| Game 13: 2014-15 NBA Season | ||
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| Series 0-0 | ||
| Nov. 23, 2014 | ||
| STAPLES Center – Los Angeles, California | ||
| 7:30 PM MT | ||
| Altitude / 950 AM |
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| Ty Lawson | PG | Jeremy Lin |
| Arron Afflalo | SG | Kobe Bryant |
| Wilson Chandler |
SF | Wesley Johnson |
| Kenneth Faried | PF | Carlos Boozer |
| Timofey Mozgov | C | Jordan Hill |
| Notes | ||
| Denver Stiffs |
Blogs | Silver Screen and Roll |
| Kenneth Faried – Probable (ankle sprain), Randy Foye – Probable (knee contusion) | Injuries |
Probable: Jeremy Lin – Probable (sore back). Out: Ryan Kelly torn hamstring), Julius Randle (tibia fracture), Carlos Boozer.
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Denver is going for their first four game winning streak since January 11, 2014 when they defeated Orlando to complete a five game winning streak. |
Etc… |
.The Lakers have lost their last six meetings against the Nuggets. |
Our Denver Nuggets are back! (had they not won their last three games, this sentence would begin with "The") Like a boyfriend on the verge of a breakup, Denver has pulled out all the stops to remind us why we loved them in the first place. I'm not sure if it is just the Cialis or if the rekindled fire can burn all season, but I will enjoy the pampering while it lasts.
"Would you like me to throw down more fast break dunks?" Yes, please.
“How about JaVale McGee antics?” You always know how to make me smile.
"Don't you worry about dinner. I have taken care of it." TACOS!!! My favorite!
Denver needs to build a lead early so that by the time the LA crowd arrives for the start of the second quarter, the Nuggets will already be in control. Tonight's game should be an automatic W, but we can take nothing for granted this season. The following three games are against stiff competition, Chicago and Phoenix twice. If Denver lapses tonight, they could be back to sleeping on the couch for the holiday weekend.
What a difference one week makes
The chart below shows a drastic difference between the Nuggets of late and their early season doppelgangers. Imagine how good the FG% would be in the last five games without the 1/16 shooting in the second quarter of the Knicks game.
| First 7 Games | DENVER | Last 5 Games |
| 101.1 | PPG | 106.2 |
| 111.1 | Opp. PPG | 98.0 |
| .417 | FG% | .476 |
| .462 | Opp. FG% | .444 |
| 19.9 | Assists | 22.8 |
| 5.77 | Steals | 8.20 |
Drive to survive
Ty Lawson’s drives have been more effective of late. It’s not that he is doing anything different, he leads the league in drives per game at 14.3, but his teammates have been able to make the shots he has set up for them. Lawson leads the NBA in team points per game on drives. Denver averages 16.1 points off of Ty’s drives. The next closest is Reggie Jackson and the Thunder with 13.8 points off drives. Ty is averaging 9.1 assists per game, good enough for third overall in the league.
Byron Scott, the anti-Lorax
The Lakers have partnered with a local bank for a new promotion for this season called, Trees for Threes. For each Lakers three pointer made during home games, a tree will be planted in the Los Angeles area. Byron Scott has openly rejected new analytic data suggesting the importance of the three point shot. The Lakers rank 29th in the league in 3-point shots made per game. LA's 3-10 record, and maybe their city's smog problem rests on Coach Scott's shoulders.
Prediction
Kobe scores 35 while the Lakers lose by 25. Denver scores a season high as they defeat Los Angeles 121-96
