“Try to catch him coming out of his house and kidnap him,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham joked when asked about defending Denver’s two-time league MVP.
DENVER — Lakers coach Darvin Ham offered a novel solution to the problem that is Nikola Jokic, although the Federal Bureau of Investigation might have a thing or two to say about his plan to subdue the Denver Nuggets’ leading scorer, rebounder and playmaker in the Western Conference finals.Ham was joking on the eve of Game 1, of course.The Phoenix Suns failed to stop him in the second.
The Lakers split the four regular-season games against the Nuggets, with each team winning on its home floor. However, each of the four games was played before the Lakers overhauled their roster ahead of the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 9. But neither team is the same as it was earlier in the season., gaining the upper hand against Jokic in large part because Dwight Howard played aggressively against him and took him out of his game physically and maybe mentally, too.Ham has other options, though.
There are other matchups to watch as the Lakers try to go 8-0 all-time in playoff series against the Nuggets. LeBron James will likely be a handful for the Nuggets as will Denver’s Jamal Murray for the Lakers. James stressed that this Nuggets team is different from the one they faced three years ago.
Ham wouldn’t say if he would tweak his starting lineup for Game 1 against the Nuggets on Tuesday, as he did for what proved to be the second-round clincheron Friday at Crypto.com Arena. Ham started veteran guard Dennis Schroder instead of forward Jarred Vanderbilt in Game 6.
Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama
Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.
NBA playoffs: Can LeBron James, Anthony Davis slow Nikola Jokić, Nuggets' high-octane offense?
Baca lebih lajut »
Lakers vs. Nuggets: What scouts expect in Western Conference finalsHere's what to expect when the Lakers open the Western Conference finals in Denver against two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the No. 1 Nuggets.
Baca lebih lajut »
Nuggets Journal: In between diaper changes, some thoughts on the Suns and LakersBetween the diaper changes and the interrupted sleep of a newborn, reporter Mike Singer monitored the Nuggets’ second-round series against the Suns as best as any new dad could.
Baca lebih lajut »
Kiszla: Nuggets can’t lose to Lakers, unless they let the refs or ghosts beat themNikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets belong here, on the big stage. If they can take down the LeBron James, everybody might finally believe it.
Baca lebih lajut »
Lakers vs. Nuggets: Conference finals scouting report, predictionIt’s hard to imagine anyone slowing down Denver’s Nikola Jokic, but harder to imagine anyone contending effectively with the Lakers’ LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Baca lebih lajut »
Lakers hit rewind in video room to prepare to face NuggetsLeBron James and Anthony Davis plan to review the teams’ 2020 conference finals, the latest of seven times in a row the Lakers have beaten the Nuggets in the playoffs.
Baca lebih lajut »