JOKER'S WILD CARD

While all the hype was directed towards the Boston Celtics and their remarkable regular season feats, the true title favorites are keeping a low profile.

The Denver Nuggets carry a 3-1 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers. That was not groundbreaking, and some would even say it's expected. But what was noticeable is how they won Game 2.

The Lakers were buzzing. Anthony Davis was a beast on both ends of the court. D'Angelo Russell played his best game. This game belonged to the Lakers. It almost felt like the Purple and Gold were really prepared to face their former tormentors. That's why they did not tank their play-in game.

The Game 2 loss is the kind that deflates your spirits and tests your resilience, and it carried over to Game 3. It's not about just talent, and LeBron and Davis were some of the most talented first overall picks ever. But now that they have one convincing win, can they mount an unprecedented comeback? Or is it just a Gentleman's sweep?

The Inevitable Jokic

LeBron James is on the Lakers, so it is inevitable that he takes over the playoff game. In the last quarter, Davis started to miss and Russell had turnovers.

In Game 2, despite an early slump, the Nuggets caught up at exactly the right time, setting up the buzzer beater by Jamal Murray. The Canadian guard from Kentucky was often forgotten in the regular season, but in the playoffs, suddenly makes a case at being a top 10 point guard in the league.

This is the Nuggets, getting stronger every round. They may take time to heat up, they'll even be in a slump like this game, but somehow they forge a comeback. Jokic didn't seem dominant early, but ended up with 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Side note: There are only eight 20/20/10 games in NBA Playoff history: One each from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and Dave Cowens. There are four more, and all of them are from Nikola Jokic. That is astounding.

Jokic the Serbian horseman is quietly establishing an all-time great portfolio. Except that he doesn't talk about it, Nuggets fans aren't beating their chests about their team's regular season achievements, or how they are the defending champions and all that.

The deathly efficiency of the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs is almost criminal. They just suddenly crush the hopes of every fan base. Jokic is inevitable, like Thanos. Probably why the Lakers wanted to take on him early. It was heartbreaking to get the euphoria of reaching the Western Conference Finals only to be swept. Or is that the only reason?

Turmoil in Tinseltown

This season could be a turning point for the Lakers. There were rumors of coach Darvin Ham getting replaced, but the franchise did not want to risk a midseason change when Anthony Davis is at his healthiest. Nonetheless, AD voiced out that the team has stretches where they don't know what they're doing– a clear shot at his coach.

There is always a chance that the Lakers win their home games and make it a series. They might even win, and that would solve everything. But if not, Ham may be the easiest replacement for them. LeBron's future is in question because of Bronny. We might think it's a novelty, but LeBron is serious. Note that at this point, his motivations are limitless, and he won't hesitate to pursue his personal goals no matter how far fetched they seem.

This is LeBron's sixth season with the Lakers, and while the franchise has treated him as a partner, James is completely determined to follow his own whim. After all, he has already delivered a title.

Player empowerment will place franchises in trouble with their draft picks compromised. Their hope is for a Joker Wild Card to appear in the second round, like a 41st overall pick turning out to be an all-time great.

They need three more games to make history, but even then, there are too many questions that need to be answered.

2024-04-29T03:32:08Z dg43tfdfdgfd