Note: The pair of positions pushed in on preflop are solid despite Murray being active and in the center circle with the first five. A source from the LA Times reported to a group that exchanges information – the LA Times Beat reported to the small circle, myself included, that the Lakers were going to push the pace and operate in offensive transition off made and missed Denver shots. The aim and the game plan are believed to offer an advantage, an edge if you will with Murry and his strained calf needing more R&R/bench time, than would be normal for the All-Star point guard.
FINNs LATE NBA WEST TOP of the TICKET I - Los Angeles Lakers +7 (-112) | The spread position on Los Angeles is good with Lakers +6 points
Venue: Ball Center in Denver, CO
LA Lakers Starting Lineup
PG -- D. Russell
SG -- Austin Reaves
SF -- L. James (ankle/probable)
PF - Rui Hachimura
C -- A. Davis (wrist/probable)
Lakers Injuries
C -- A. Davis (wrist/probable)
F -- L. James (ankle/probable)
F -- J. Vanderbilt (foot/doubtful)
F -- C. Reddish (ankle/out)
Denver Nuggets Starting Lineup
PG --J. Murray (calf/questionable)
SG -K. Caldwell-Pope
SF- M. Porter
PF - Aaron Gordon
C -- Nikola Jokic
Nuggets Injuries
G --R. Jackson (ankle/probable
G --J. Murray (calf/questionable)
Jamal Murray is the point of focus entering Game 5 at Ball Center in the Mile High City. Murray tweaked his calf in Saturday's contest in Los Angeles. Note: Murray played through the injury but if you understood he was playing through the ailment it explained a lot about how poorly the Nuggets executed.
I stated a month or two ago that this Denver team was not repeating as World Champs … they are not a good team without The Joker on the floor and they are even worse without Murray running the half-court offense.
Denver is shooting just north of 28 percent from the three-line and they look tired, black and blue, and are moving like it's Sunday in the Park with the Chicago horn section.
The Lakers have been porous defensively and allowed the Nuggets to shoot most all of their three-point takes unguarded. The numbers from the state king have the Nuggets connecting on just 25.0 percent of uncontested 3-point attempts
Denver has yet to get comfortable in this series or it would be game, set, and match already.
The overadjustment on the total is predicated on the Nuggets shooting poorly from the three-line again.
The pre-flop play is the initial lean on this game based on Saturday's action, the eye-test of that play, and the fact that if Murray is ruled out having the Lakers plus the points and Over the 217 plays to run with. I will check back in when the announcement has been made, officially, in relationship to Murray and his game night status.
Los Angeles Lakers +6.5 (-110)