The L.A. Lakers Missed Two Major Opportunities in Game Four

The L.A. Lakers really missed two opportunities in Denver. The first and most obvious squandered possibility was to take a decided advantage in the series with the Denver Nuggets. A Game Four victory would have meant returning to Los Angeles with a three games to one lead in the series and making it a monumental task for the Nuggets to advance. Instead, the Nuggets had a decided victory and the series returns to Los Angeles as a best-of-three. The first team to two victories advances to the NBA championship round.

There will be copious headlines about what went wrong with the Lakers and the numerous possibilities that were available. Carmelo Anthony had been ill prior to the game and it reflected in his game. A three-for-sixteen night from the field is not a normal outing for Carmelo Anthony. However, the Lakers had their own problems:

• no energy
• three Nugget substitutes (J.R. Smith, Linas Kleiza and Chris Andersen) contributing forty points, eight rebounds and six assists
• only twenty four points from all the Lakers substitutes
• Lakers out-rebounded 58 - 40 by the Nuggets
• Nuggets with 20 offensive rebounds; Lakers with 9 offensive rebounds
• Lamar Odom contributing five points (one-for-eight) along with five fouls
• seven Nuggets players in double figures
• Derek Fisher shooting one-for-five on three point attempts

A brief glance at the box score makes it obvious why the game was so one-sided. However, there is a back-story of another missed opportunity. In the third quarter, Dahntay Jones was defending Kobe Bryant. On that play, Kobe Bryant was tripped and sent sprawling. Whether that trip by Dahntay Jones was deliberate or not is subject for debate. However, what is to be noted is that the game was still within reach for the Lakers at that point. And here was their team leader put to the floor.

This could have been a turning point. The Lakers saw the play and could have turned up the intensity of their effort for the remainder of the third and fourth quarters. Instead, the Lakers lost the third quarter and lost the fourth quarter (43-35). The Lakers allowed one of their team leaders to be tripped and did not elevate their game. That lack of response is telling. Is this a reflection of their sentiments towards Kobe Bryant? What does this tell Kobe Bryant about his team mates?

Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich once said: “Never underestimate the heart of a champion“. The Lakers missed an opportunity to show some heart. And, regardless of the outcome of the Nuggets / Lakers series, this speaks volumes about these Lakers.

Catherine Forsythe