LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — After a Game 4 in which LeBron James scored 26 points, was a rebound and two assists short of his fourth triple-double this postseason, and played victory-clinching defense on the Nuggets’ best player, he was asked about his minutes.
James had played 38 minutes that night, 10 of which were in the fourth quarter. He bristled at the suggestion that his postseason workload this year, which is at a career low 34.6 minutes per game, contributed to him having enough energy to guard Jamal Murray.
“It’s winning time and I don’t have a chance or time to be feeling tired,” he said. “I’m tired now. That’s when I’m tired: When it’s zeroes on the clock. … I’m not tired during the game.”
Through four games in the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers have built a 3-1 lead, but the Nuggets have nearly played them even in two of those three wins. And given that Denver’s magic numbers have been 3 and 1 in their pair of playoff comebacks this season, the Lakers understand they can’t hold anything back trying to eliminate the team that’s been a harder out in elimination games than any other in NBA history.
The Nuggets have cultivated a routine for their run of six straight wins in elimination games: The coaching staff wears black, in a salute to Johnny Cash and to grasp a bit of that swagger. Then either Jamal Murray or Nikola Jokic, and sometimes both, go off in confident performances. In their final three games against the Clippers, Denver erased double-digit leads in all three wins.
That being said, Michael Malone told the media Friday afternoon, he’d rather have evened up the series in a tight Game 4 despite his team’s track record.
“I think people out there probably think this is exactly where we want them: It’s not,” he said. “We would much rather be up 3-1, but it is what it is. We put ourselves in this position. Our team has shown tremendous resiliency and grit in getting out of these before.”
So have the Lakers — in closeout games. They’re 2-0 in Game 5s this postseason, topping both the Trail Blazers and Rockets in their first close-out attempts. For his career, James is 14-0 in games where his team enters with a 3-1 lead.
There was a little wobble to the Lakers’ confidence caused by minor injuries. After turning his left ankle in Game 4 but playing through it, Davis was listed officially as questionable for Game 5 on Saturday. But Davis also received treatment on the ankle during the Lakers’ open gym session, and along with James (probable), who was kneed in his right thigh, Frank Vogel said both of his stars “are good to go.”
The Lakers were 9-6 after losses during the regular season, and they have yet to lose back-to-back games in the postseason. While there was little discernible sense of seriousness at the team’s open gym Friday afternoon, Vogel called his group’s approach to the game “subtle.”
“Our group’s demeanor in all of these playoff games has been to treat every one like a must-win,” he said. “I would say that same mindset has applied to the close-out games we had against Houston and Portland, and we know those are always the most difficult wins to get in a series, and we expect this to be no different.”
Both teams have shown a willingness to take risks in lineups and rotations for any extra edge. For the Nuggets, that’s been a willingness to push Murray, who has averaged 40.5 minutes per game this series (he’s played at least 44 minutes in four of his last five playoff games), while also throwing in former two-way contract player P.J. Dozier in Game 2. Vogel has shown his hand by starting Howard, who had started just two games during the regular season.
Howard said the Lakers were aware they probably haven’t seen all of Denver’s punches yet.
“They’re going to give us their best shot,” he said. “They’re not going to let up. They’re a really good team, very well-coached. We understand that. We’re one step closer to our dream, so we’re not going to take our foot off the gas. I think we’re going to bring more intensity than we brought before.”
Between coaches, there’s been subtle shots back and forth about free throws which have played a pivotal role in the last two games. The Lakers were miffed after the first three games when James had just shot 10 total free throws despite aggressively driving to the rim. He was 11 for 14 from the line in Game 4, a game that was swung on free throws and caused Murray and Malone to cry foul against the referees afterward.
By Friday, Malone was ready to point to other avenues where his team could have salvaged Game 4, such as the rebounding margin (the Lakers had 12 offensive rebounds).
“We can get caught up in that and use the refs as an easily, readily available excuse if we want,” Malone said. “I’m not going to, because we didn’t lose the game last night because of anybody except ourselves.”
The Nuggets are accustomed to bouncing back. The Lakers are accustomed to steamrolling underdogs. The clash of those track records, backed by an already compelling four games, seems to promise a finish worth watching whether it takes three more games or one.
When it’s over, the Lakers will take a moment to rest. But not a moment sooner.
“Simple,” Howard said, “the job’s not finished.”
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