NFL
By Keith Richards
Step-by-step, day-by-day, and series-by-series, the Denver Nuggets continue to prove the doubters wrong. Now, they find themselves in the 2023 Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. It will be a rematch of the 2020 Western Conference Finals between the two teams. LA won that series 4-1. The Nuggets look to have better fortune this season. Let’s break down the key players and wild cards for each team. Then, we’ll give the prediction. Bring it in!
Key Players
For the Nuggets, the true key player is, once again, obvious: Nikola Jokic. We’re not going to go there. Once again, the key player for the Nuggets will be Jamal Murray in the Western Conference Finals. In these playoffs, Murray has seemingly found his “bubble form.” The Blue Arrow is averaging 25.9 PPG, 6.5 APG, 5.2 APG, and 2.9 three-pointers per game (on a three-point shooting percentage of 39.5%). If he can continue that, it will take a lot of the pressure off Jokic and put the Nuggets in a great spot.
The key player for the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals is Anthony Davis. It’s not the scoring he’ll need. The scoring will be important. However, Davis’ defense of Jokic will be more vital. In the 20 games Nikola Jokic and Anthony Davis have gone head-to-head, Jokic has averaged 18.6 PPG, 9.7 RPG, and 5.3 APG. In the three games they faced each other this season, Nikola averaged 26.3 PPG, 12.7 PPG, and 7.7 APG. In the postseason, though, Jokic has been a different animal.
In the 2022-23 playoffs, Big Honey is averaging 30.7 PPG, 12.8 RPG (4.2 Offensive RPG), and 9.7 APG. It’s been borderline unstoppable. Simultaneously, it will be the toughest test for Jokic and Davis in these playoffs. AD won’t be able to stop Jokic, but he will need to contain him if the Lakers look to be the victors of these Western Conference Finals.
Wild Cards
In the Western Conference Finals, the wild card for the Nuggets is their wild card from the first round: Michael Porter, Jr. So far, MPJ is been adequate for the Nuggets. In the Western Conference Finals, though, he will need to be more than that. In the playoffs this season, Porter has averaged 14.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 1.4 APG. With the production of Jokic and Murray, that has been enough. However, it may not be enough against the Lakers.
In seven games against LA in his career, Michael has averaged 11.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 0.4 APG. Simply put, that’s not going to be enough if the Nuggets look to win the Western Conference Finals. With Davis matched up with Jokic, and Vanderbilt (likely) manning Murray, Porter Jr. has to take advantage of his matchup. If the Nuggets want to be Western Conference Finals Champions, Michael Porter Jr. will need to average at least 17 PPG. He has the ability. He just needs to do it now.
The wild card for Los Angeles in the Western Conference Finals is Jarred Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt is probably the most versatile defender the Lakers have. He can guard the 4 just as easily as he can guard the 1. While Reeves is serviceable defensively, it’s Jarred who likely draws the Murray assignment first. It’s paramount for Vanderbilt to limit Murray and put more pressure on Jokic. If he can do that (and score a few points along the way) it will make it hard on the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.
The Prediction
As stated above, in the 2020 Western Conference Finals, Los Angeles would walk away the victors and go on to win the NBA Championship. I believe that whoever wins this series is the favorite to when the NBA Finals. Both are capable of playing lockdown defense and going on offensive explosions. It’s a very evenly matched series. So, who will win?
I’m taking the Nuggets in seven games to win the Western Conference Finals. Both Denver and Los Angeles have been very good at home. I’d give the Lakers the slight edge as the road team, but I think the Nuggets take one on the road too. It will be a very close series and has the potential to be the best series of the playoffs.
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