How the Lakers late game adjustments kept them from getting embarrassed in Game 1 of WCF

By JJ Hicks

During game one Nikola Jokic proved why he was by far the best player in the league. His passing ability alongside his ability to get to the rim while bullying his defender to the paint is why he is the best in the league. Even with the league’s best interior defender in Anthony Davis, Jokic still proved his ability to affect the game very strongly offensively. Early on, the Lakers couldn’t adjust to the screens by Jokic getting Denver’s guard’s wide-open looks from the mid-range and three. LA found themselves down by 20 at some point in the third quarter in what seemed like the deciding factor of the series because of LA’s inability to get a defensive stop. Even though Denver was having a very efficient game from the field. It was a clear tell that they were the better team throughout the entire game. LA’s guards struggled very badly on both sides of the floor with Denver’s 2 primary guards combining for 50+, and LA’s guards only having 15. As of late in the fourth quarter Denver was sitting at a very comfortable 12-point lead with them and LA trading basket for basket. LA called a time-out and subbed in Rui Hachimura. He would be switched to guard Nikola Jokic primarily. What was thought to be a dead game switched really quickly. With the NBAs all-time leading scorer in Lebron James, offensively he would attack in the post almost every possession down the stretch to put Denver’s defense in a vulnerable position. With a strong, stocky forward in Aaron Gordon guarding Lebron it slowed him down tremendously due to his lack of ability to bully his way into the paint. Down the stretch, Lebron knew he needed to get a switch onto a smaller defender so he can attack them and get to the rim using his strength, and that’s exactly what he did. Lebron would dribble up the court and Austin Reaves would set a high ball screen making Gordon and Murray switch and allow LeBron to tank his way into the paint. What was at one point a 12-point game changed to a one-possession game really fast. With Denver’s fans on the Edge of their seats, Lebron came down with the ball, down three, he sizes up his defender and shoots an off-dribble three and he misses it. Jokic came down the floor and drew a foul on Anthony Davis which ended up making it a 2 possession game with 10 seconds and the Lakers coach Darvin Ham knew it was time to waive the white flag.