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KRIEGER: Game 2 fix hardly helps Nuggets' cause

By Dave Krieger, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published April 24, 2008 at 12:24 a.m.
Updated April 24, 2008 at 12:55 a.m.

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Trailing two games to none in the playoffs is not a promising scenario. When the home team wins the first two games of an NBA best-of-seven series, as the Lakers have over the Nuggets, that team wins the series 94 percent of the time.

The Nuggets now face the traditional pick-your- poison scenario. They can focus their defense on Kobe Bryant, as they did in Game 1, and open up the paint to his teammates. Or they can play more conventional defense, as they did in Game 2, and watch Bryant light them up, to the tune of 49 points in this one.

"Kobe, when he's making his jump shot, is somewhat undefendable," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "Your option is to double him and give their very good passing team four-on- threes and three-on-twos on the weak side."

All appearances to the contrary, the Nuggets do have a couple of bright spots to build on as they bring the series home for Games 3 and 4. A lineup change, combined with their adjustment in defensive strategy, kept the visitors in Game 2 most of the way despite a failure to play team basketball for the second game in a row.

The question now for the Nuggets is whether they have enough discipline to put these elements together at home and climb back into the series.

The big difference between Games 1 and 2 was Karl's lineup change, replacing Anthony Carter with Linas Kleiza in the starting five. The Nuggets' small starting backcourt was a defensive liability much of the season, but combined with Karl's decision to put forward Kenyon Martin on Bryant in Game 1, it created one of the more dramatic mismatches in playoff history.

Allen Iverson, generously listed at 6 feet tall, was matched up with forwards at least 8 inches taller. As a result, Nuggets center Marcus Camby had to offer constant help, which left Lakers center Pau Gasol free to do his Wilt Chamberlain impression inside.

When the 6-8 Kleiza started Game 2, the matchups became more conventional, which allowed Camby to stay home on Gasol, who swiftly returned to earth.

"I thought they were really packing it in," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.

That left the Lakers with their traditional Kobe-centric offense, which is effective enough without all the point-blank looks the Nuggets surrendered in Game 1.

In addition to eliminating the worst defensive mismatch, Karl continued to accommodate the zone defense. Being a Tar Heel by basketball lineage, the Nuggets coach is not a big fan of the zone.

Nevertheless, it has been the Nuggets' most effective defensive strategy in the first two games. For significant stretches of Game 2, it kept the Lakers throwing the ball around the perimeter and settling for jump shots.

Ultimately, Bryant began to exploit seams in the zone, penetrating and finding open men inside, but the strategy slowed the L.A. offense enough to keep the visitors in the game well into the fourth quarter.

What kept them from prevailing, paradoxically, was their own remarkable offensive talent. Following Game 1, in which the Lakers authored 33 assists to the Nuggets' 20, Karl tried to make this point to his star scorers.

"I've talked to A.I. and Melo both about better decisions, better shot selection, better assists," Karl said.

"I think we were 20-21 against playoff teams (this season). In the 20 wins, we averaged, like, 29 assists, and (had) eight games of over 30. In the 21 losses, I think we averaged just barely over 20 assists a game.

"To me, that's how I feel when we play. When we're not incorporating the pass or trusting the pass or the extra pass, whatever phrase you want to use, we seem to have a cloudy disposition."

By this measure, the Nuggets' skies were overcast again in Game 2. Iverson, running the point in place of Carter to start the game, had just one assist in the first quarter. As a team, the Nuggets had an anemic 12 for the game, compared to 33, again, for the Lakers.

"They've beaten us in different ways," Karl said. "Offensively, I think we can play better than we played, and we usually play better defensively at home."

Iverson, Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith are such talented offensive players they kept the Nuggets in the game despite their unwillingness to share the basketball. Notwithstanding the disparity in assists, the Nuggets were within five early in the fourth quarter.

When the game began to get away from them, so did their composure. Iverson got his third technical foul in two games and Martin stared down an official after fouling out. Meanwhile, Luke Walton personified the Lakers' affection for team ball, a role player who filled up the stat sheet letting the game come to him.

If the Nuggets could match the Lakers' unselfishness, they have the talent to make the series competitive. But they have yet to demonstrate that they are disciplined enough to do it.

Comments

  • April 24, 2008

    12:54 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    AnToneB writes:

    I was wondering if it would be ok. If the team just went out on saturday and just told the Lakers not to worry to go ahead home winners. Because we dont wanna play anymore. I mean can you forfeit in the NBA? Can a whole team call in sick?

  • April 24, 2008

    3:41 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    thequestion writes:

    camby was so lazy on defense that he was being stuffed with layups and dunks... and i think he also stopped any momentum that the nuggets had in the third quarter with those lousy jumpshots that didn't hit anything! frustrating! camby, please focus on D, leave the scoring to AI and Melo... we don't need your airball and pathetic jumpshots...

  • April 24, 2008

    8:35 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    den2mke writes:

    Some clarification...First, this isn't just the 'second game in a row' this team hasn't played team ball, it's been the season-long trend.

    AI is a tremendous player, but did anyone expect this game to go differently when it was announced from the start Iverson would have the ball in his hands most of the game? The Lakers gave them opportunities in the first half, but watching Iverson come down and launch shots without even a pass on offense was symptomatic of what has plagued this team all year.

    And, is anyone else tired of Karl's seeming distance in dealing with his team? All we get from him is that he's 'talked' to his stars trying to get them to play as a team? I don't believe for one second that these guys aren't capable of playing as a team, but it's Karl's job to MAKE it happen.

    And where has Atkins been? Is he hurt and I missed it? I didn't see all of game 1 or game 2 but never noticed him on the floor. Aren't these the reasons he was brought in--to be a real point guard and to play defense?

    This will be the fifth year in a row the Nuggets lose in the first round. Isn't it time to get a coach in here who can make something of the exceptional talent on the team? Isn't this obvious?

  • April 24, 2008

    10:05 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Squatch writes:

    Dont forget what the Lakers have done since the Allstart break and also what the Nuggets have done. Coach karl needs to let kobe beat him and shut down the rest of the lakers kobe wont win a playoff series by himself not matter how good he plays just like the Nuggets wont win a series by not playing any Defense.

  • April 24, 2008

    4:10 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    duboisb writes:

    George Karl can't coach anymore. Fire him. Lack of having a team offense or a team defense is an indication of a coach who isn't getting it done. FIRE KARL.

  • April 25, 2008

    11:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    JasonM writes:

    @ den2mk,

    In game 2 the Nuggets had a combined 12 assist between all of them. 12!! And Iverson had 6 of them, so maybe you should look at some other players and talk about passing the ball.