NBA Western Conference Finals Game 3 Preview
So, what was that about the Lakers having an easy road to the NBA Finals?
In case you hadn’t been paying too much attention before when Denver tossed New Orleans and Dallas aside like a couple of rag dolls, the Lakers and everyone else should know now that the Nuggets are a pretty darn good team.
After letting one slip away in a 105-103 loss in Game 1 in L.A., Denver made the clutch plays in the late stages to pull out a 106-103 win and take the series back to Denver with a chance to take control.
The Lakers’ seven-game series against Houston exposed some chinks in their armor, and the Nuggets have further shown that the Lakers are not quite what they seemed to be.
Denver have put themselves in a great position, thanks in large part to three players – Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, and Kenyon Martin. In Game 1, the trio combined for 72 points, and in Game 2, they combined for 77 points.
It’s also been a ‘Big Three’ for L.A. Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Derek Fisher combined for 69 in Game 1, and Kobe, Pau, and Trevor Ariza combined for 69 in Game 2. But the difference between the two teams is that Denver has gotten a solid performance from someone else in both games, with Nene scoring 14 in Game 1 and Linas Kleiza pouring in 16 in Game 2.
Slowing down Denver’s ‘Big Three’ is key, but in a game that should see both teams eclipse the century mark yet again, what happens on the offensive end is just as key. Either Kobe’s going to have to start pouring in 50+ from here on out, or the supporting cast is going to have to step up and do more if the Lakers want to win this series.
The latest NBA betting odds have Denver favored by four, and with the way things are going right now in both conference finals series, I expect another tight, back-and-forth game. Who’s going to come out on top? As I said, I expect another tight game and the Lakers to cover the spread, but I’ll take the Nuggets to win and go up 2-1.
Dont Agree? Let us Know. We love hearing your thoughts and picks!
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