NBA - Denver Nuggets v LA Lakers

25 May 2009

Preview By Tipster Jumbo (New Zealand)

I missed yesterdays Magic/Cavs game as the result was just to easy to read,I will do Game 4 of that series but the one series that interests me the most is this one as I am yet to be correct on it and it is annoying me..so lets see if we can finally get one correct on this Series as it enters Game 4...

Each game of this Series has been decided late with the last shot almost in each game,in Games 1 and 3 the Nuggets had the lead and lost it and then in both games gave away possession in the dying stages from inbound balls and have gone on to lose both games,heartbreaking stuff for the Nuggets for sure,but I have to say that Game 3 was really a bad performance from the Nuggets all round really,their defence was alright again but their shot selection was gone,Mello contributed nothing after half time,Billups went awful in both setting up and shooting and at times especially when the Nuggets had a lead and a big one at that they shot themselves in the foot by trying to play a flashy game instead of working the ball in and getting decent shot selection..The Lakers for me have not won any game so far this Series the Nuggets have lost them not the other way around.

You would expect that Mello and Billups are far to good to allow themselves to get into the mess they were in in Game 3 again and if those two can contribute about an extra 10 to 20 points each that the Lakers will find the road hard going as they are still not getting great performances from their side as a whole and apart from Kobe and Pau who were both superb in Game 3 the Lakers are a team in limbo and trouble and worst of all for Nuggets fans the Nuggets are allowing those two players alone to stay in these games instead of putting them away and that must change today.

The Nuggets are a lot better than Games 1,2 and 3 have shown and tonight is their chance to show it,but once again each game has been decided late and likely will be ag in,the Nuggets though have far more reason for optimism than the Lakers as they have held commanding leads in each game this series but have lost 2 of them,Game 3 and they tried to play for the Crowd and it didn't work now they have to put their heads down and play with hard graft to get back into this Series tonight,considering the Nuggets lost by 6 103-97 and yet made only 5 of 27 3 point shots should have us thinking that the Nuggets missed out on scoring 66 points and even if they had gone inside and looked for better options with 2 point shots it means that the Nuggets didn't score another 44 points even if you half the percentage and say they made 10 more 2 point shots they would still of scored an extra 20 points in that game and would of won it easily.

The Nuggets need to show composure and look for better shot selection which is something they did have not to long ago but seemed to of lost that in this Series to date,so far each game has resulted in the unders in this Series but the last one could of gone over had the Nuggets been more accurate,I fancy the Nuggets to win this game but the cover on the 4 is hard to say,the Nuggets need to execute even to 25% better and they will win and based on the scores so far if they can they will score over 110 and the Lakers will be there with them should that arise,interesting to note that in all 3 games so far the scores in the first and second quarters have been huge and then have really died in the second halves,Nuggets to win Game 4 for me but once again the Lakers to be right in it and foul shots to get us over the line...Good Luck.