Los Angeles-Denver: Kobe Bryant and Company Are Ready to Host the Nuggets

Jose Gonzalez by Correspondent Written on April 19, 2008
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The Nuggets are coming to L.A. with the last playoff spot. Iverson has to make sure Anthony doesn't get in trouble. Anthony was arrested on Monday under the suspicion of drunk driving. In a city where sin is everywhere, and if you are not top of your game, the Lakers are ready to run you out.

You gotta expect this to be a high-scoring game when you have high-caliber shooters like 'Melo, AI, and Kobe. Two of them are the top scorers in the League. Iverson is averaging 26.4 a game, and Kobe above him with 28.3.

But Phil Jackson doesn't want this to be a shoot-off between these guys. Now, Kobe has teammates that can finish after he dishes the ball. Lamar and Gasol are going to have problems in the low post with defenders like Camby and K-Mart. 

Even though Camby is coming to this series with some of the best defensive talent in his career, he will need it. Odom is shooting a 52 percent from the field, and you have the Conquistador from Spain that can finish with either hand or pass it to the outside. With the spot-on shooters like Radman, Sasha "The Machine" Vujacic, and Fisher's big playoff experience when it comes to big shoots(0.4, it's enough time), the three-point line can become the Nuggets' double-edged sword.

Everybody knows what Kobe is going to do when the playoffs start. He can smell a championship, and the Nuggets are not going to be the team to stop him. The Lakers won the regular season series three to one, and they know this is their year.

Iverson and Anthony are going to try to stop them by shooting that ball like there's no tomorrow. If Kobe...or better yet, when Kobe goes off, it won't matter what city he is in or what day is it. At home, he has a city that loves him and that wants to see their messiah win the MVP award, but they also want to go to the promised land called the NBA Finals, and finally bring that Champioship trophy back home.

In Colorado, Kobe has a lot bad memories that are always going to hunt him, but he's ready to create some great memories that are going to hunt not only the Nuggets, but every playoff team.

This matchup won't be easy, but nothing worth something ever is. The Lakers are going to be too strong for the Nuggets, either away or at home, but Iverson and Anthony want it, and they might shoot their way into one win at home.

I give this series to the Lakers 4-1 because the Lakers are strong, but Iverson and Anthony have too much pride to get swept. 

On 4/20 this battle is going to start, and I'll be at home in a cloud-filled room cheering for the Lakers. I'll reach a higher level that I have reached in the past years, and the Lakers are going to reach a level higher than anyone on 4/20. 

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written on April 19, 2008 Preview/Prediction

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