Tonight’s game 4 was a do-or-die game for the Los Angeles Lakers. There was a probability that their playoffs would end tonight. As such, the men in purple and gold were on a mission to ensure they did not get swept by the Denver Nuggets, 2 years in a row. During that mission, they could not afford any misses from their side. That determination saw LeBron James yell at his head coach Darvin Ham for not challenging a call.
The Los Angeles Lakers know that the most common theme in their previous 3 playoff games was that they would be up for most of the game, only for the defending champions to rally back and win it. Which is why, LeBron James wanted Darvin Ham to challenge a foul call that went against them. Even though 9 minutes remained in the 4th quarter.
When Ham did not do so, a visibly upset James was yelling and motioned with his hands furiously. A player with such a high IQ and understanding of the game must have strongly felt that the foul call was not correct. The Lakers were up 15 at that moment.
Normally coaches want to challenge when the game is on the line. It goes to show that even if they were up by that much at that moment in the game, there was a fear that the Denver Nuggets could storm back.
LeBron James and his teammates avoid a sweep
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers managed to finally win against the Denver Nuggets. Not an easy feat after losing 11 straight games since last year. It seems, they finally cracked the mystery of how to beat the defending champions. James led the way with 30 points. His team helped by doing everything they could to keep the lead they had at the half.
In each of the previous games, they did have the lead at the half, only for the Nuggets to destroy them later. This time, the Lakers battled valiantly in the 2nd half, going toe to toe with the defending champions.
The Lakers can now breathe easy that their playoff exit did not happen in front of their home crowd. They now take the battle to the mile-high city, to try and do something that has never been done in the NBA before.
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