference, what 2 years, and those 2 years they were rebuilding. I don't hear any analyists talking about the Nuggets being close to a championship, yet everywhere I turn, you hear the Jazz will win one in the next 2-3 years. It is time to play defense. You have Camby, a great shotblocker, but that is it. You need to stop guys, not let them run all over you. Look at the statistics, no NBA team has won a championship by giving up 110 points a game.
April 23, 2008
1:14 p.m.
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nmitch5 writes:
wow denver did chant that out. And Melo deserves it cause he does hang out with a bunch of idiots. He hasn't matured at all. Lakers are going to sweep the Nuggets. Melo and Iverson need better surrounding players. Camby don't cut it. They need a point guard. I don't like Kobe all that much but he is easily the best player in the league! Kobe is easily MVP too.
April 23, 2008
1:29 p.m.
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abualsoos writes:
kobe is the best player in the whole world and he is not a rapist and do not compare apple to orange not guilty rapist is not the same as dui by far . i think denver fans are low class along with the rest of kobe haters who still boo him cause he always ripe your and there hearts out
April 23, 2008
2:02 p.m.
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redburner1784 writes:
First thing Laker fans have all the class in the world, second Carmelo (great player) does do drugs and drinks, so he shouldn't be mad that Laker fans chant DUI. Nugget fans can chant all they want about Kobe's rape case but I remember when Kobe's final year on his last contract, Nugget fans were chanting in favor of Kobe just so he could sign with Denver. Now that he's staying with the Lakers all of a sudden Nugget fans changed their tune. C'mon and give me a break don't bad talk someone you wanted on your team (meaning Kobe). Build around Melo and A.I. and get a good point gaurd and pick up that D and you guys will have a strong line up for years to come.
April 23, 2008
2:27 p.m.
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stevewode writes:
I'll tell you what we need, is J.R. Smith to get more than 14 min playing time!! He was playing really well too...I don't understand
April 23, 2008
2:59 p.m.
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candido_r writes:
First of all Kobe is not cocky and he is sharing the ball more often with his teammates and stopped averaging 40+ points a game. Before he was the only player that the lakers needed to get into the playoffs. Now he has help and the bench is stepping up in both ends of the court and that is why your hearing of a possible championship in the next 2-3 years to come. In the other hand Carmelo Anthony is a good player, but needs to help and have trust on his teammates because their teammates are depending on Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson to lead them to the Finals and it takes more then two players to lead them to Finals. For example the Spurs they been in the Finals and the last 6 years or so because they've been playing as a team together on both ends of the floor. As you heard Manu Ginobili winning the sixth men award that is what the nuggets need and the Lakers have that by the bench helping them.Plus the nuggets reserves need to tighten their defense for them to advance in the next round. Lakers would be able to bring a championship back in LA if they play like they do in 2-3 years from now and would emerge as a dynasty team.
April 23, 2008
3:20 p.m.
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mr_jayar writes:
nuggets fans let us support our very own denver nuggets.. When the series will be shift here in denver let's cheer for them and melo.. lets boo the "rapist" i mean kobe..where here for you guys.. nuggets basketball can u feel it??
April 23, 2008
3:21 p.m.
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homicide11 writes:
Cheer up Nuggets fans. At least your organization is not the Knicks. LOL!!! A team going no where in the next 5-10 yrs.
April 23, 2008
3:23 p.m.
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TooCold writes:
If people started calling him r8pist it wouldnt do anything but make him go off. I've seen it.
April 23, 2008
3:26 p.m.
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TooCold writes:
Oh and the case didnt say that he r8ped the girl. It said he was ACCUSED of r8pe. So what the is the problem? Let it go! Simply because the girl was sleeping with other people too. She was just trying to make quick cash.
April 23, 2008
3:28 p.m.
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mr_jayar writes:
kobe..rapist
April 23, 2008
3:36 p.m.
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DFORD22 writes:
KOBE IS THE TRUTH(MVP EASILY) AS WELL AS MELO..WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES..GET OVER IT..ITS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS ON THE COURT IN THE PLAYOFFS..IF DUI AND RAPE WAS AN REAL ISSUE THEY WOULD BE ELSWHERE AND NOT IN THE PLAYOFFS..NBA FAN..LAKERS IN 4..
April 23, 2008
3:43 p.m.
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bball84 writes:
nuggets fan here. i said the same thing about rapist, but you know what, cant talk crap about it when you say that the lakers fans have no class. that would make us have no class. and ya kobe got the heat from that already so not surprised that i heard lakers fans doing that. second of all, kobe is cocky, anyone who thinks differently is dumb. heres the catch, he can be, so can any other allstar in the league, deal with it. i do have to say though that as a fan of the other team, i would love to see someone take that smirk off his face! but who wuoldnt, anyone would do the same if it was ai! lastly, lakers are only 7 games better that us! 7 games! this isn't exactly a 1 vs 8 seed here! this will be an awesome series! and we are taking game two! who agrees with me, i hope i put it straight!
April 23, 2008
4:03 p.m.
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lakers73k8 writes:
YEAH DENVER FANS CHANT RAPIST THEN KOBE WILL POP HIS LAKERS JERSEY TO THE CROWD WHEN THEY'RE UP BY 15 POINTS AT THE PEPSI CENTER!!! HE'S JUST GOING TO GO OFF WITH THAT..
April 23, 2008
4:08 p.m.
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bball84 writes:
i know that too. hes crazy like that. but youv'e watched the nuggets play, you know 15 points is nothing!
April 23, 2008
4:28 p.m.
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homicide11 writes:
Rapist........Shapist. DUI........BUI. Who gives a crap!! It's all basketball. As long as the Nuggets plan on not playing a single inch of defense, then the Lakers will just keep killing them in the middle. Period. That's it. It's about who plays the best D in this series. Enough with the players' personal lives. I could care less if the MVP "raped" some white girl or if Melo likes the brew. More importantly, as long as the game is close Kobe will make sure his team does not lose and I don't see the Nuggets blowing the Lakers out in a game. If at all, the blowout MIGHT come in game 3 because it's at home. Lakers in 5!!
April 23, 2008
4:29 p.m.
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cap writes:
Kobe is incredibly cocky and always has been-everyone knows that--
Let's just go play basketball and ENJOY THE GAME--May it be a good one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 23, 2008
5:09 p.m.
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3xAIxMELOx15 writes:
Low Class,Because Kobe is a Cocky show off that ball hogs it all the time?? yeah Okayy just because us NUGGETS fans are telling the truth, and yeah I admit NUGGETS play no D-fense but we just dnt rely on MELO and A.I either, we have some tremendous players on are squad but I think we have to many EGO's instead of team players, LA fans srry but the "TRUTH" really does hurt! GO NUGGETS!!
April 23, 2008
5:32 p.m.
JuiceJiggalo3 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
April 23, 2008
6:47 p.m.
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bobbyjoe111 writes:
ok first of all the denver fans did chant rapist during and after the court case 2 years ago so that shows how little u know about basketball and secondly kobe has a right to be cocky since he will be the MVP this year and he is on the top team in the west and he is by far their best player
April 23, 2008
6:57 p.m.
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ilovethelakers123 writes:
well if the denver nuggets fans yell "rapist" to Kobe then expect him to go off for 50+, so i suggest you kids SHUTUP and watch your team LOSE.
April 23, 2008
7:44 p.m.
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godchild writes:
Stop trash talking with each other guyz.. its only a game for christ sake. just try to enjoy the game.. Nuggets fans we all know that denver will make it.. Ai and Melo will take care of business.
Go nugz..
April 23, 2008
8:01 p.m.
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xthanameisjejex writes:
man just take a look at this.
http://www.nba.com/games/20080423/DEN...
check the stats of the home records and road records. The nuggets on the road are 17-24 on the road. They will not be able to win in L.A due to there recent road losses. As for the lakers there the exact opposite(24-17) they have a possible chance of winning the series in 4 games. No doubt it will be a tough challenge for the lakers sin the nuggets at home are 33-8 but the mvp kb24 will bring his "A" game at the pepsi center.
Go L.A ~ Bring Us Home Another NBA Title !
April 23, 2008
8:53 p.m.
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ONEman writes:
Heres a thought Fire George hire Van Gundy, trade Camby while he's still worth something, not mush but something. We won't win a championship till we get a coach who has balls and does'nt get out coached night in and night out. Also Camby trying to be a guard all the time does'nt help and Melo and AI both need a free throw coach. That right there will move us up 2 spots next year.
April 23, 2008
8:56 p.m.
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misterio writes:
to the DENVER FANATICS that keeps on harassing the lakers....
ARE YOU NUTS???
KOBE was JUST ACCUSED of RAPING THAT GIRl (sLUT,and want to be publicize and a DAY FAME FOR HER),but KOBE WAS NOT PROVEN GUILTY...and HE WAS NOT CONVICTED FOR IT...
NOT LIKE MELO... HE Is PROVEN GUILTY...melo is not a GREAT PLAYER?WHY:
because HE IS IMATURe,and he is associated with IDIOTS,BASTARDS,MORONS AND ADDICTS..what the f*ck...and your telling that MELo is a great player...a great player is A MATURE AND MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS ACTIONS..he is a nut
i really regret why A.I(THE REAL BEST PLAYER),signed with the NUGGETS,he should have signed with the LAKERS.. LOL...
April 23, 2008
11 p.m.
JuiceJiggalo3 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
April 23, 2008
11:03 p.m.
JuiceJiggalo3 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
April 23, 2008
11:08 p.m.
JuiceJiggalo3 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
April 23, 2008
11:12 p.m.
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JuiceJiggalo3 writes:
Dent Verb Nigg Lets really, really suck......
April 23, 2008
11:16 p.m.
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JuiceJiggalo3 writes:
What it aint - what it is Dent Verb Nigg Lets - whys you's so double A, and Knee Grow?
Signed,
Jesse Jackson
April 23, 2008
11:19 p.m.
JuiceJiggalo3 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
April 23, 2008
11:49 p.m.
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bball84 writes:
oneman, youre a genius, i totally agree. camby can't score either. we need a big man that can play defense but also a offensive threat
April 24, 2008
5:38 p.m.
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Shaupeen writes:
Wow. I actually got dumber from reading this thread.
April 25, 2008
1:25 a.m.
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Tinman writes:
I thought I was being PC....then the pro-Laker....anti Melo/Nuggets followed...OK, enough...I'll try to wrap it up...Joke of the Day...Dwayne Wade and Star Jones!!!!!, LOL LOL LOL !!!!!!!!!
Plus he talks as if he has a spot waiting for him on the Summer Team (The Bad News Bears go to China)... I think it's quite obvious that Kobe has taken that spot...maybe he can take Kidd's spot, after he gets beach-slapped by Mark Cuban....wonder what the abuse laws in Texas are compared to his days in Phoenix. Either way, Lakers are good, and the Nuggets could be...it's up to them to figure out how to get over the hump. "mellow" out (or not).