Oct 26, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA;Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) controls the ball as Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) guards in the second quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
The Lakers lost Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals to the Denver Nuggets. But they now know what they need to do to win Game 2.
The Los Angeles Lakers were on a roller coaster in Game 1 against the Denver Nuggets. The best defensive team in basketball was down 72-54 at halftime. After three quarters the Lakers had given up 106 points. After being down 20 points in the third quarter the Lakers climbed their way back but ultimately lost the game, 132-126.
In the playoffs, the Lakers had the best defensive rating going into Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Giving up 106 points in three quarters was highly uncharacteristic of the Lakers’ defense. At least in the fourth quarter, the defense stepped up allowing just 26 points.
The Lakers got killed in many different aspects of this game but LeBron James still had a chance at a game-tying 3 with just under a minute left in the game. They eventually figured out how to get back in the game and to win this series, Darvin Ham is going to have to make these adjustments right from the opening tip of Game 2.
Here’s what the Lakers need to better in Game 2:
3. Fix their transition defense
All year long, the one thing that has plagued the Lakers was their horrendous transition defense. In the playoffs, the Lakers have by far the worst transition defense of the four teams left, giving up 23 points per game in transition. The Nuggets took full advantage of that in the first half, outscoring the Lakers 17-6 in fastbreak points. For the whole game, the Nuggets outscored them in transition 19-6.
Darvin Ham and the Lakers did make second-half adjustments and they outscored the Nuggets in transition 7-2, with the only two points they allowed on an Aaron Gordon dunk late in the fourth quarter. If the Lakers can emphasize getting back on defense and make the game a halfcourt contest, they significantly increase their chances of winning Game 2.