Denver Nuggets are better team

The title of this article won’t be real popular in L.A., but who cares, as Joe Friday of Dragnet used to say, “Just the facts”. After watching four games between Denver and the Los Angeles Lakers, the truth is in, the Nuggets are better team. That’s doesn’t mean they will win the NBA title, what the heck, it doesn’t even mean they will win this series against the Lake Show, it just means my adjusted 20-15 laser vision can see who the better team is after 16 quarters of professional basketball in the Western Conference Finals.

Denver has more players interested in playing hard than Los Angeles, which is fairly remarkable, since the supposed vision of the Lakers was to make up for losing in last year’s finals to Boston. All season, television talking heads spoke about the new Lakers toughness and the resolve they had, which is a whole lot easier to do against the Clippers, as opposed to mixing it up with Denver.

I’m wondering if the NBA should give up this all-access in game coverage, as NBA coaches are no longer coming off as wizards of the hardwood. It started last year really, when Doc Rivers didn’t so much coach his team, he more implored them to victory. This has followed up with George Karl, telling his team to “stay focused” or “keep playing hard”, not exactly how one pictures Red Auerbach in the huddle talking to his team. With this style of coaching, the only thing missing is pom-poms and “let’s go team”.

Maybe that is how coaches need to talk to their teams, since Phil Jackson has the greatest collection ever of unmotivated players expected to win a NBA title. In watching a portion of Spike Lee’s ESPN thing -John & Kate plus 8 - Kobe style, Bryant talked about the diversity of language spoken by the Lakers. This makes more sense than ever, since communication for motivation purposes is surely lacking for a team that has lost six postseason games by almost 10 points per game.

Maybe Jackson should lower himself to this primitive-method of coaching, since his players are too nonchalant, plus they are less athletic and less talented than their Denver counterparts.
L.A. has not lost two in a row in the playoffs, winning six times by 15 PPG, making bettors pleased with six matching covers.

We’ve all heard how complex the triangle offense is, but is it me or has Kobe given up on teammates, when Lakers need points? The number of assists Bryant has to have in the fourth quarter should be able to be counted on one hand. Besides if the triangle offense is so difficult to understand and execute properly, is Jackson really helping matters playing three different point guards, or does desperation force his hand?

If Derek Fisher didn’t have championship jewelry, retiring right now would be suitable option. Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar, no wonder Kobe is keeping the ball for a team that is 2-8 ATS after being burned for 100 or more points.

Denver’s frontcourt is SO much more active than the Lakers it’s ludicrous. Mark Cuban might have been right about Kenyon Martin being thug, but he’s outplayed Lamar Odom by a mile. Nene has played exceptional position defense on Pau Gasol, whose every touch has been as mechanical as Yao Ming, flustering the Spaniard. If the Denver does win NBA title, Chris “Birdman” Anderson, will be the most requested person on talk show circuit, with people wanting to hear his story of overcoming himself. Phil Jackson would love to look down the bench to find a high effort guy.

The Nuggets have covered like 49 of last 50 games, OK, 21 of last 26, including last six pressure-packed road tilts. Denver, despite playing so well is still volatile. J.R. Smith is loose cannon, as is Martin. Dahntay Jones is not above some chicanery and Denver shot selection can alter games towards the negative.

I checked DiamondSportsbook.com and they opened the Lakers as six-point favorites and Jackson coached teams on the left coast are 15-5 against the spread when series is tied up. Even with the Game 2 loss, L.A. has covered 11 of last 14 at Staples Center against the Nuggies, though I forget, this is different Denver team (wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that since playoffs began).

The Nuggets are 13-5 ATS after scoring 105 or more points and have covered the number is seven of last eight times with one day’s rest.

I’ll probably make a small wager on Denver, because they are the better team and if they really want to prove it, they win Game 5 setting up clincher at Pepsi Center Friday.

Penned by Red Wydley.