Lakers face elimination vs Nuggets in Gm 4, Jokic is worried about LeBron | NBA | FIRST THINGS FIRST

Well, there are many reasons, obviously, the

first

and most obvious being that Brew finally cut off his ears, not even the goat can overcome Broussard's curse. He should have known, he should have tried to talk him out of it, but unfortunately they didn't. there's too much listening I was wrong America now I was wrong about the series we'll find out tonight or Wednesday or at some point if the Nuggets win game four, but even no matter what happens over the next week, my analysis after game one and in in the series was incorrect because the reason I had that unlimited optimism was that I thought the Lakers would be able to do throughout the series what they did in the

first

game, which is score with great ease at any time and not I thought the Nuggets were going to score 130 a night half of that was right the first half the most important part was completely wrong the

nuggets

have been much better in crunch time they have been the toughest team they look like the freshest team and they and this No, I'm not putting this on Darvin Ham's door.

This is a compliment to the Nuggets head coach, not an accusation against the Lakers head coach, the Nuggets instantly recognized oh, the D'Angelo Russell situation is a disaster for the Lakers and I think. manipulated like the Lakers into leaning towards that. I don't think it was a coincidence that immediately after the first game, Mike Malone said that's an interesting story: are they going to play him or not? and Bruce Brown talked about it, almost daring to let the Lakers keep them on the court. knowing that D'Angelo is a guy that can get temperamental with ups and downs and also knowing that we can quickly show them that when D'Angelo is on the court the Lakers are annihilated and in the 65 minutes that he is off the court they have won outright.

Now, to be clear, Brew, I'm not saying take out D'Angelo Russell and the Lakers are leading this series, but I think it would be 2-1, potentially, not 3-0, so I think there are a lot of reasons. , the most notable is. that matchup and the fact that the Lakers are wearing down at the end of these games for a reason I can briefly explain, that's why they are down 0-3 and of course because you picked them well, let me address you by picking you you because Yes, I obviously left out a compelling analysis, but I knew deep down that this was going to happen anyway, so why didn't you know?

I know this because I asked the analysts that Denver was the best team you could see after the first game, but I grew up, what did I say when I approached you before the series and said I was going to pick the Lakers? I said I got tired of betting against LeBron, yes, yes, but that was more, it was more fun. The first first game covered that for It 100 times, but I knew it, I always knew it, but here's why I knew it, because Denver and I think Nick will admit it, even though he thought he tried to put it all on D'Angelo, no, I I didn't put it on him, he comes here. and he puts it all on the d line no they didn't charge me I was trying to do that no I think that's the biggest problem in the Lakers lineup but the Nuggets have been better okay the Nuggets have been the best team, the Lakers are a very good team.

It's obviously true, but as good as they are, they've beaten some broken teams, teams that just weren't as balanced. Memphis was obviously all inside, driving to the paint, no three point shooting for the most part, Golden State was all perimeter. yeah, you're afraid to shoot the ball at The Rim because of Anthony Davis, so they're shooting all the threes. Denver, of course, is balanced, they became jokers inside, they have excellent three-point shooting and they have made mincemeat of supposedly the best defense in this league, but also the teams that the Lakers beat because Steven Adam's Brandon Clark came out and emotionally because of everything John Moran and Golden State broke down emotionally because, like you said for much of the season, I mean, everyone admitted it, bro. he was denied brother with head coach Steve Kerr and Draymond Green came out and said and you've already improved, in fact, the hit did.

I'm going to believe, wait a second, although this is uh, I haven't even done it. Got to my main point, okay let me get back to you quickly. This is the definition of revisionist history. No, you chose the Grizzlies knowing the injuries. You picked the Warriors to win knowing the punch. Saying I shouldn't. I'm not going to take it back. My choice, if you can do that, I'm just saying that those teams were limited, well, this team is a balanced team, emotionally complete and like they've been healthy all year, they think that even they themselves are welcome, you know what I'm saying?

I mean? that's all I'm saying I wasn't trying to get it I have to say you know no I didn't pick them but also here's the graph showing how dominant the Nuggets look they are shooting 50 against the Lakers for the 41 series from three, you're not beating anyone who's shooting 41 from three unless you throw yourself and then the offensive lady Nick and you can notice 124.1, yeah, Sacramento had the best of all time this year, which was 119 .and then the points per game 119 would have been second in the league this season, they are destroying the Lakers' main strength, which is depth, that's right, go ahead Wiles, but before we go any further I want to add something else, but go ahead.

What about Rui Hachimura? I heard after the first game that we're good, believe me, and he had no response and I think Mike Malone took offense to that. I feel like there's a level of disrespect towards Denver, even this question is a bit like they're coming after the media. Then, hey, even when we win, you guys talk about the Lakers and I tell you no, we don't, it's the main reason the Lakers are losing 0-3. I feel like they have disrespected the

nuggets

. They know everyone except okay, okay. I agree. with you that the nuggets have been an afterthought for much of the media and when we've said all year that the West is wide open it was largely because the number one seed with the two-time MVP most didn't fully believe in the I no one on this show said rui hachem, in fact we made a point of saying that none of us thought that rui hachimura had solved Nikola

jokic

, it was an interesting problem, I would say that from the first game, Nicola

jokic

is not the reason why that the Lakers have lost the last two games that they would need now listen, he has been good or very good in each of those games, but Jamal Murray's performance in the fourth quarter of the second game and in the first half of the third game is what which killed it, but can I revisit one?

Another thing I said at the beginning about the wear and tear on this team, okay, that's why I said last week that I don't remember what the series was about, but I said one of the

things

I love about the NBA Playoffs is that everything matters, every Bill eventually. The time comes and you are seeing it in every series the Boston Celtics go to the finals they bring everyone back everything is flying high their head coach gets involved in an infidelity scandal and it seems to be the bill that has come to his end year the Golden State Warriors are defending a title, they have a veteran hit, a young man who arrived because the Los Angeles Lakers decided, against the advice of almost everyone, to start the season with Russell Westbrook playing a prominent role, they started two of every ten and because of that.

Their playoffs started a month earlier than everyone else and that bill seems to come at the height of Denver or at the end of these games when an aging team that doesn't have a deep rotation at this point in the postseason relies on LeBron James. at 38 years old playing 42 minutes when it's his second straight month in the playoffs, one for all, his first month is just to remember that he wanted a lot of those games, well no, but he came back on March 23, so this is what it is. today, April 22 or May, no, and he played seven consecutive games until finishing, then the play-in that reached the point of overtime is what the Nuggets were doing, they wasted an opportunity for the MVP, they were resting, the Lakers They have been playing, they must win. games for a couple of months now and they look tired they look worn out that's not bad luck that's because you tried hard that's great and you know they're fine that's right they're not the age the Lakers are and they're not us supporting such a short rotation.

I would say, bro, are you saying there's a chance it could be short? It's not your turn. I mean, no, everyone's just waiting for Lebron's game. He won't come, it could have been the sixth game against. the Warriors who could have been the high water mark of this postseason, don't think it will come tonight, no, if LeBron could take over one of these games like old LeBron, they would have done it in game three, they are down 3- 0 you're going to wait until you're down to know you're against the wall, literally, you're not looking. LeBron is playing well 24 10 and 9. that was a great shot number 48 even though he's not on three those are star numbers for Comeback from three Obie the first time I don't need star numbers I need LeBron numbers and even with the numbers of LeBron is not happening I mean, no, they are not the Nuggets, they are the best team the Nuggets are and then the The Lakers will not come back even with LeBron, the Nuggets are the best team.

Obviously, if they offer an even money bet, I wouldn't say yes, I'll take the Lakers to win four in a row. I'm not ruling it out as possible the way Brew is and I'll tell you why in a moment, but first I have a question for Wild, it's important. I just want to make sure I understand the rules of engagement here if LeBron were to win four in a row and win this. series but then loses in the next round, it would be bad for him, right? I'm just curious, it would be bad for him, right?

I'm asking wildly. I'm asking an honest question if you had to. He spent all the energy, had the first comeback from 3-0, but then they were, let's say, swept in the final, that then is bad for him, right, those are the rules because I have discussed this, yes, about losing in the fight . yeah, it's this and better, this is a verb, right, it would be worse, here's the look, so it could be bad, you can agree with me, it would be great if LeBron did this, yeah, and then if he lost in the Finally, the only place where I could do it. hurt you, isn't it okay, but I'd better lose, well, no, it's just no, there's no foreign debate.

He wants to lose one of these games, probably because if they came back he would be very exhausted. How could they do it? he wins the final, but that's it, you're here, you have a chance, I mean, really, this is what I'll say. I'll say this: Denver in March, before yoga started taking a break, had a four-game stretch against mediocre teams. Jokic played all four. two at home two on the road lost the four dead the Rockets Then the Spurs were there the Knicks were there there were a couple of I don't have the schedule in front of me I looked at it beforehand I'll say another part, if the Lakers win tonight, game five becomes a little bit of an adjustment for Denver because then they know game six we have to go back to Los Angeles and it's for you, bro, the statistic everyone's talking about is zero. one and all 149.

What I think is even more notable is that only three teams prepare and I was talking about this before the show has even forced game seven, so 146 of the 149 have won in games four , five or six. I think it would be interesting for them to win tonight. I think tomorrow's program is interesting. What is your answer? Any belief. My answer is yes. I'm like Nikola Jokic. Blame me. I'm like you know what because they have LeBron. I think he's on the board, okay, it's all on the board, another thing on the board, somewhere on the board is LeBron's last playoff game tonight is not on the board, what's the MVP? of Murray?

Denver, so jokic is clearly their MVP. I think Murray has been the difference in the series well, someone is going to receive this, let's say they gave him the award right now, you know, who would you give it to? So it's because I understood, yes, and I wasn't real. I guess you know what this is, maybe it's a bad job. I mean, I wasn't even thinking about how this is a real award now. I was thinking about this more in the way we talked, so it's all jokic and by the way, he was critical in the key moment of the game. three was the eight minutes he was on the bench in the third quarter with foul trouble the Nuggets didn't crumble when I think a lot of people thought they would, but the yogurts for the series are 27 15 and 11 just and I'll just say just by their standards 52 or 45 from three, I think the Lakers would have gone for that, yeah, I think if the guy shot 60 in the regular season, that's the only thing that's way above their average, I think they're the rebounds. you said it was going to be 27 15 11 against 50 for the yogic Lakers.

It was said that okay, Murray is 35, 7 and 5. And that for me is so jokic that it has been more valuable, but Murray is for me the guy who has tilted the series because they were not betting on 35 in divisions of 50 to 45 for him, it's tough, I mean, whoever wins it, I'm not going to have a problem withThat's, you know, unless something crazy happens in the fourth game, but or when they win it, I was ready to move on. Murray, because you're right, I mean he scored 30 points yesterday in the third game that showed or Saturday night in the first half that showed the Lakers, oh they didn't take this game away, you know what I mean , when they come out and give you 30 in the first or that shoulder is made, okay, we're in a dogfight, that's true, and that was the tone, obviously, the 23 points at the end of the second game were the key , but when I really looked at it, I would have to get a little yokish because, like you said, everything goes through it.

Rebounding has been a big part of this series that they have rebounded off the Lakers because they are averaging a series A High 15. They are also averaging a series high in assists and they have had 11 more offensive rebounds than the Lakers. He has the most credits and then he had 15, 15 points, yeah, in the third game or Saturday, in the fourth quarter, he quickly told Mark Spears after the game. I don't think they respect me enough every time I see rankings. The guys think that's crazy. But if I win a chip, everything changes. If that's Murray, he said that to Mark Spears. he wins this award as if Joker could be like a man.

I hope he gets it. I think it would be great for his confidence to go to the next level when he gets to the finals to allow him to get some hardware. Joker has a lot, I think. He would be good for Team Dynamics, yes there will be no problem with him getting to work and let me say this because we put a lot into these awards like me. I have never voted for the Superstar team if they don't win the MVP of the finals. Kareem has two Finals MVPs in his six years, he is doing well, Magic had three of his five championships.

Kareem has six rings, so I think it's ridiculous that we almost wanted to take a ring off him if a guy didn't split the clay and he was so happy, yeah, he did. nice, but because people were making such a big deal about him not winning the first three years, it wouldn't be easy to joke about Murray winning the Western Conference. Thanks for watching, subscribe here to learn more about the show and watch clips. from other programs on FS1