History Is Repeating Itself in the Worst Way for the Lakers
The recent TNT doubleheader was one for the books, as it blurred the lines between past and present, bridging the gap between different eras in the NBA. There are certain moments in NBA history that stand out as unparalleled, while others carry on a legacy. Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo's heroic 14-second play will forever be linked to Reggie Miller's iconic eight points in nine seconds against the New York Knicks almost three decades ago. Similarly, the block that LeBron James made against Jamal Murray in Game 2 of the first-round series between the Lakers and Nuggets was reminiscent of a similar play in 2013. This was just the beginning of the unforgettable moments that followed, as the players continued to make history on the court.
In just 45 minutes, Murray, a young kung fu enthusiast from Kitchener, Ontario, managed to create a moment that will be remembered in Canadian sports history. It was a night when the Philadelphia 76ers were once again at the mercy of a cruel twist of fate, as Murray saved the day with a game-winning shot over an outstretched Anthony Davis. The shot was nearly identical to the one Kawhi Leonard pulled off five years ago, with a midrange baseline fadeaway buzzer-beater from roughly the same spot on the court. As the crowd erupted in a frenzy, you could sense the shock and disbelief of Davis as he stumbled into the Denver bench, trying to process what just happened. The psychic pain of Joel Embiid could also be felt at that very moment, wherever he was. Murray's victory was nothing short of amazing, and one can only wonder what lies ahead for him and the rest of the team.
The Lakers are experiencing a troubling pattern of history repeating itself. They have lost their third game in a row against the Nuggets, despite having a double-digit lead. They have also been defeated by Nikola Jokic's team for the 10th time in a row, going back to the Western Conference finals last year. Denver team exudes an air of inevitability that only great teams possess. They can erase any lead and make it seem like it was natural. Even though the Lakers had a 20-point lead in the third quarter, it vanished before their eyes. This is one of the worst losses in the franchise's history and the second-largest lead they have blown in over a quarter-century of playoffs. Even though the Lakers looked like the better team in stretches in both games, the Nuggets meet their challenges with equal strength and overpower them. However, the Lakers cannot afford to lose hope and give up, given that they have a player like LeBron James on their team.
The recent win by the Nuggets adds to Jokic's previous statement made last year after their mid-January game against Orlando Magic. He stated that good teams find a way to win, even during bad games, while bad teams always lose even when they have the upper hand. With Murray's impressive performance in the recent game, Jokic added to this by saying that Murray made the difficult shots but missed the easier ones, highlighting the challenging nature of the game.
Jokic was an excellent teammate as always. Murray had a tough start to his playoff game and was not performing well. He only made 3 out of 16 shots in the first three quarters and his confidence was shaken. Luckily, the Jokic-Murray team eventually managed to turn things around and it worked out well. Jokic's persistent efforts have been invaluable to the Nuggets in clutch situations. While he may look tired on the court, he knows how to manage his energy and become stronger as the game progresses. He is comparable to the tortoise, steadily moving forward until he wins the race.
Regrettably, Davis became the hare in this situation. At the beginning of the game, AD was almost perfect during the first 25 minutes. He scored an impressive 32 points on 14-of-15 shots and led the Lakers' defense against Jokic. Coach Darvin Ham made sure Davis was on the court during Jokic's playing time - AD was very successful in this period with a plus-17 score, while Jokic had a score of minus-17. However, after that, Davis disappeared while Jokic continued to play exceptionally well and ended up achieving a 27-20-10 triple-double, which is a remarkable accomplishment for him.
Although Murray's performance will likely be remembered as the highlight of the series and LeBron's determination dominates the NBA, the Lakers-Nuggets matchup has always revolved around Davis and Jokic in some way. In the Western Conference finals, each player has produced an impressive buzzer-beating moment against the other - AD's in 2020 and Jokic's in 2023 - as a potential sign of championship success. There is a two-year gap between the two players, both in terms of age and draft class. Davis was considered the top prospect since Greg Oden and Kevin Durant in the 2012 draft, showcasing skills, reflexes, and flexibility that reflected his time as a determined guard before a growth spurt changed everything. Jokic, on the other hand, was seen as an oddball in the 2014 draft, with impressive Vlade Divac-like passing ability and a solid low-post game on display at the Nike Hoop Summit. However, our perception and lack of imagination shielded the full extent of his varied skill set.
It can be surprising to see how much Davis has changed as a player throughout his career, as well as Jokic. The Pelicans used to experiment with Davis on offense, sometimes having him run off screens to shoot from beyond the arc. However, this idea of him as a futuristic scorer has faded, and he now mixes elements of traditional big men from the 2000s with those of modern-day vertical spacers like DeAndre Jordan and Clint Capela. Though he was once considered a versatile player, Davis has now embraced a more traditional playing style that has made him one of the top three big men in the league.
Davis and Jokic have different approaches to their game. Davis has taken inspiration from Marie Kondo and gotten rid of anything that doesn't benefit his elite level of play, while Jokic keeps his skills organized and ready to use when needed. Jokic is a skilled 3-point shooter, which is unfair to the competition. Although he was able to score easily against AD in the second half of their game on Monday, Jokic still respected Davis as a talented player on both offense and defense. Jokic doesn't consider himself a strong one-on-one defender, but he is capable of minimizing his own impact on the game.
The Lakers will be getting some extra support for their upcoming game in Los Angeles. Christian Wood and Jarred Vanderbilt are expected to play during Game 3, giving the team some much-needed agility to defend against Jokic. It's clear that the Lakers need to switch things up if they want to disrupt Jokic's timing, instead of relying solely on one player. After their last game, however, it seems like the Lakers are up against a tough opponent. Jokic's strong performance and Murray's impressive buzzer-beater only serve as a warning to other teams. Even if you perform flawlessly for most of the game, it's all for nothing if you can't handle the pressure in the final moments. The Lakers need to be prepared for the long haul if they want to come out on top.
