Los Angeles Lakers all set to host Denver Nuggets: NBA Preview
The Lakers host the Denver Nuggets on Friday night and will hoping for Kobe Bryant to carry on the good work he has been doing for so long. Kobe averaged 29.1 points per game in the first round playoff series when the Lakers dropped
the Nuggets. Some players tend to lose shape as they age, but Kobe is an exception. He is getting better with each passing season and is averaging 27.7 points per game this season. Plus he has an average of 31.8 in the last four games under Mike D’ Antoni.
But despite Kobe heroics, Lakers have dropped 8 out of their 15 games this season and are currently 7-8.
Kobe made a clutch three pointer to get Lakers back in the game but the Indiana Pacers made a bucket with 0.1 seconds on the clock to sneak in a win. Losing in such a manner is highly frustrating, especially when your star shooter
scores 40 points in the game.
Kobe who has played the semi role of the point guard in absence of Steve Blake and Steve Nash, committed 10 turnovers in their loss to the Pacers. Free throws are another area Lakers have to improve upon.
“It was just a tough game for us, because we didn't make shots," Bryant said. "On top of that, we didn't make free throws. I've got to minimize my mistakes. Ten turnovers is way too many for me, so I have to work on perfecting
that and bringing that down. I just felt like I played to the crowd too much."
Denver have lost two games on the road and will be looking to go back home on a high note by winning the final game of the road trip. The Nuggets almost started the celebrations before a three pointer at the buzzer was called off
after the video review by the referee. The Nuggets were visibly displeased with the decision and Coach George Karl made no efforts to hide them
"If I put a stopwatch on ... it seems like the clock started early for me," Karl said. "There's nothing to argue about. The camera says it's in his hands."
Iguodala is the man to watch out for in the Denver camp, he finished off with 22 points in their last game, and is averaging 15.7 points per game so far this season and is shooting 39.3 percent from the three point range. He has
a canny for scoring at the Staples Center and averages 17.3 per game in their previous 6 road games. Danilo Gallinari will be looking to put the disappointment of the last visit to Los Angeles behind him as he made just one of the 9 shots from the field in
the game number 7 of the playoffs.
With both teams coming into the night with tough losses, we surely have a great game of basketball coming our way.
Tags: