The Los Angeles Lakers struggled to stop Nikola Jokic in Game 1 of their Western Conference Finals. The Los Angelenos tried hard to stop Jokic and they could control him at some point, but nothing worked in the end.
Not only that, but Jamal Murray also went off and the Lakers didn’t have a response to that. Draymond Green offered a solution to the Lakers in a recent podcast, saying that they should use Jarred Vanderbilt on Jamal Murray from the beginning to try to hold back the point guard.
“If you put Jarred Vanderbilt on Jamal Murray, say, you have even [LeBron James] on [Jokic], and now you switch that pick and roll with [Anthony Davis] at the rim, now you got action. Now you’re keeping AD at the rim, you’re keeping a body in front of Joker, you’re keeping a body in front of Jamal Murray because they also will kill you in that pocket,” Green said. “… With that defensive coverage, it takes [Jokic’s passing] away. It allows you to better contain Jamal Murray.”
Draymond Green thinks the Lakers should start Vando on Jamal Murray pic.twitter.com/69r3fGluCj
— pickuphoop (@pickuphoop) May 18, 2023
Seeing how well the Nuggets played in Game 1, this can be a big adjustment. Jokic and Murray went off in this match, combining for 65 points. The Lakers tried to get back at them, but time was their enemy and neither Jokic nor Murray missed the big shots.
Darvin Ham made it clear his team will be ok after this loss, and LeBron James’ reaction after losing this game also made some noise around the league. Anthony Davis vowed to get more responsibilities on defense, so everything points out this team will be locked in tonight.
LeBron James Has Only Lost One Conference Finals In 11 Appearances
The Nuggets are competing against history itself, as the King has only lost once in 11 Western Conference Finals. The last time he lost at this stage was in 2009 when Dwight Howard prevented us from seeing a LeBron James-Kobe Bryant matchup in the Finals.
LeBron is 10-1 in the Conference Finals with his only loss coming to the Magic in 2009.
He’s just one series win away from 11-1… out of this world. pic.twitter.com/nqlbNRNrch
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 18, 2023
Denver has been the most consistent team in the 2023 NBA Playoffs, and they are set to keep it that way. The Lakers are hungry to tie this series, but it will be hard holding back both Jokic and Murray.
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