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NBA Playoffs First Round Match – Up #1 Los Angeles Lakers Vs. #8 Denver Nuggets The Sacramento Kings were the last hurdle for the Lakers to win the west & were no match in stopping ...

NBA Playoffs: #1 Lakers vs # 8 Nuggets

by Jeff Little (Senior Writer)

4

2,477 reads

Preview/Prediction

April 17, 2008


NBA Playoffs First Round Match – Up

#1 Los Angeles Lakers Vs. #8 Denver Nuggets

 

The Sacramento Kings were the last hurdle for the Lakers to win the west & were no match in stopping the Lakers from earning the Top Spot in the Western Conference heading into the playoffs. The Lakers were 3 – 0 in the season series.

11/29 Los Angeles 127, Denver 99

12/5 Los Angeles 111, Denver 107 

1/21 Los Angeles 116, Denver 99

Kobe Bryant & company going up against AI & Carmelo, The Nuggets will try to play fast and outshoot the Lakers while the Lakers will play a deliberate medium speed game forcing the Nuggets to work on defense.

Starter Match Up’s 

PG Derek Fisher 6’ 1” 210 lbs. 11thYear, Avg. 11.7 Pts, 2.9 Ast., 2.1 Reb, 1 Stl 

PG Anthony Carter 6’ 2” 195 lbs. 8thYear, Avg. 7.8 Pts, 5.5 Ast., 2.9 Reb, 

Two veteran Point Guards in this match-up that are similar in size.Carter is shooting 45.8% from the floor but has had 11 points or less in the last six games. I consider this a Key Match-up due to Derek Fisher’s spotting up for timely 3-point shots after Kobe drives the lane and one of the post players have to step in front of him, leaving someone open in the process. I give the edge in this match-up to Derek Fisher who is a veteran of the NBA playoff battles and holds 3 championship rings and is shooting has a 43% FG from 2-pt range and 41% 3-Pt FG. Advantage: Lakers 

SG Kobe Bryant 6’ 6” 220 lbs.    11thYear, Avg. 28.3 Pts, 5.4 Ast, 6.3 Reb, 2 Stl.

SG Allen Iverson 6’ 0” 180 lbs.   11thYear, Avg. 26.4 Pts, 7.1 Ast, 3.0 Reb, 3 Stl.

 

This will be a tough match up between two Superstars from the same draft class. The favorite to win this years MVP award against a former MVP. Allen Iverson will have to work to get his points and he will but Kobe Bryant with his style of play, skills and desire to win won’t be stopped. Allen Iverson as we all know can get hot and be very difficult to slow down. He lit up the Lakers in a December game netting 49 points in the 1st 3 quarters and finishing the game with 51 points and a loss. It will be exciting to watch but Kobe has the edge & will win this match-up. Advantage: Lakers

 

SF Vladimir Radmanovic 6’ 10” 235 lbs. 6thYear, Avg. 8.4 Pts, 1.9 Ast, 3.3 Reb.

SF Carmelo Anthony  6’ 8” 230 lbs. 4th

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4 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Ralph isaac about 1 year ago

    Although LA is my team, i dont think Nuggets will be that easy to beat. My lakers have a way of relaxing on the defensive end which is our greatest weakness so far.

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    • Bittu Ahlawat about 1 year ago

      I agree with you Ralph. Although lately our Lakers have shown tendency of playing defense when it mattered, that philosphy is not going to work in the playoffs. they cant take whole quarters, halfs off on the defense and get away with it in the playoffs.

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    • Jeff Little about 1 year ago

      Ralph & Bittu--thanks for the feedback, I couldn't agree with you more in regards to the Lakers defense, there will be no easy games in the playoffs. The Lakers have displayed some terrible defense at times this season. The Lakers showed everyone in the Hot weekend that saw them beat the Hornets & Spurs that they can play defense. Well the 1st quarter of the Hornets game and the second half of the Spurs game. The defense has to improve and it will take a concerted effort by everyone donning a purple and gold jersey to be successful and as stated the Lakers need to stop the dribble penetration, contain the scoring trio of Carmelo, A.I. & J.R. Smith, rotate out to shooters and not allow open shots. Kobe will be unstoppable but Lamar Odom has to be dangerous and has to be a factor scoring that will be key. This can cause the Nuggets problems inside and could cause Camby and Martin to get into foul trouble. For the Lakers it will come down to defense for them to advance and in my opinion the Lakers defense is better and has ranked higher than the Nuggets defense. This is the playoffs and it is time to step up your game and if the Lakers do that the series will be over in 5 games if not it could go 6 games.

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  2. paul valdez about 1 year ago

    go lakers

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