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Quick Bytes
- The Lakers led frequently against the Nuggets but lost in the 2024 playoffs.
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope shared that the Nuggets felt the Lakers should’ve won.
- Exhaustion from securing the top seed left the Lakers with little energy for playoffs.
- Austin Rivers comments on the Lakers’ potential for the upcoming season.
Playoff Puzzler: Lakers’ Lead Lost to Nuggets’ Tenacity
The Los Angeles Lakers’ recent playoff battle with the Denver Nuggets was a series filled with surprising twists and intense competition. Despite leading in most games and at halftime, the Lakers succumbed to the Nuggets in just five games.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who appeared on The Draymond Green Show, revealed an intriguing insight: the Nuggets themselves believed the Lakers had the upper hand and should have won. The Lakers’ exhaustive push to clinch the top seed drained their energy, leaving them fatigued when the playoffs arrived. Caldwell-Pope’s candid admission highlights the grueling nature of the NBA season and the strategic importance of energy management.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis shone for the Lakers, with Austin Reaves putting up a strong defensive front. However, the team’s inability to maintain their lead allowed the Nuggets, with Jamal Murray’s clutch performances, to advance. Caldwell-Pope, now with the Orlando Magic, reflects on the intense rivalry he’s leaving behind.
Adding to the narrative, former NBA player Austin Rivers shared his optimism about the Lakers’ prospects. After watching LeBron and Davis excel with Team USA, Rivers suggested that the Lakers are not far from championship contention, a sentiment that will surely energize Lakers fans for the upcoming season.
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