PLAYOFF JAMAL! - Shannon puts respect on Murray’s name after game-winning shot | First Take

ESPN

23 Apr 202415:03

Summary

TLDRThe video transcript discusses a pivotal moment in a basketball game where the Denver Nuggets, led by Jamal Murray, made a remarkable comeback against the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite trailing by 20 points, Murray's buzzer-beating shot over Anthony Davis secured a 20-series lead for Denver, marking the first game-winning buzzer-beater in the Nuggets' playoff history. The analysis delves into the Lakers' collapse, highlighting missed opportunities, turnovers, and the Nuggets' strategic adjustments. The conversation also touches on the performance of key players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and the impact of the Lakers' bench. It concludes with a debate on the series' outcome, with some suggesting the Lakers' chances are dwindling despite their strong individual performances.

Takeaways

🏀 Jamal Murray's buzzer-beating shot over Anthony Davis secured a 20-point series lead for the Denver Nuggets, marking the first game-winning buzzer-beater in the team's playoff history.
📉 The Lakers led by as much as 20 points in the second half but failed to maintain their lead, with LeBron James expressing frustration over the replay center's decisions.
🚫 Anthony Davis scored zero points over the last 19 minutes of the game, a significant factor in the Lakers' collapse.
🔄 The Denver Nuggets adjusted their defense, switching Aaron Gordon onto Anthony Davis, which contributed to the Lakers' offensive struggles.
🎯 Michael Porter Jr. made big shots in crucial moments, helping the Nuggets stay in the game and eventually win.
🤔 The Lakers' bench provided minimal support, with Kyle Kuzma being the only contributor, scoring 17 points, while the rest of the bench scored zero points in the first two games.
👑 LeBron James had a strong performance with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, but missed a crucial three-pointer late in the game.
⏰ There was confusion over shot clock and game clock management, with LeBron taking a three-pointer earlier than some thought optimal.
🚨 The Lakers' strategy of single coverage on Nikola Jokic backfired as he scored consistently, eroding the lead almost single-handedly.
🤷‍♂️ The Lakers' failure to maintain their lead and reliance on LeBron and Davis raises questions about their overall strategy and team depth.
🏆 Despite the Lakers' strong performance from their stars, the Nuggets' resilience and ability to make key plays when it mattered most led to their victory.

Q & A

How did Jamal Murray contribute to the Denver Nuggets' comeback against the Lakers?
-Jamal Murray hit a buzzer-beating shot over Anthony Davis, which helped the Denver Nuggets take a 20-point series lead. It was the first-ever game-winning buzzer-beater in Nuggets playoff history.
What was the initial lead of the Lakers in the second half?
-The Lakers initially had a lead of as much as 20 points in the second half.
What was the issue with the Lakers' performance in the second half?
-The Lakers' performance in the second half was marred by Anthony Davis scoring zero points over the last 19 minutes of the game, the team shooting 36%, making 12 shots, and having six turnovers and four assists.
What defensive strategy did the Denver Nuggets employ against the Lakers?
-The Nuggets switched Aaron Gordon onto Anthony Davis and put KCP on LeBron James, which resulted in LeBron having to pass the ball more and the Lakers having difficulty scoring.
Why did the Lakers' performance in the second half lead to their downfall?
-The Lakers failed to maintain their lead and allowed the Nuggets to come back into the game. Their reluctance to continue the two-man game with LeBron and AD, coupled with turnovers and poor shooting, cost them the game.
What was the Lakers' record for three-pointers in a game, and how did DLo contribute to it?
-DLo set a Lakers playoff record with the number of threes in a game. He made seven three-pointers, surpassing the expectation of at least five.
How did Jamal Murray's performance in the fourth quarter impact the game?
-Jamal Murray, who had only six points going into the fourth quarter, ended up with 20 points, contributing significantly to the Nuggets' comeback.
What was the criticism regarding LeBron James' final shot in the game?
-LeBron James missed a wide-open three-pointer at the end of the game. The criticism was that he took the shot too early in the shot clock, not allowing the team to maximize their time for a potentially better shot.
What was the general sentiment after the Lakers' loss?
-The sentiment was one of disbelief and frustration. The Lakers were criticized for not capitalizing on their lead and for their poor performance in the second half.
What was the significance of Aaron Gordon's play in the game?
-Aaron Gordon's play, particularly his ability to wrestle a 50/50 ball away from Austin Reeves and find Michael Porter Jr. for a contested three-pointer, was a key moment that helped the Nuggets maintain their momentum and eventually win the game.
What was the overarching strategy critiqued in the Lakers' approach towards the end of the game?
-The critique was that the Lakers did not effectively adjust their strategy when the Nuggets started closing the gap. They continued with single coverage on Nikola Jokic, who managed to eliminate the lead almost single-handedly, and they strayed from the successful two-man game with LeBron and AD.
What was the final verdict on the Lakers' chances in the series after this game?
-The final verdict was pessimistic for the Lakers. Despite the strong performances from LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the inability to maintain a lead and close out the game led to the suggestion that the series might be over for them.

Outlines

00:00

🏀 Jamal Murray's Buzzer-Beater Secures Nuggets' Victory

In a thrilling game, the Denver Nuggets managed to overcome a 20-point deficit against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Jamal Murray's game-winning buzzer-beater over Anthony Davis marked the first such shot in Nuggets playoff history. The play-by-play analysis highlights the Lakers' collapse, with Davis scoring no points in the last 19 minutes and the team shooting only 36% from the field with six turnovers. The discussion also touches on the Lakers' defensive strategy and the impact of Michael Porter Jr.'s performance.

05:00

🚨 Lakers' Bench Struggles and LeBron's Missed Three-Pointer

The analysis points out the Lakers' bench's lack of contribution, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope being the only one to score. LeBron James' stats are acknowledged, but his missed three-pointer late in the game is a focal point. The conversation also addresses the Lakers' offensive strategy, suggesting they strayed from the two-man game with LeBron and Anthony Davis that was working well for them. The importance of Aaron Gordon's play in securing a crucial ball is noted, and the general sentiment is that the Lakers missed key opportunities that could have sealed their victory.

10:02

🌟 Stars Align for Nuggets; Lakers Face Series Doubts

The narrative discusses how the game's momentum shifted dramatically, with the Nuggets capitalizing on opportunities while the Lakers faltered. LeBron's previous postseason experiences are contrasted with the current game's outcome. The performance of role players like Austin Reeves is critiqued, and the expectation is set that they need to step up. The discussion also addresses the Lakers' defensive choices late in the game and the Nuggets' ability to erase the point lead. There's a palpable sense of the series' tide turning against the Lakers, with the commentators suggesting that despite the competitive spirit, the Lakers are in a precarious position in the series.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Jamal Murray

Jamal Murray is a professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets. In the context of the video, he is highlighted for hitting a crucial buzzer-beating shot over Anthony Davis, contributing to the Nuggets' 20-point series lead and marking the first-ever game-winning buzzer beater in Nuggets playoff history.

💡LeBron James

LeBron James is a renowned basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers. The video discusses his performance in the game, where he had 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, and also mentions a missed three-pointer that impacted the game's outcome.

💡Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis, also known as AD, is a key player for the Lakers. The script mentions that he scored zero points over the last 19 minutes of the game, which is a significant factor in the Lakers' collapse and is a central point of discussion regarding the game's dynamics.

💡Playoff Record

A playoff record refers to a statistic or achievement that stands out in the context of a team's or player's performance during the playoff games. The video mentions that DLo (likely referring to Dion Waiters) set a Lakers playoff record with the number of three-pointers made in a game.

💡Game Collapse

A game collapse is a situation where a team, which had a significant lead, loses that advantage and potentially the game. The video discusses the Lakers' game collapse after leading by 20 points, highlighting various factors such as scoring inefficiency and turnovers.

💡Buzzer Beater

A buzzer beater is a shot made as time expires, often determining the outcome of the game. The video emphasizes Jamal Murray's buzzer-beating shot as a pivotal moment that helped the Denver Nuggets take the lead.

💡Replay Center

The Replay Center in basketball is responsible for reviewing plays to ensure the correct calls are made. The video script expresses frustration with the Replay Center's decisions, suggesting that certain calls during the game were questionable.

💡Strategy

In basketball, strategy refers to the game plan or tactics employed by a team. The video discusses the Lakers' strategy, particularly their decision to play one-on-one coverage late in the game, which the speaker questions as a potential misstep.

💡Michael Porter Jr.

Michael Porter Jr. is a professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets. The video praises his performance, noting that he made big shots in crucial moments, contributing to the team's comeback.

💡Aaron Gordon

Aaron Gordon is highlighted for his significant play in the game, particularly a 50/50 ball situation where he outmuscled an opponent to maintain possession, leading to a key score for the Nuggets.

💡Series Outlook

The series outlook pertains to the future prospects of a team in a multi-game series. The video script suggests that despite strong performances from LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers face a challenging outlook against the Nuggets due to their game collapse.

Highlights

Jamal Murray hit a buzzer-beating shot over Anthony Davis to give Denver a 20-series lead, marking the first ever game-winning buzzer-beater in Nuggets playoff history.

Murray describes his shot, jumping high, losing balance, and falling before hearing the crowd scream to know it went in.

LeBron James and the Lakers were livid over a non-call on a drive where DLo (Devin Booker) appeared to be hit in the face.

Anthony Davis scored zero points over the last 19 minutes of the game, a major factor in the Lakers' collapse.

The Lakers shot 36%, made 12 shots, had six turnovers, and four assists in the final 22 minutes.

Aaron Gordon was switched onto Anthony Davis, and the Lakers' offense struggled without Davis scoring.

Denver's Michael Porter Jr. hit big shot after big shot to help the Nuggets stay in the game.

LeBron James had 26 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists, but missed a wide open three-pointer late in the game.

The Lakers' bench scored just 17 points, with KCP (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) contributing all of them.

Aaron Gordon's play on a 50/50 ball with Austin Reeves was a key moment that helped Denver maintain momentum.

Despite the Lakers' strong play and big leads, there is a sense that the series may be slipping away from them.

Stephen A. Smith argues that the Lakers need to step up their game, as relying on LeBron and AD alone may not be enough.

The Nuggets' ability to quickly erase a 20-point deficit in just 10 minutes shows their resilience and belief.

LeBron's missed three-pointer at the end of the game was reminiscent of past playoff misses, raising questions about his clutch gene.

Austin Reeves, the Lakers' starting shooting guard, is criticized for his poor shooting (3-11) and lack of production.

The Lakers' decision to go away from the two-man game with LeBron and AD in the second half is questioned as a strategic error.

Denver's defensive strategy of single-coverage on Jokic is debated, as he was able to score at will down the stretch.