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5 Reasons... full of sound and fury E-mail
Written by Don   
Tuesday, 19 May 2009 16:55
Ok... written to accompany the piece written by Denver-über-fan Usher, here are 5 reasons why LA will beat the Denver Nuggets...

1. Homecourt advantage
rusty_carLA have it, and won't surrender it lightly.  There's very little actual fatigue between games during the Playoffs, there are no back-to-backs, and too much rest (rust?) can sometimes be the more crucial problem.  Yes, the Pepsi Center's a daunting prospect, but the Nugs come up against a team that amassed the best road record in the NBA this season.
This is where the Lakers thrive.
Give them a challenge, they rise.
It's only when LA are able to get dismissive that they also get distracted.  With the way Denver have played of late, patently, this is not going to happen.

And c'mon... it's increasingly unlikely that Denver will even HAVE a home court for the May 25th game 4 match-up!  Talk about inept!

2. Match-ups
Something that a lot of people aren't really looking at is that Denver are a match-up that heavily favours LA.  Sure, Chauncey Billups is a great point guard, and truth be told the best point guard still playing at the moment, but he's not of the mold of point men that give LA headaches.  The waterbug quick guys like Tony Parker, Chris Paul and - you betcha - Aaron Brooks are the types of point guards that LA have had difficulty dealing with.
Of course, Billups will get his - both points and assists - but I'd bet now that he's not going to impact the series like Aaron Brooks did. Limit Billups, and the series is done.  And LA have enough PGs to do that.  Sure, Billups is better than any one PG of LA's... but he'll face someone just as wily in Fisher, faster in Farmar, and as strong in Brown (ok... might be reaching).

Denver's bigs have run rampant over both New Orleans and Dallas, but c'mon - be fair - it's not like you're talking high quality.  Fair enough, Dirk Nowitzki played a very good series.  Offensively.  But the media and Denver folk are gushing over Nene, because of how he played against... Eric Dampier?
PUH-lease.  Denver haven't had to deal with anything as large as Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom.  Hell, outside of Dirk Nowitzki, they haven't had to play against a big the likes of Josh Powell... and at least Josh plays both ends of the court.  Trevor Ariza's main purpose will be to make life difficult for Carmelo Anthony.
Who will Denver be hoping can do the same for Kobe Bryant?
Which brings me to...

3. Dahntay Jones
kobe-does-denverSpeaking of match-ups, this is who is going to play on Kobe.  Kobe has to be full on salivating at the prospect of this happening.  Really don't need to talk to much on this one, because if Jones doesn't get a HEAP of help via team defense, this match-up's a slaughter.

4. Defense
Whilst I'm not going to sit here and state that LA play a lock-down D reminiscent of the Pistons in their prime, it's definitely better than anything that Denver's had to face thus far.
A spiraling New Orleans, who were struggling harder than a 3-legged dog trying to bury a bone on a marble floor? Sheesh...
And Dallas... who a bud of mine (a Mavs fan himself - hey Greg!) calls "Allas"?
Look Mark (Cuban), I agree that Avery maybe pushed the envelope a bit much, but to return to the bad ol' years where "there's no 'D' in Dallas" is just ridiculous.
Anyway, I digress.
Where was I?
Oh yes.  Defense.
LA can very quickly limit a team's options on the inside, and turn oppositions into a jumpshooting team.  That happens?
Fuggedabowdit.  You're done.

5. Shakespeare
shakespeareDenver "...is a tale. Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."
Ok, so perhaps the quote is a bit harsh.
But without a doubt Denver are a side whose emotions can run rampant and boil over to the degree that it will hamper their on court efforts.
Look at Kenyon Martin now.  A day before the Western Conference Playoffs start, and K-Mart's STILL worrying about the feud he has brewing with Mark Cuban.
Unbelievable.  To be fair, Chauncey Billups has been huge in this capacity - and the fact that they are now - mostly - able to keep their fury fully-focused has been the most significant *growth* that the Nuggets have enjoyed.  Still, if either side's likely to have a meltdown - which would you bet on?
Yup, I thought so.

LA in 6.

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Comments (5)Add Comment
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written by markymark, May 19, 2009
The Lakers have home court advantage and wont surrender it lightly? Hmm like they didnt surrender home court advantage lighlty against the Rockets? The Lakers had the Rockets number all season and Game 1 second round of the play offs on Lakers turf they get dropped like a fat girl on prom night. Come on don. This Denver team is no wild card. This Denver team finished 2 in the West. This Denver team dispatched of its 2 previous opponents with out muich let up. This team dare takes on John Cena and Jim Mcmahon. Now im not saying that i think theyll take the series. I do think La will win.Because i think Kobe was a little embaressed with how hard it was for the Lakers to dispose of a Rockets Lite. But i think that it will be a 7 game series and the physical prescence of Denver is going to push LaLa limping into a final series against the Cavs
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written by with-malice, May 19, 2009
Mark. Tsk, tsk... you're not paying attention to when LA loses.
Shame on you.

And who's Jim Mcmahon? The NFL footballer? What's he got to do with this?
Some story-cross-pollination going on that I'm not aware of?

Nice try mm, but bring more next time!
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written by markymark, May 20, 2009
Sorry don i was thinking of Vince from WWE. Anyhows...

Not paying attention when LA loses? Wel lthey dropped game 1 home court. I paid attention to that. They were out played Game 4. They were pumped game 6. No McGrady and mostly no Yao for The Rockets. They didnt look interested for those games and kind of looked like they felt they deserved to go straight to the conference finals. The proof? Game 5. Will the real LA please stand up. Liek i said, i think they will pass Denver, Im just thinking your given Denver zero credit.

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written by with-malice, May 20, 2009
Hey Mark - yeah, I knew who you were referring to (I had a vid-clip up of the interview with Vince McMahon by then), just gave me the opportunity to be facetious, and ... well... hell, I couldn't resist that!

Anyway, when LA lose, it's generally because they're slacking off - taking the opposition for granted. Not all the time, but definitely 70%+ of the losses this season occurred for that reason. That's something they definitely did in game 1, and post Yao's injury. I honestly believe that if Yao wasn't injured, the series would've been over quicker. Bizarre train of thought, I know - but I'm not alone on that theory.
Definitely - if McGrady's in, it's over faster.

On Denver, you have to understand that this piece was written in conjunction to the PRO-Nuggets piece that I put up (linked at the beginning).
I feel that balances the ledger somewhat.
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written by markymark, May 20, 2009
Yes i must admit I didnt read the Denver one to you just pointed it out. And yes I guess it does balance the Ledger.

Keen to see how the Pepsi Centre situation unfolds. Serious flaw in the front office's vision dont you think?


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