Denver Nuggets

Initial observations from the Denver Nuggets’ thrilling win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the 2023 Western Conference Finals.

1. Lakers will break like glass if they’re this bad on the glass. Insistent on making excuses for the Lakers, the ESPN broadcast crooned throughout the first half about how the altitude must be getting to Los Angeles. Or maybe consider this: The Nuggets are the better team, the faster team and certainly the advantageous team when they’re controlling the glass. They started the series with a 19-3 rebounding lead that stretched to 37-17 by halftime. Nikola Jokic alone had 11 boards just past eight minutes into Game 1, putting him well on his way to a fourth triple-double in the last five games. The effect? A 16-8 Denver lead in second-chance points and a 17-6 lead in fast break points at halftime. Nuggets coach Michael Malone said during the second round his team is at its best when running in transition. The Lakers looked slow and uneager to match the pace early. Then the second half swayed with a 19-14 rebounding advantage for Los Angeles. Not coincidentally, Denver scored two second-chance points and two fast break points as the Lakers closed a 21-point gap to one possession. The Nuggets’ transition chemistry is elite… when they give themselves a chance to show it off.

2. Highs and lows for Denver’s second unit. Pro tip for facing the Nuggets: Don’t get run out of the gym while Jokic is on the bench. The Lakers needed to burn a timeout to stop the bleeding with 10:12 remaining in the second quarter, down 44-27 with Jokic in the middle of a cozy rest spanning back to the one-minute mark of the first. Bruce Brown’s bullish transition game was the primary author behind the second unit run. He had 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting at that point, bolstering the idea that the Nuggets can grind anyone down by committee. In the first quarter, Michael Malone went eight-deep, and six players scored at least four points without anyone registering more than eight. Even Christian Braun almost joined the fun before the first break, getting open for a corner 3-point attempt. For the Lakers, that stretch without Jokic was a frightening omen — but they learned their lesson for the next try. Jokic sat to start the fourth quarter after a circus buzzer beater rebuilt a 14-point Denver cushion. Within three minutes, the lead was down to 108-100.

3. Joker vs. AD has the makings of a popcorn chess match. So Los Angeles shouldn’t mess it up by double-teaming Jokic in the post. There’s nobody in the NBA better equipped to attempt handling him one-on-one than Anthony Davis. It made for great theater on several occasions, especially during a second-quarter sequence. Jokic tried backing down Davis only to get swatted when he went up with the shot. Not taking to it kindly, Jokic beat Davis off the dribble twice in the next six minutes, including a gorgeous high-post spin move and blow-by. But even if Davis guarding Jokic one-on-one only works sparingly, sticking with that and living with the results might be better than doubling Jokic and affording his world-class court vision the opportunity to find an open shooter. The Nuggets made 15 of 32 from beyond the arc. When Michael Porter Jr. makes three 3-pointers, Denver is 21-1 this season. He checked that box in Game 1.

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