Western Conference Finals - Game 3 Recap

Los Angeles Lakers 103
Denver Nuggets 97
Lakers Lead Series 2-1

Say what you will about NBA basketball, but these Conference Finals series cannot be considered to be dull by any standards. 5 games played to this point and this game is the first one to be decided by more than 3 points....and even then, it still wasn't decided until the final 15-20 seconds.

What has to be disheartening for the Nuggets was the fact that they really could not have played a whole lot better for most of the game while the Lakers really never seemed to be in sync, but the Lakers were able to stick around into the 4th. And as George Karl has witnessed and acknowledged, the Lakers have the game's best closer so letting the Lakers stay within striking distance gave Kobe Bryant the chance to push the Lakers to a 2-1 series lead. He scored 13 points in the final quarter, and finished with 41 on an efficient 12-of-24 shooting. Kobe was able to attack the basket and draw fouls, helping him get to the line 17 times (making 15), and he added 6 rebounds and 5 assists against just 1 turnover. Kobe got help from Pau Gasol (20/11; 6th straight playoff double-double) and Trevor Ariza (16 points; 2nd big late-game steal). And despite their mostly maligned defense, the Lakers held the Nuggets to 39% shooting and just 5-for-27 from behind the arc.

The key for the Nuggets is having at least one of their perimeter guns (Melo, Chauncey, or JR Smith) going off because this team doesn't have a consistent low-post scoring option that can create shots and provide some offensive balance. At first glance, you see that Nene and Chris Andersen combined for 28 points on 11-of-18 shooting. But neither of those players is a true score-for-themselves players and usually need the floor to be spaced and the Nuggets guards to attack the basket to create scoring opportunities. So when those three perimeter guys are a combined 13-for-43 from the field, it's hard to dump the ball into the post and be able to get consistent offense.

Carmelo has been fantastic in this series but he scored just 3 of his 21 points in the second half. In fact, Carmelo took just 4 shots after halftime, without a make. What I can't understand is how George Karl and Chauncey Billups aren't force-feeding Melo the ball. Here's a guy that averaged 36.5 points in the first two games in LA, and was on that pace with 18 points in the first half. But 4 shots in the entire second half of a close game the Nuggets really needed? Unbelievable. George Karl has taken some flack for the steal that occurred in Game 1 but I don't really fault him this time. Instead of Anthony Carter, this time he used the 6-foot-9 Kenyon Martin. Martin had Melo flashing open before Ariza could close, but just threw a horrible pass. So I don't see Karl being at fault there, but I do for the fact that Carmelo got 13 shots for the game.