Western Conference Finals - Game 5 Recap

Denver Nuggets 94
Los Angeles Lakers 103
Lakers Lead Series 3-2

To say that the Lakers won this game in the 4th quarter is an understatement. Game 5 between the Lakers and Nuggets was tied after the first, again the second, and again after the third. With neither team able to get much separation, the Lakers took the first real run of the game and didn't let go after that. Trailing 73-66 late in the third, the Lakers tore off on a 21-3 run that was sparked by Shannon Brown's big fast break dunk over Chris "Birdman" Andersen. The Nuggets went 6:32 without a point between the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarter, missing 11 straight shots during that stretch. This helped the Lakers score the first 11 points in the fourth and the Nuggets didn't get closer than 4 the rest of the way.

What's interesting is that I felt like the teams almost switched roles in this game. The Lakers were definitely much more aggressive than they had been in this series, which probably comes as a result of Kobe's concerted effort to be more of a facilitator in this one. The Nuggets hoisted 24 threes and were not drawing the fouls they were in Game 4 when they attacked the rim. To the Lakers credit, their often maligned defense was superb in the second half. They held the Nuggets to 39% shooting for the game and only surrendered 38 points in the final two quarters. Not known for their interior defense, the Lakers blocked 12 shots (including 5 by Pau Gasol) and contrary to what George Karl said in his postgame news conference, most of them were clean blocks on replay. During their second half struggles, the Nuggets really got away from what had been working for them so far in the series. They finished with only 17 assists, stopped attacking, and deferred too often to Carmelo Anthony, who finished just 9-of-23 from the field.

The Lakers bench has also gotten quite a bit of grief for their lack of contributing quality minutes in support of the starters. In particular, Lamar Odom and the backup point guards have taken most of the heat. Not so in this game. Odom showed off just how good he can be when he puts it all together, finishing with 19 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 blocks. He was all over the boards, had active hands on defense, and was constantly getting great position in the key on offense. After Derek Fisher finally found his shot, Jordan Farmar provided a few good minutes off the bench in the first half. According to ESPN sideline reporter Doris Burke, Farmar was poised to check in for Fisher again late in the third coming out of a timeout, but only if Anthony Carter was coming in for Chauncey Billups. Of his backup PGs, Phil Jackson prefers Shannon Brown as a defender on Billups and when Billups stayed in the game, Jackson sent in Brown for his first minutes of the game. What a boost he provided. Brown had the aforementioned dunk on Andersen, but also hit a big shot at the shot clock buzzer to cap the 21-3 run, and played some stellar defense on Billups. In his 14 minutes, Brown finished with a +/- rating of +13. The Lakers and Phil Jackson can't ask for much more from their bench. Combine that effort with Kobe's efficient 22 points on 6-for-13 shooting, along with 8 assists and 5 rebounds, and another double-double from Pau Gasol, the Lakers proved just how they won the West by 11 games in the regular season.

One more performance like that and they will be making a return trip to the NBA Finals.