Rui Hachimura is facing a tough customer in the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, and ESPN analyst Shannon Sharpe did not hold back on his critique of the Los Angeles Lakers forward’s lackluster play.
Sharpe made a tongue-in-cheek reference to disgraced former Toronto Raptors reserve Jontay Porter as he took to ESPN’s First Take to highlight Hachimura’s struggles so far in the first two games of the Lakers’ series against the defending NBA champions.
“Maybe [Rui Hachimura] talked to Michael Porter Jr.’s [younger] brother [Jontay], because I think he took the under on the 10 points the betting sites had him,” said Sharpe. “[B]ro, how’d you miss that many layups? How’d you have three points?”
The remarks by Sharpe made reference to Porter, who received a lifetime ban from the NBA earlier this month after an investigation found he was in violation of league gambling rules.
Rui Hachimura a missing piece in the Lakers’ NBA Playoffs first round series against the Nuggets
In 68 games this season, Rui Hachimura averaged 13.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 26.9 minutes on the floor. However, Hachimura’s production in the NBA Playoffs series was particularly hit as he was limited to seven points and three rebounds in Game 1, followed by a paltry three points and five rebounds in Game 2.
During Game 1, Hachimura was assigned the unenviable task to take on the primary defender role on two-time MVP Nikola Jokic. However, Hachimura was ineffective in stopping Jokic as he posted 32 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists during the 114-103 win.
Subsequently, Anthony Davis was put on Jokic in Game 2, but the latter continued his reign of terror over the Lakers with a triple-double of 27 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists, with the Nuggets coming back from 20 points down in the second half to take a 101-99 win and a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Following the loss in Game 2, Lakers Head Coach Darvin Ham, LeBron James, and D’Angelo Russell expressed dismay at the officiating, including a foul call in the third quarter that was overturned by officials following a coach’s challenge by Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.
Anthony Davis, however, was more critical of himself following the loss as he allowed the Jokic triple-double, as well as being unable to close out Jamal Murray’s game-winning jumper in front of the Nuggets’ bench at the buzzer.
The Lakers seek to pull a game back on the Nuggets when the series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday.
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