The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers are locked in the Western Conference Finals in the playoffs after the Lakers defeated the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors in six games, and the Nuggets took care of business against the Phoenix Suns led by Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. In one of the most exciting Western Conference finals showdowns ever, the Nuggets and Lakers will likely go to battle in a series that should go all the way until the end. The Nuggets finished with the best record in the Western Conference at 53-29 and defeated two talented teams in the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns.
Denver was not respected until the playoffs and many knew that Nikola Jokic was not going to win his third MVP award. Regardless, Denver has stuck to their guns and exceptional teamwork by finding themselves in the Western Conference Finals for the first time since the 2019-20 NBA season. Meanwhile, the Lakers have shocked everybody since the trade deadline by trading Russell Westbrook and bringing in D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley after already trading for talented forward Rui Hachimura. The Lakers have a ton of depth and have taken care of business in the playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors, meaning they are legitimate.
It won’t be an easy series for either side as both teams will compete at a high level with the intention of building momentum for a deep playoff run. We have already seen how good the Nuggets can be as the first seed, while the Lakers held an incredible record in the NBA after the trade deadline. With only a few days until we see the Nuggets and Lakers head to battle, let’s do a comparison on the starters, bench, coaches, and key advantages before making a prediction.
Here is the full comparison between the Nuggets and Lakers in what will constitute an exciting first-round matchup in the Western Conference.
Starting Lineups
Denver Nuggets: Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic
Los Angeles Lakers: D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Jarred Vanderbilt, Anthony Davis
The Denver Nuggets starting lineup usually consists of Jamal Murray at point guard, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at shooting guard, Michael Porter Jr and Aaron Gordon at forward, and Nikola Jokic at center. Jamal Murray is a dynamic scorer and playmaker, capable of hitting from long-range or driving to the rim and his return to the roster has been the major reason why Denver has finished first in the West. Caldwell-Pope is a tenacious defender and solid three-point shooter, while Porter Jr provides an extra scoring punch with no conscious.
Gordon is an excellent defender and improved offensive player and finally, Nikola Jokic is the centerpiece of the Nuggets offense, a versatile center with extraordinary passing skills and the ability to score from inside or outside the paint. This combination of talent, experience, and versatility has helped make the Denver Nuggets one of the top teams in the Western Conference every year, and their 5th-ranked offense is the result.
Meanwhile, the Lakers have greatly improved since the trade deadline, bringing in two talented new starters. D’Angelo Russell has been a solid contributor for the Lakers in the playoffs since he is averaging 15.7 PPG and 5.0 APG on 34.7% shooting from three. He brings All-Star capabilities as a scorer at times, and Austin Reaves is also an improved player when it comes to scoring, defending, and drawing fouls. Jarred Vanderbilt has also been the team’s best defender for most of the season and he will be needed against a top-ranked Denver offense.
Similar to how Jokic is the star in Denver, the Lakers’ season depends on LeBron James and Anthony Davis. James is still one of the ten best players in the world, and even at age 38, his experience is a massive advantage for the Lakers against a comparably inexperienced Nuggets side. Not to mention, he is unstoppable when he attacks the rim and Jokic is not necessarily the greatest rim protector. No doubt, the wild card is always Anthony Davis. Davis dominates inside and will have the ability to win the series for the Lakers because he is uniquely talented as LeBron’s co-star. Against a better player in Jokic, Davis will have to play his own game and share duties with James and try to make this a two vs. one matchup throughout the series as long as Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr are minimized.
Advantage: Even
Bench
Denver Nuggets: Reggie Jackson, Ish Smith, Peyton Watson, Christian Braun, Bruce Brown Jr, Jeff Green, Vlatko Cancar, Zeke Nnaji
Los Angeles Lakers: Dennis Schroder, Malik Beasley, Lonnie Walker IV, Troy Brown Jr, Max Christie, Rui Hachimura, Mohamed Bamba, Wenyen Gabriel
The Lakers bench is far deeper now, thanks to the availability of Dennis Schroder, Malik Beasley, Rui Hachimura, and Lonnie Walker IV. Los Angeles has a speedy point guard in Dennis Schroder, who is always pushing the pace and has chemistry alongside LeBron James in Los Angeles. The shooters off the bench, including Malik Beasley, Lonnie Walker IV, and Troy Brown Jr, will all have moments to shine and will make shots throughout the series.
Hachimura is the best player coming off the Lakers’ bench, as he has the size and skill to provide at least 10 PPG in the series. Anytime Davis needs a breather, or if the Lakers want to go big, Hachimura will always be a factor. Lonnie Walker had a special series against the Golden State Warriors, averaging 10.6 PPG and making timely shots when they were needed.
Denver responds with Bruce Brown Jr as the best player coming off the bench. Brown Jr competes hard on both ends of the court and was brought in to be steel on the wing and also hit outside shots. Not to mention, Christian Braun has been a surprising competitor who plays hard on both ends and the same goes for the likes of Cancar and even Jeff Green. Reggie Jackson has also not had a ton of minutes and he might not see a ton of action, with Jamal Murray, Caldwell-Pope, and Brown taking up most of the guard minutes.
As good as Denver’s bench is under Michael Malone, the Lakers have the advantage. Schroder, Walker IV, and Hachimura are each a contender to have a 20-point game at any point in the series. Not to mention, the Lakers can throw on shooters, including Beasley and Brown Jr, to space the floor while Gabriel has chemistry with LeBron James. Due to the number of players that can come in and the talent of Schroder, Walker IV, and Hachimura, the Lakers have the bench advantage.
Advantage: Los Angeles Lakers
Michael Malone vs. Darvin Ham
Michael Malone and Darvin Ham are two NBA coaches who have made a name for themselves in the league. This year While they have different coaching styles and experiences, they share a passion for developing their players and creating a winning culture. Michael Malone is the current head coach of the Denver Nuggets, has been with the team since 2015 and has built them into a perennial playoff contender in the Western Conference. Malone is known for his defensive-minded approach and has helped the Nuggets become one of the best all-around teams in the league. Remember, Denver ranked 5th in offensive rating and 8th in OPPG.
Darvin Ham, on the other hand, has done well as a rookie coach. He has clicked with his players with his high-energy coaching style and his ability to connect with players. He is also highly regarded for his work with superstars, including LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Even when comparing the two coaches, it’s clear they have different approaches on the sidelines. Malone is known for being a more vocal coach, often seen yelling from the sidelines and communicating with his players throughout the game. Ham, on the other hand, is known for his calm demeanor and for building strong relationships with his players.
Both coaches have had success in developing their players, but there is only one winner in this comparison. Due to experience and chemistry with the same core year after year, Michael Malone edges Darvin Ham. Malone has his players compete hard on both ends of the court while also benefiting from the presence of two-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Ham has surprised us with how great he has been, but Malone edges him.
Advantage: Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets Advantages
The Denver Nuggets are exceptionally well-coached with a talented roster. They have a two-time MVP in Nikola Jokic, an elite two-way roster, and one of the best coaches in the world. Michael Malone has made the Nuggets a dominant side in terms of moving the ball and getting good shots, especially when the ball is fed inside to Nikola Jokic. Denver ranked 5th in offensive rating this season and there is no answer for Nikola Jokic right now. The Serbian is too large, skilled, and unselfish to handle one-on-one and he will dictate the series.
Not to mention, there are elite shooters around Jokic. Murray, Porter Jr, and Caldwell-Pope are money from deep and Aaron Gordon can also stretch the floor enough. The Nuggets do not have a weakness from top to bottom and the only thing that can truly defeat them is superstar power from the opposition. Unless Jokic can be outdone by any duo of stars, the Nuggets are truly a well-rounded team.
Los Angeles Lakers Advantages
The Lakers have LeBron James and Anthony Davis, two of the greatest players in the world. James is 38 years old and is not the same player from a decade ago, obviously, but he still has an unstoppable ability to get to the rim and finish inside. LeBron also has championship experience and is arguably the best leader in the NBA, and that will be an advantage over a Nuggets side that has not even made a single NBA Finals appearance just yet.
Davis is also supremely talented and will need to counter MVP Nikola Jokic as much as possible. The big man will have to docs on being a primary scorer and rebounder while trying to minimize what The Joker will do. The Lakers also have a host of talented role players who compete on both ends of the court and that depth will be critical in this series against the number-one-seeded Nuggets.
Who Is The Better Team In The Western Conference Finals?
There are several reasons why the Denver Nuggets could potentially defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs and prove to be the better team. The first is Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets’ All-Star center, who is a matchup nightmare for any team. He has a unique skill set for a big man, with his passing ability and outside shot making him difficult to defend. His ability to draw fouls and get opposing players in foul trouble would be a major advantage for the Nuggets against a Lakers side that will struggle if Davis has to miss time with foul trouble.
The Nuggets also have a strong defense, ranking in the top 10 in defensive rating in the league during the regular season. They have the ability to switch and defend multiple positions, making it difficult for opposing offenses to find open shots and run their preferred sets. The coaching advantage of Michael Malone will also prove to be critical as Denver decides to compete hard on both ends and take advantage of when James and Davis rest on the bench.
The Lakers have two elite stars in James and Davis and incredible depth, meaning the team is extremely deep with talented players across the board. However, they were the 7th seed for a reason and the Nuggets have consistently been the team to beat in the West. Denver handled a Phoenix Suns team with two elite stars rather handily, so the Lakers could be in trouble in case James is not able to play 100% every game due to age or Davis struggles with foul trouble. Jokic could be a problem for Los Angeles because they don’t have enough big man depth behind Davis and if Murray and Porter show up, it will likely be over with the Nuggets making their first Finals appearance.
Anything can happen, as we have seen time and time again in the modern NBA, but the Los Angeles Lakers might succumb to the talent and exceptional coaching of Michael Malone and the Denver Nuggets as the number one seed in the West proceeds to the NBA Finals after seven games.
Prediction: Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers 4-3
