Western finals preview
Golden State goes out, Philly phades
DENVER NUGGETS
C: Nikola Jokic — predictably monstrous (23-12-10, 30-40 on two-pointers) in four contests against the Lakers this season, Anthony Davis appearing in three. If Jokic remains a No. 1 scorer and makes Davis guard twice as much area, he’ll earn three more scratches and four wins.
PF: Aaron Gordon — popped 6-14 three-pointers in the Suns series and will be asked to render severe damage to Laker championship hopes while in transition.
F: Michael Porter Jr. — struggled mightily in two games against the Lakers during the regular season, must look 14 years younger than LeBron James.
SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — thought he’d elude the Lakers but his former team bulked up, turns out the Nuggets aren’t the only ones who can make one-sided trades with the Washington Wizards.
PG: Jamal Murray — silently seething, probably remembers what floor the Lakers stayed in during the Bubble, some of the room numbers, the layout of the furniture, how often the AC whirred on and off, when LeBron took the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign off to let room service inside, did LeBron retrieve it right after the phone receiver clicked or yank it a few minutes before the food showed up, normal, innocent stuff.
The first time Jeff Green played the Lakers, there were Luke Walton-to-Ronny Turiaf highlights:
