Lakers beat Pelicans in Play-In, LeBron talks Nuggets & Zion OUT vs Kings | NBA | FIRST THINGS FIRST

First Things First
17 Apr 202421:46

Summary

TLDRThe transcript discusses a variety of topics related to NBA basketball, focusing on the performance of teams and players in recent games. It delves into the Lakers' victory and the implications it has for their playoff positioning, with particular attention given to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The conversation also touches on the掘金 (Denver Nuggets) and their chances against the Lakers in a potential playoff matchup, with analysis on player performances and strategies. Additionally, there's a discussion about Zion Williamson's standout game and subsequent injury, raising concerns about his durability and the impact on his team, the Pelicans. The summary also briefly mentions other players like D'Angelo Russell and the importance of role players in determining the outcome of games. The dialogue is rich with insights, predictions, and a deep dive into the game's analytics and player statistics.

Takeaways

  • 🏀 The Lakers' win was significant, providing them with a much-needed margin of error after a mentally exhausting month of play.
  • 🤔 Despite the win, there are concerns about LeBron James looking 'out of gas' and the team's performance being less than stellar for portions of the game.
  • 🎉 D'Angelo Russell and other role players stepping up with key plays was a positive sign for the Lakers heading into the playoffs.
  • 🚫 The Lakers' victory was also notable for avoiding a potential first-round upset against a tough Denver team.
  • 🏆 The Nuggets are considered a strong contender with a good record and strong performance in the fourth quarter of games.
  • 🤨 There's skepticism about whether LeBron James and the Lakers can overcome their historical struggles in Denver.
  • 👥 The discussion highlighted the importance of not just the star players but the entire team's contribution to success in the playoffs.
  • 📉 The Lakers' performance has been inconsistent, with key players having moments of both extraordinary and poor play.
  • ⏱️ The timing of the games and the rest between them could impact the Lakers' ability to maintain a high level of play.
  • 🤕 Zion Williamson's standout performance followed by a hamstring injury raises concerns about his durability and future prospects.
  • 🚨 The Pelicans face a critical decision regarding their roster, particularly with the uncertainty around Zion's health and Brandon Ingram's status.

Q & A

  • What was the topic of discussion regarding the Lakers' game?

    -The discussion revolved around the Lakers' recent win, their performance, and the implications it has for their upcoming series against the Denver Nuggets.

  • What was the general sentiment towards the Lakers' win?

    -There was a debate on whether Lakers fans should be happy or ecstatic about their win, with some arguing that despite the win being 'ugly,' it provided a much-needed margin of error.

  • How did LeBron James and Anthony Davis perform in the game?

    -LeBron James and Anthony Davis were noted to not have played particularly well, with LeBron appearing out of gas and both having a lower shooting percentage.

  • What was the significance of D'Angelo Russell's performance?

    -D'Angelo Russell, who had been historically bad in the playoffs, stepped up and hit a crucial shot, which was considered the biggest shot of his career.

  • What was the debate about the potential outcome of the Lakers vs. Nuggets series?

    -There was a disagreement on whether the Lakers could beat the Nuggets, with some arguing that the Nuggets were the better team and others believing that the Lakers had a chance due to their resilience and the potential for LeBron to perform better.

  • What was the discussion about Zion Williamson's performance and subsequent injury?

    -Zion Williamson had a standout game with 40 points but was forced to leave due to a hamstring injury. The conversation touched on his potential as a superstar and the recurring issue of his availability due to injuries.

  • What was the opinion on the importance of role players stepping up in the Lakers' game?

    -The role players' performance was seen as crucial, especially with the Lakers' star players not playing at their best. The stepping up of players like Austin Reeves and Gabe Vincent was highlighted.

  • What was the analysis on the Nuggets' key players and their impact on the series?

    -The discussion highlighted the importance of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray for the Nuggets, with a focus on how Anthony Davis as a defender could impact Jokic's performance.

  • What was the general consensus on the importance of home-court advantage for the Nuggets?

    -The Nuggets were recognized as one of the best home teams in the league, which was seen as a significant advantage for them in the series against the Lakers.

  • What was the discussion regarding the Lakers' road performance?

    -The Lakers were identified as the worst road team in the Western Conference in terms of record, which was a point of concern for their chances in the series.

  • What was the final prediction for the outcome of the Lakers vs. Nuggets series?

    -There was a split in the prediction, with some analysts picking the Nuggets to win in five games, while others believed the Lakers could potentially upset the Nuggets.

Outlines

00:00

🏀 Lakers' Victory and Fan Expectations

The paragraph discusses the reactions of Lakers fans to their team's recent win, emphasizing that they should be ecstatic rather than just happy. The speaker highlights the importance of the game, the performance of key players like LeBron and Anthony Davis, and the overall team effort. Despite some criticism towards the end of the game, the speaker notes the significance of the win in the context of the upcoming series against Denver and the need for other team members to step up, which they did, as exemplified by D'Angelo Russell's crucial shot and Austin Reeves' supportive play.

05:02

🤔 Controversy Over Zion's Performance and Injury

This paragraph focuses on the controversial exit of Zion from the game with three minutes left, despite his outstanding performance up to that point, scoring 40 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. The speaker debates whether Zion's early exit was justified, given his previous performance. The paragraph also touches on the analysis of the game, the impact of Zion's potential injury on future games, and the broader implications for the team, including questions about his reliability and availability for future crucial games.

10:02

🏆 Lakers vs. Nuggets: Predictions and Analysis

The speaker delves into a detailed analysis and prediction of the potential matchup between the Lakers and the Nuggets. The discussion includes a review of the teams' recent performances, the significance of various players, and the strategic approaches of the coaches. The speaker also reflects on their initial prediction of the series, the changes due to the current situation, and the potential impact of the teams' bench strength and home-court advantage. The paragraph concludes with the speaker's revised prediction of the series outcome.

15:03

🥇 Zion's Superstar Potential and Injury Impact

This paragraph revisits Zion's performance in a game against the Lakers, where he showcased his superstar potential before suffering a hamstring injury. The speaker acknowledges Zion's impressive game, which contradicted earlier doubts about his status among the league's future stars. However, the injury raised concerns about his durability and reliability, which could affect the Pelicans' future strategies, including potential trades and player development. The speaker also discusses the implications of the injury on the team's morale and the challenges they may face in upcoming games.

20:04

🏀 Post-Game Reactions and Future Concerns for the Pelicans

The paragraph discusses the reactions to the end of a game where the Pelicans were close to a significant victory but were affected by Zion's injury. The speaker expresses disappointment over the turn of events and the uncertainty surrounding Zion's health, which could impact the team's long-term plans. The situation also raises questions about the future of other key players like Brandon Ingram and the team's overall strategy moving forward.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Playoff Game

A playoff game refers to a match in the elimination-style competition that follows the regular season in professional sports. In the context of the video, it highlights the high stakes and intensity of the game being discussed, where the outcome can significantly impact a team's season. The script mentions 'four in a playoff game,' indicating the importance of the score difference in such games.

💡Four-Point Play

A four-point play is a rare occurrence in basketball where a player hits a three-pointer and is fouled in the act of shooting, thus earning an additional free throw. The script alludes to the excitement and potential game-changing impact of such a play, emphasizing the dramatic moments that can occur in a game.

💡Lakers

The Lakers refer to the Los Angeles Lakers, a professional basketball team in the NBA. The team's performance, key players, and their chances of winning are central to the discussion in the video. The script discusses the Lakers' win and the implications for their fans and future games.

💡Mental Exhaustion

Mental exhaustion refers to the state of mental fatigue that can affect concentration, decision-making, and overall performance. In the video, it is suggested that the Lakers have been playing a grueling schedule, which could lead to mental exhaustion affecting their game.

💡Margin of Error

In the context of the video, margin of error refers to the allowable difference between the actual and predicted results that can still be considered accurate. It is used to discuss the Lakers' situation, where they have some leeway or flexibility in their performance due to a recent win.

💡Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets are another professional basketball team in the NBA. The script discusses a potential match-up between the Lakers and the Nuggets, analyzing the strengths and strategies of both teams in anticipation of their playoff series.

💡Underdog

An underdog is a person or team that is expected to lose in a competition. The term is used in the script to describe the team that the speakers believe is less likely to win but has the potential to surprise everyone. The discussion revolves around the selection of underdogs in predictions and the outcomes of those predictions.

💡Zion Williamson

Zion Williamson is a professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA. The script mentions his performance in a game where he scored 40 points, showcasing his potential as a superstar. However, his injury towards the end of the game raises concerns about his durability and the impact on his team.

💡Hamstring Injury

A hamstring injury refers to damage to the muscles at the back of the thigh. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as the type of injury that Zion Williamson suffered, which will keep him out of the subsequent game. This injury is significant as it affects a player's ability to play and can influence the team's strategy and performance.

💡Bubble

In the context of basketball, the 'bubble' refers to the isolated environment where teams competed during the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2019-2020 NBA season. The script mentions the bubble to discuss the last series the Denver Nuggets lost when both Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray were healthy.

💡Clutch Player

A clutch player is a term used in sports to describe an athlete who performs well under pressure, particularly during crucial moments of a game. The video discusses Nikola Jokic as a clutch player, highlighting his ability to deliver in the fourth quarter of close games.

Highlights

Discussion on whether the Lakers should be happy with their recent win and the implications for their playoff game.

Mention of a potential four-point play scenario in basketball, adding excitement to the game discussion.

Analysis of the Lakers' performance, highlighting LeBron's and Anthony Davis' roles in the game.

Debate on whether the Lakers' win was more due to their own performance or the opponents' shortcomings.

Commentary on the mental exhaustion of the Lakers' players after a grueling month of games.

D'Angelo Russell's significant shot in the game and its impact on his career and public perception.

Austin Reeves' impressive game performance, including scoring 16 points and six assists.

Gabe Vincent's standout game, which is noted as his best of the season.

Zion Williamson's outstanding game with 40 points and 11 rebounds, followed by a concerning injury.

Debate on the impact of Zion's injury on the Pelicans' future and the potential trade of Brandon Ingram.

Nick Wright's change of prediction to favor the Los Angeles Lakers in their series against Denver.

Discussion on the掘金队 (Denver Nuggets) performance and their chances against the Lakers.

Analysis of key player performances, including Jamal Murray's and Nikola Jokic's impact on the game.

The importance of home-court advantage and its potential effect on the outcome of the series.

Concerns about LeBron James' performance and his team's road game record against Denver.

Predictions and analysis on the potential outcomes of the Lakers vs. Nuggets series.

The significance of the Lakers' win and the morale boost it provides going into their series with Denver.

Final thoughts on the Lakers' performance, the role of the bench players, and the overall team dynamics.

Transcripts

00:02

he's been up all night oh man fire every

00:05

knows it fire and takes live from New

00:07

York it's the show that would always go

00:09

up four in a playoff game I mean it

00:11

seems like a good choice should we go up

00:14

four should we not I'd go up four could

00:16

go up three and if the ball hits the rim

00:18

is just in the air up if a guy hit a

00:22

halfcourt shot while being fouled

00:24

fourpoint play yeah then then you know

00:26

what you'd be happy if you were up four

00:29

it's first first today should Lakers

00:32

fans be happy with last night's win

00:35

100% And the game after was why I know

00:39

Brew you're disappointed that I didn't

00:40

do the no they shouldn't be happy they

00:42

should be ecstatic I saw in his eyes

00:44

waiting for it I thought I know you did

00:47

I I I almost did I was like three days

00:49

in a row is too much um the game after

00:52

was why because you lose last night's

00:56

game yeah you avoid Denver and yeah

00:59

there's you know these other things open

01:00

but guess what your second best player

01:02

can go over for 10 and an undrafted

01:04

essential rookie can have the game of

01:06

his life and you're just going home the

01:09

other reason cuz last night I want to be

01:12

clear the Lakers played I thought really

01:14

well for about a 18 game minute stretch

01:18

you know the from the the second quarter

01:21

into the first half of the third quarter

01:23

though you know across halftime and the

01:25

first quarter they didn't play well at

01:27

all and then the final 18 minutes of the

01:29

game game they were holding on for dear

01:31

life and I thought played poorly and

01:33

LeBron did look out of gas and I think

01:36

there more was taken out of him than the

01:38

broadcast acknowledge from the Zion

01:39

charge and the following charge that he

01:41

took but they've been playing they were

01:44

also mentally exhausted they've been

01:45

playing dward ey games for a month

01:47

essentially when they lost to the

01:48

warriors on March 16th they were 36 and

01:51

32 trying to avoid the 910 and so it was

01:56

an ugly win I didn't think LeBron played

01:58

great I didn't think ad played great

02:01

even though ad made the play of the game

02:03

off the LeBron miss getting the rebound

02:05

and getting fouled but it sets up in my

02:08

opinion the ideal scenario and it gives

02:10

them for the first time in more than a

02:14

month a margin of error that they didn't

02:16

have and they certainly wouldn't have

02:17

had on Friday night so yeah they should

02:19

be happy with it yeah they AB absolutely

02:22

should be happy obviously you got to

02:23

face Denver but we knew that was coming

02:25

they've been preparing for that all

02:27

right you didn't want a oneand done

02:30

situation you you talked about and we'll

02:32

get to the Warriors but you can just go

02:35

cold in today's NBA when you're shooting

02:37

so many threes even the Lakers who don't

02:38

shoot a ton relatively speaking you

02:41

still can go cold they shoot enough uh

02:43

and the other team can get hot and

02:45

that's a team that's beaten you eight

02:46

out of nine times in Sacramento so you

02:48

don't have to worry about that but on

02:50

the court to win a game on the road

02:54

where they've been bad all right and

02:57

where your two best players don't play

02:59

well for the most part ad and LeBron

03:00

shot 12 for 36

03:03

33% and you still won and what you like

03:07

if you're a Lakers fan because

03:09

especially going into this series with

03:10

Denver you're going to need this the

03:13

others as Shaq would call them stepped

03:15

up D'Angelo Russell who is not he's been

03:18

historically bad in the playoffs all

03:21

right steps UPS hits the huge shot 51

03:24

seconds left the biggest shot of his

03:27

career Poss I mean I never made a big

03:30

shot in the playoff what about all this

03:32

I've seen this in the regular season I

03:35

think that was probably the biggest shot

03:36

of his look he said all the public

03:38

criticism has hardened him and made him

03:41

tougher and last night if you're a

03:43

Lakers fan cling to that cling to that

03:45

shot Austin Reeves nice game 16 points

03:49

six assists fourth quarter when LeBron

03:51

was struggling he was making plays

03:53

getting stuff getting the ball to ad and

03:55

Gabe Vincent who we know how big he was

03:58

last year from Miami probably has his

04:00

best game of the season I know he hadn't

04:02

played that much but when he has played

04:04

he has he's been inconsequential so last

04:06

night he plays well so yeah all things

04:09

considering I got to face Denver no

04:10

matter what that's exactly right last

04:12

night you almost would ra look a blowout

04:15

you go into that series feeling good but

04:17

the fact that your other guys stepped up

04:19

and played well I like that if and by

04:21

the way Brew credit to you because you

04:23

might myself as well but I I guess an

04:25

emotional investment we both had the

04:27

courage to pick the underdog yesterday

04:29

and we're correct while Wilds went with

04:31

the safe easy favorite pick Wilds we

04:33

told you we gave you reason after reason

04:36

after reason Angel Russell hit a wide

04:38

open three Brandon Ingram was still I

04:41

guess I felt like he R rested from the

04:43

previous game and Zion was out if Zion

04:47

stayed in those last three minutes knows

04:49

maybe maybe G Vincent he's finally back

04:52

well he he scored nine points yeah for

04:55

Gabe Vincent that's wild he's their

04:57

ninth man what you expect

04:59

times Jackson ha scored more than I like

05:02

Jackson aot I'm just saying you the

05:04

elephant in the room is that Zion

05:06

checked out of the game with three

05:07

minutes left when when there was a

05:09

Avalanche of points coming at the Lakers

05:12

before we start laying flowers at the

05:14

feet thinkers seventh and eth best but

05:17

here but the other the flip side to that

05:19

quickly is that Zion through 45 minutes

05:22

of game action had 40 points and 11

05:25

rebounds the best game arguably of his

05:27

career LeBron and Anthony Davis weren't

05:29

playing well and it was a tie game it's

05:31

not as if when Zion went out of the game

05:33

right because of the others brute your

05:34

analysis pregame and postgame was spot

05:37

on thank you well done all right let's

05:40

you can't please this guy no you can't

05:42

let's get to the main the tiger the main

05:44

player I wanted the tiger the star of

05:46

the show Believe that horrible take had

05:49

made it into official press conferences

05:52

any chance the Lakers can beat Denver

05:54

all right well I'm in a spot here

05:56

because when we gave our official

05:59

prediction

06:00

you know I Conference Finals and then

06:02

finals they're we don't know what the

06:05

bracket's going to be so I had Denver

06:07

over Lakers in the Conference Finals now

06:09

through no fault of my own that's an

06:10

impossibility so I'm obligated to adjust

06:14

right so Denver in the first round well

06:16

so that's I mean what would you would

06:18

think right don't do this you've been so

06:20

good with the chief stuff the can I so

06:23

listen I Wilds what did you say right at

06:25

the top of the show I was up all night

06:28

so I mean those that that that spaces I

06:30

was on ended at 1:35 a.m.

06:33

eastern and I used the next six hours

06:37

for my daughter got awake to really

06:40

grind the tape okay because here's the

06:43

deal wait I want to see if there is a

06:46

reason because obviously I would like

06:48

the Lakers to win I like

06:50

LeBron is there a reason to believe they

06:52

can reasonably they would so I went

06:55

through my checklist of things all right

06:57

when they most recently played was there

07:00

an aberant shooting performance in the

07:02

modern NBA that can change anything and

07:04

I text Josh middle of the night I'm like

07:06

hey did how did the Nugget shoot in that

07:09

series compared to every other series or

07:12

everything the whole series and I'm like

07:15

oh so that's the best by any team

07:18

against the Lebron team in a decade all

07:20

right so that's that's a note like okay

07:22

I'll mark that down all right what about

07:26

how did either team have a key play

07:30

play the best of his life and did either

07:32

team have a key player play the worst of

07:34

his life I'm like okay Josh can you

07:37

check that for me I'm like oh D'Angelo

07:39

Russell's been a bad playoff performer

07:41

had the worst series of his life 23

07:43

minutes 6 points 133% from three and

07:46

Jamal Murray who's been a very good

07:47

playoff performer had the best series of

07:50

his life like okay that's a not all

07:52

right what about how are the teams

07:54

different did one team suffer any ke

07:57

significant losses or additions from

07:59

from players that played in last year's

08:01

series it's like well Denver had a very

08:03

short rotation but they did lose Bruce

08:07

Brown and replacing it is Christian

08:10

Brown and we can show you whom else okay

08:13

so Christian Brown and Reggie Jackson

08:15

who are now going to take the Bruce

08:16

Brown minutes in last year's Western arm

08:18

finals they had no production and Bruce

08:22

Brown was a sneaky important Sixth Man

08:24

and then but that still wasn't enough I

08:26

mean they've gotten better still that

08:28

still wasn't I that still wasn't enough

08:30

yeah and it's not enough just that going

08:33

here you know game one if you go went

08:35

back cuz now it's only 4 in the morning

08:36

I have time I can rewatch some of these

08:38

games going joic has the best first half

08:41

Jeff Van gundy's ever seen in a playoff

08:43

game he told us when he when he was on

08:45

the broadcast and it's a three-point

08:48

game with a minute left game two Jamal

08:50

Murray is one of the greatest fourth

08:52

quarters in the finals ever 23 points

08:54

and it's a two-point game with a minute

08:56

left game three Jamal Murray beats DLo

09:00

37-3 and it's tied in the fourth and

09:03

then game four of course comes down to

09:04

the final shot and now I'm like you know

09:06

what I think this could be a coin flip

09:09

series and then but because of that I

09:12

still was going to stick with Denver

09:13

because that's who I've been with yeah

09:15

then this morning you know when I'm wide

09:18

eyed been up 30 hours at this point I

09:21

get the alert I'm like oh no is one of

09:24

these teams dealing with a massive

09:26

distraction that might lock them in is

09:27

one of these teams dealing with you know

09:30

one of the biggest scandals in modern

09:32

NBA history touching a family member of

09:34

a key player it cross Dusty the envelope

09:38

it crossed my mind I mean it's not

09:40

nothing Wilds I'm going to trust you to

09:43

read this to the audience as you will

09:45

see it is wax sealed on the back

09:47

monogrammed if you would please not

09:50

monogrammed oh really look at the wax

09:51

seal on the back tell me tell me that's

09:53

a wa go through all this to pick the

09:55

Nuggets I'll tell you that you want me

09:57

to read this part oh do not open okay

09:59

it's confidential do not open until is

10:02

really Wax Seal Wax Seal you have a wax

10:04

sealer wow I for events like

10:07

this

10:09

okay it's like the NBA draft it is like

10:12

the NBA

10:15

draft I'm I'm stunned with the first

10:18

pick the first redo pick since we all

10:21

put our official picks in a week ago

10:24

Nick Wright has

10:27

selected wow Los Angeles not even

10:31

seven exclamation point exactly right

10:35

Lakers in six and America if that ends

10:38

up not being the case make sure you clip

10:41

just the screenshot of Wilds holding

10:43

that up so we can use it against the

10:46

modern Digital World Brew what did you

10:49

call this Series last

10:50

year I'm I'm did I I probably picked the

10:53

Lakers last afterwards what did you call

10:55

the I want to hear you say was I got

10:59

mocked for saying there there is such a

11:02

thing as is there any chance is there

11:04

any chance La beats

11:07

Denver any chance I mean certainly a

11:11

chance LeBron James

11:15

Anthony give chance I moveed to Chile I

11:18

will give you an a for audacity

11:21

uhhuh and it was you made a compelling

11:25

Point Isel Russ going to aage six a game

11:28

all things

11:30

you could have saved it and just there

11:33

was one sentence you said that summed it

11:36

all up and

11:37

why this is what you

11:39

did I like LeBron I trust LeBron that

11:43

that was you said I like LeBron yeah and

11:45

I like LeBron too I love what LeBron is

11:48

about on and off the court and I used to

11:51

pick LeBron in every series too sure I

11:53

don't pick him ear when's the last time

11:55

you have not picked LeBron in the series

11:58

that's a good question too cuz you

12:00

picked them to sweep didn't you pick

12:02

them to sweep the KD Warriors oh come on

12:06

no no I did not pick them to the KD

12:09

Warriors but I I picked them to win that

12:11

Series in on Christmas day that year yes

12:13

that is

12:15

correct I I I hear you you went heart

12:18

overhead I'd love to see LeBron win too

12:21

all right I I love LeBron

12:23

James but I cannot go there I thought

12:27

about nuggets and

12:30

I'm going nuggets in five thank you and

12:33

here's the things Nick the Nuggets I

12:36

mean I don't know when Bruce Brown

12:38

became Kevin mccale like the best six

12:41

man ever no but he it's not just you a

12:43

lot of people oh Bruce Brown Bruce Brown

12:45

No but he was good he was fine but

12:48

Christian Brown can play Reggie Jackson

12:51

can play Oh I that I disagree with regie

12:53

Jackson actually when the LA Clippers

12:55

went to the Western Conference finals

12:56

for the first time two good games he was

12:58

a

13:00

he's a bench player though if I get two

13:03

good games out of a bench player I'm

13:05

happy I think they're bench they're

13:08

better than they were last year see I

13:10

don't know about because they they won

13:12

more games in a tougher Western

13:13

Conference all right 57 this year 53

13:15

last year they got the best player in

13:18

the series they got the best coach in

13:20

the series and the thing that that coach

13:23

Michael Malone first of all he knows

13:25

LeBron well cuz he coached him in

13:27

Cleveland but he also

13:29

so he Petty and all of that and the fact

13:34

that he's Petty like that and and and as

13:38

they're all competitive but he's a

13:40

feisty something so and so and the fact

13:43

that he's a feisty so and so they are

13:45

not going to in any way shape or form

13:48

look past the Lakers think we beaten

13:50

them eight straight we beat them 40 last

13:53

year no they they are their alert and

13:56

their antennas are going to be up I said

13:59

they're better this year Nick than last

14:01

year obviously they have a better record

14:03

last year they were bottom the bottom

14:06

half of the league as a fourth quarter

14:09

team Lakers were actually in the near in

14:11

the top five as a fourth quarter team

14:13

this year it's reversed now the the the

14:16

Nuggets were a top three fourth quarter

14:18

team joic was my second number two on my

14:21

clutch player of the year he's CL they

14:23

win a lot of games including that Series

14:25

last year in the fourth quarter cuz they

14:28

he's going to deliver um they're they're

14:31

at home they they're one of the best

14:32

they're the second best home team in the

14:34

league Lakers are the worst Road team in

14:37

the Western Conference as far as record

14:39

so there's a lot of reasons to pick the

14:41

Nuggets uh and that's why I'm picking

14:43

them I got them in five the Lakers could

14:45

win four games and they have won four

14:48

games against Denver it's taken three

14:50

years out of 15 games they've played

14:52

against each other the Lakers have won

14:54

four who's the last team to beat Jamal

14:56

and joic when they're healthy together

14:58

I'm just curious who was on on it who

14:59

were the best two players what was theam

15:00

was that in the bubble yeah yeah they

15:02

were they were that was a long time the

15:04

bubble I'm just say that's the last

15:06

series the Nuggets lost when they had

15:09

yic and Murray I'm just telling you see

15:11

last year the Lakers were rolling into

15:13

that series on they had beaten Memphis

15:15

is the number two seed they beat Golden

15:18

State which was a obviously a big time

15:20

champion and Denver had not had

15:23

Champion ad versus uh joic I think ad

15:27

turns a lot of these series I think last

15:29

night it's like ah you you w really have

15:31

a match for him uh I think Joker's got

15:34

him in everything he's never beaten him

15:36

or no excuse me the last seven meetings

15:38

he's got him um and as a primary

15:40

Defender which ad is great at and we

15:42

shouldn't just look at the points jic

15:44

just passes out of it he's got 42

15:45

assists and six turnovers with ad as his

15:48

primary Defender so look I think it's a

15:50

bold choice I don't think it's going to

15:52

happen and I think I might save this

15:55

take later okay I I'm going to save that

15:57

take okay I listen I think that the

15:59

Nuggets top two has earned the respect

16:02

to be considered better than the Lakers

16:04

top two the question what about three

16:05

and four hold on well that's what I

16:07

that's why I showed all those Graphics

16:09

was because I don't think it can be

16:12

overstated how awful DLo and shuder were

16:15

in this series last year I don't think

16:17

it can be no Reeves was good no no doubt

16:20

about it I also do not think Jamal

16:23

Murray is going to average 32 points a

16:24

game he's a playoff guy right and that

16:27

was the best series of his career I bet

16:29

you he had some close ones his career

16:31

playoff average and he doesn't have a

16:32

low one in the very beginning that pulls

16:34

him down it is 25 points per game I just

16:37

think that if every if every game last

16:39

year was in the balance in the fourth

16:41

quarter and LeBron played poorly in all

16:44

four fourth quarters which I think

16:45

because it's round one is not going to

16:47

happen with the rest between games be

16:49

and DLo if DLo is six in the fourth

16:53

right and again that was every other day

16:55

for the last few few weeks that they've

16:57

been playing we'll see we'll just see he

16:59

hasn't won in Denver in over four years

17:02

he hasn't won LeBron James has not won

17:05

one game in Denver think means he's 0

17:07

and six or something like it's I don't

17:09

think four years it's a long time ago it

17:11

means he's due it's not I'm trying to

17:14

throw Nick it does not mean he's to okay

17:17

it means it's just going to keep on

17:20

another I could see maybe one game okay

17:23

but but then that means a lot of your

17:24

analysis has to shift dramatically if

17:27

the Lakers win one of the first two

17:29

because then all that then things have

17:30

changed if he hasn't won in four years

17:32

of all these things they can't win on

17:33

the road the RO be great the okay I mean

17:36

I just don't think I'm it's tough for me

17:38

I almost don't feel like it's a wor it's

17:40

a good conversation to have it's like

17:42

when the Chiefs play the Broncos yeah it

17:44

could happen but Ms is 12 and one

17:46

against so in this scenario LeBron and

17:48

AD are the Denver Broncos okay got it

17:51

it's good we should talk Zion yeah good

17:53

a good franchise that is you know no

17:56

longer can yeah and Nuggets are the

17:58

Chiefs okay got it that's fair before we

18:00

go head back to New Orleans where Zion

18:02

put up 40 points and delivered on his

18:04

Superstar potential before leaving in

18:06

crunch time with a hamstring injury that

18:08

will now keep him out of Friday's game

18:10

against Sacramento uh Pelicans starting

18:12

five last night Zion had 40 uh the other

18:15

players had 34 combined uh offensive re

18:19

he had three everybody else had four

18:21

Brew yesterday you said you kind of had

18:24

moved on from Zion being a superstar did

18:27

this performance silence your doubt or

18:31

the fact that he got injured and well

18:34

let me give Zion some credit I did not

18:36

see this coming all right he it was the

18:39

biggest game of his NBA career he's

18:42

facing a legend that he I'm sure grew up

18:45

idolizing all right and he had to listen

18:48

all day because I'm sure I wasn't the

18:50

only one saying we moved on he's a nice

18:56

player but when we look at the Young

18:58

Stars the future faces of the league

19:01

he's not one of them he had to listen to

19:03

that all day and maybe all week and he

19:07

went out there and played the best game

19:10

of his career so I give him props for

19:12

that the problem of course is he got

19:16

hurt the game was actually a microcosm

19:18

of his career that is correct it's never

19:20

been his ability it's been his

19:22

availability and he was fantastic as we

19:25

knew he had he's averaged 27 points a

19:27

game for a season 2 six points a game

19:29

for another season we know he can play

19:31

and what he did last night was great and

19:33

we know he's capable of that but then he

19:35

got hurt and now so he ended the doubt

19:39

rather than silence the doubters he

19:41

actually probably heightened the

19:43

questions again of can you ever count on

19:45

him and Wilds you nailed every element

19:47

of this game except for the winner uh

19:49

like the Alvarado part of it no but like

19:51

the Zion it was it was really looking

19:53

like it was going to be your so I'm more

19:55

interested in what you have to say than

19:56

what I have to say I was I was kind of

19:59

upset that he left the game not not not

20:02

like oh you should you should you know

20:03

buckle down I was just like kind of sad

20:06

that we were right up against the finish

20:09

line of getting a big victory over

20:12

LeBron and then it just kind of the

20:15

injury bug bit him and I was just like

20:17

kind of bummed out to be honest with you

20:19

I so I what you said in the beginning

20:22

there I'll just I I'll take a step

20:24

further it was a weird departure it was

20:28

it was a weird it was weird and and now

20:31

they're saying like that for to for it

20:34

to be a hamstring and for him not to

20:38

like attempt to play another possession

20:40

on it he knew it points over at the

20:42

bench he points over and he's just like

20:44

despondent but he's but it's but then

20:47

he's jogging it was right he's moving F

20:50

I'm not questioning him but it was it

20:53

was odd you know what I mean and for

20:55

them to now also be saying definitively

20:58

out Friday and going to be reeval go

21:02

back like I mean that's what makes it

21:03

weird right he's not it was it's but it

21:06

is a microcosm frustrating a little

21:09

confusing you see the high levels but

21:13

obviously for the Pelicans it's death

21:15

like the and then there's the whole

21:17

Brandon Ingram thing so for what could

21:19

have been the best night for the

21:21

Pelicans in since they won the Zion

21:23

Lottery turned into like do are they do

21:26

they trade Brandon Ingram this summer

21:28

like there's a lot of weird well look

21:31

Ingram's got a chance to go out he's

21:33

going to have to be

21:35

huge I don't think he's 100% yeah thanks

21:38

for watching subscribe here to get more

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العلامات ذات الصلة
NBA PlayoffsLakers AnalysisZion WilliamsonDenver NuggetsLeBron JamesSports CommentaryBasketball StrategyInjury UpdatePlayoff PredictionsPerformance ReviewTeam Dynamics
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