The Dream Police

You can't crack under the pressure if you want to beat the Lakers. You need to execute for 48 full minutes. Kobe Bryant has been doing this, under this type of spotlight, for almost 15 years. If you allow him to, and sometimes even if you don't, he will steal your dreams away from you in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets had a clear blueprint for what they needed to do to beat this team and, for the most part, they did it. They seemed able to score at will in the paint (although they didn't go in there enough late in the game), they were more physical, Carmelo Anthony got them off to a fast start, and Chauncey Billups was hitting big shots. But, in the end, the pressure got to them, and they cracked. The Lakers will frustrate you, as they did to Kenyon Martin, who committed a costly foul on Kobe Bryant down the stretch. The Lakers will make you pay for any momentary lapse in effort or focus, as was the case when Trevor Ariza picked off Anthony Carters weak-ass attempt to inbound the ball to Chauncey Billups with under a minute left. The guy had flat out looked horrible against Carmelo in the first quarter, but, in crunch time, his confidence and focus were unwavering. That is the mark of a championship team.

The Orlando Magic grew up right before our eyes in the second round. They began as a team that could not hold a lead (game 1), got psyched out and let their frustration get the better of them (game 2), and who could not put away games in which they had the lead in the fourth quarter (games 4 and 5). However, by the time game 6 rolled around, they had been forged into a contender. Their lessons learned against the Celtics will no doubt help them in round 3. Hopefully, we can see Denver go through that same process. It should be easier, seeing as how they have a veteran who knows what it takes at the point guard spot.

After the game, George Karl said "The next 48 hours are going to be difficult". Denver needs to stay positive and focused on what it needs to change in game 2. They controlled this game most of the way, so their gameplan and their intensity do not need much tweaking. They need to watch a lot of film, and see where exactly this thing went wrong. They can still win this series, but it's all about what they are able to take away from game 1. If they let the frustration of this loss get to them, then they are as good as dead. Once Kobe smells blood in the water, you're done for.