Sports Thread #1 for 5/29/09: Nuggets vs Lakers, Game 6 (Lakers On Their Way To The Finals)

Photo from NBA.com

The Preview from Mr. Durley-Petty himself:

LA Lakers

Keep scoring stable connected like cable

It may seem like an inconceivable oxymoron but the Lakers are actually better when Kobe Bryant isn't a dominant offensive scorer. For the series Kobe is averaging 33.8 points a night, but LA was successful in Game 5 because he got additional help from the complementary players. Five Lakers scored in double figures Wednesday. Kobe may have been limited scoring only 22 points on 13 attempts, but he delegated the pill beautifully, accepting double teams and hitting open teammates for open shots finishing with 8 dimes. Offensive versatility makes LA far more dangerous.

LO, LO dey know dey know

Lamar Odom finally woke up from his extended slumber as Lamar Oh No was buried and The Goods reemerged. Odom was monumental, scoring 19 points, snatching 14 rebounds and 3 assists. Odom's brilliance wasn't limited to the offensive end, but was also evident on defense as he punched 4 shots. Odom's game has to be permeable and ball with the same ferocity, intensity and conviction for LA to close it out tonight.

Stay out our yard

In each loss LA has taken they've been pulverized in the paint, giving up nearly twice as many points. However, in Game 5 the Lakers did a great job, particularly in the second half of limiting Denver' drives and relegating them to deep jumpers. That stoute defense enabled LA to go on a game-changing 21-3 run when they were trailing 73-66 and yank a lead they would never relinquish. The Lakers will need to apply the same defensive principles tonight and Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Odom will have to protect the paint.

Get ready to eat

This is the time the Lakers have been waiting for all season. They're on the precipice of getting back to the Finals and realizing the chance of championship redemption from last year's disappointing loss. All year analysts have questioned they're mental and physical toughness. This is the time to silence those critics with a win at the raucous Mile High that will reverberate throughout the league. There's no time for any pop tart soft play or lack of concentration. Kobe and Phil Jackson have to reiterate the importance of getting it done now to the team and LA has to collectively head the admonishment.

Denver Nuggets

No fouls Nene

Nene is the Nuggets only true center. He's is Denver's interior anchor and paint foundation. However, Nene also has a affinity for attracting fouls. In Denver's three losses Nene has been saddled with fouls, collecting nearly at least 5 fouls and he fouled out in Game 5. The Brazilian cancer survivor is the Nuggets best post defender and rebounder, pulling 8 a game in the series and 10 points. It's pivotal Nene stays on the floor to combat the length and size of LA's bigs.

Kid get ya mind right!

Denver has outplayed the Lakers in 4 of the 5 games. If you cut off the score and just watched the game you'd easily concede Denver was the better team and soundly outplayed LA. However, because of Denver's propensity for mental meltdowns they've negated their own play advantage. The Nuggets can't allow their emotional combustibility and immaturity to let them get distracted into barking questionable calls, getting techs and popping off trash with the Lakers during confrontations. Denver also needs to limit LA's background players and not allow 5 players to score in double figures. Derek Fisher and Shannon Brown in particular cannot get off. George Karl has to show some leadership and get Denver to maintain their composure to avoid making rockheaded, idiotic mistakes or LA will bury their magical season.

Chauncey be compass not accomplice

Chauncey Billups is one of the most scholarly, cerebral chill customers you'll ever see lace up a pair of ball kicks. However, the rock uncharacteristically lost his composure and made some atrocious decisions during the Lakers game clinching 21-3 charge. Mr Big Shot fired ill-advised shots, throw passes with no one in the proximity and was an accomplice to the reckless insanity that popped off costing Denver a big win. Billups has to be the stabilizer he's been all year and when things get intense and adversity comes not allow his crew to unravel. Billups has to be take a page from Janet Jackson and exercise “Control” and get the Nuggets to slow their roll.

Lay em don't jay em

When Denver lost their cool down the stretch they abandoned the philosophy that reaped such bountiful benefits. Denver, and in particular J.R. Smith (1-10 three's) chucked injudicious regurgitious triples and long jumpers. The Nuggets went 7-24 from treyland and only had 17 assists. Denver needs to rely on the ball movement that got them a 120-101 wrecking of LA in Game 4 and aggressively bash and slash to the rack. Carmelo Anthony in particular needs to remain assertive and not get goaded into settling for deep jumpers. Melo needs to use his face-up 15 footer and go to the cup with intentions of banging on someone getting and 1's not simply looking to draw fouls. This will in turn create opportunities for open, uncontested treyballs which net rippers Linas Kleiza, Billups and Smith are adept at, as well as lay-ups for Birdman Anderson, K-Mart and Nene

Prediction

While they have unparalleled comprehensive skills, the Lakers still don't have the mental stamina to concentrate for extended periods of time. Denver will come out intense, energized and krunk feeding off the electricity of the crowd. The Nuggets swarming play will be too much for LA to overcome and a do or die Game 7 will take place Sunday night at Staples Center. Denver 110-101.

The Updates
Update 1:los Angeles looks focus while Carmelo is quiet again. 39-33 Lakers right now with 2:58 in the 2nd quarter.
Update 2:What a close to the first half. Kobe explodes at the end, and Trevor Ariza is like.......a really damn good shooter now. 53-40 at halftime. Carmelo better wake up.
Update 3: Dahntay Jones shows how he didn't put his Duke education to the best use. A silly technical foul that he picks up, and because of that, Kobe knocks the free throw after showing an air ball 54-43 in the early parts of the third.

Update 4: It's getting ugly in Denver right now. 77-59, Lakers are playing like the championship team that they can be. It is quiet now.
Update 5:Dominant third quarter, as the Lakers extend the lead to 16, 83-67 going into the final quarter. Can Denver somehow force a Game 7? And where the hell is Carmelo at?

4th quarter
Update 6: They are just unstoppable at the moment: Gasol, Odom, Walton, Ariza, everyone helping as the Lakers are up 90-69. Only a miracle and a half will prevent the Nuggets from letting the Lakers from clinching the West here tonight.

Update 7:"No mercy." That's the theme Kobe has preached, and it has been fulfilled 105-85 Lakers with 4:35 left.

Mike Breen has just said they are a perfect 19 for 19 at the line, the Lakers.

Update 8:Lakers up by 25, get the West trophy out.
Final score:Lakers 119, Nuggets 92

And Phil Jackson improves his record in series where he has won Game 1 to a staggering 43-0.

43-0. AMAZING!