In the aftermath of their disappointing loss in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers gathered for a film session that left a bitter taste in their mouths. The session revealed a troubling pattern of missed scoring opportunities, particularly near the rim, which contributed to their inability to capitalize on a 20-point lead in the third quarter. Despite their struggles, the Lakers remain focused on identifying the reasons behind their failures and using them as building blocks for improvement moving forward.
According to star forward LeBron James, the Lakers missed a significant number of shots at the rim, a deficiency that stood in stark contrast to their regular-season performance. In Game 2, James, who shot 69.8% near the rim during the regular season, made just 4 of 11 (36.4%) shots within five feet of the basket. Rui Hachimura, another key contributor, also struggled near the rim, making only one of his four attempts. The missed layups and dunks not only prevented the Lakers from capitalizing on easier scoring opportunities but also fueled the Nuggets’ transition attack.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham acknowledged the Nuggets’ defensive prowess but emphasized that the team’s inability to convert point-blank layups was a major obstacle. D’Angelo Russell suggested that fatigue may have been a factor in the Lakers’ struggles to finish at the rim, a notion supported by their combined shooting percentage of 53.8% within five feet of the basket in the first two games of the series. Ham, however, attributed Anthony Davis’ post-game comments about the team’s lack of organization to the frustrations of the moment rather than a systemic issue.
Despite their current 0-2 deficit, the Lakers are determined to learn from their mistakes and regain momentum in the series. Ham believes that understanding the reasons behind their failures will be crucial to making the necessary adjustments. The Lakers will need to find a way to sustain their leads and close out games against a Nuggets team that has consistently outplayed them down the stretch in recent matchups.
Game 3 of the series will take place on Thursday at the Crypto.com Arena, and the Lakers will be eager to prove that they can overcome their early struggles and force the series back to Denver.
