Ball Don't Lie - NBA

Ball Don't Lie

Fri Nov 13, 2009 5:25 pm EST

Game to pay attention to: Lakers vs. Nuggets

By Kelly Dwyer

L.A. Lakers at Denver

It's on national TV because it's going to be the best game.

I can try to be the obscurant, tell you to pay attention to the Hornets (now calling plays! Maybe) working in Portland or point you toward a Golden State-New York pairing that could have 245 points scored on 41 percent shooting, but the Lakers and the Nuggets are where it's at.

Even without Pau Gasol(notes), the Lakers are absolutely rolling. And Denver appears to have sustained the edge that got it so far last season. Sure, Chauncey Billups(notes) and a healthy frontcourt had more to do with a conference finals appearance than the "edge," but never discount the edge. It'll cut you. Two times.

The Lakers had plenty of rest in last night's demolishing of the Phoenix Suns. Good thing, because Denver's thinned-out air awaits. The frontcourt fouling situation (as it was back in Elden Campell's days -- pictured above) has to be watched by both sides, and we can't wait to see if Kobe Bryant(notes) will be guarding Carmelo Anthony(notes) should things stay close in the fourth quarter.

Enjoy your weekend, cats and kittens, and comment away.

Los Angeles Lakers: 7-1, 93.7 points scored per 100 possessions (13th fastest in the NBA), 109.2 points scored per 100 possessions (ninth in the NBA), 101.9 points allowed per 100 possessions (11th).

Denver Nuggets: 6-3, 95.4 possessions per game (sixth), 111.5 points scored per 100 possessions (fifth), 108 points allowed per 100 possessions (19th).

All stats courtesy of basketball-reference.com.

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26 Comments

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  1. Gassy Garry
    1. Posted by Gassy Garry Fri Nov 13, 2009 5:36 pm EST

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    Lakers 2009 nba champs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  2. Gassy Garry
    2. Posted by Gassy Garry Fri Nov 13, 2009 5:38 pm EST

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    This should be a good game tonight, LAKE SHOW should be able to come out victorious but Nuggs are a tough team.
    LAKERS 2009 NBA CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  3. Czheck
    3. Posted by Czheck Fri Nov 13, 2009 5:41 pm EST

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    1st? most likely a yahoo error. go lakers. kobe for MVP
  4. Jennny
    4. Posted by Jennny Fri Nov 13, 2009 5:51 pm EST

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    should be a great game. lakers for the win
  5. Mole
    5. Posted by Mole Fri Nov 13, 2009 6:02 pm EST

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    I sure hope that Violet Palmer the ref....does not ref the game to-night.....I would like to see a full basketball game without her interfering with so many fouls she calls, its hard to get excited among two good teams....
  6. Johnny D.
    6. Posted by Johnny D. Fri Nov 13, 2009 6:32 pm EST

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    nuggets win tonight at the can...they're gonna bring it hard in this one...
  7. cs
    7. Posted by cs Fri Nov 13, 2009 6:43 pm EST

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    finally got it right dwyer. lakers win.
  8. SCSF- LeBron NBA Finals Winless t-shirt ebay
    8. Posted by SCSF- LeBron NBA Finals Winless t-shirt ebay Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:24 pm EST

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    Lakers by 8 over Thuggets.....
    ORL
    PHI
    NYK
    POR
    DAL
    BOS
    Hou
    LAL
    LAC
    pts KB24
    r DHOWARD
    a Kidd
    stl KB24
    to Brooks
    Lastnight I had
    Lakers Bynum 15r 3 blk
  9. Bizzle
    9. Posted by Bizzle Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:30 pm EST

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    Hello? Kobe isn't going to have to guard Melo. That's what the Lakers acquired Artest for.
  10. Bizzle
    10. Posted by Bizzle Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:30 pm EST

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    Thuggets
  11. KEN W
    11. Posted by KEN W Sat Nov 14, 2009 12:46 am EST

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    Nuggets got the win tonight...that's ok...but too bad that Lakers have 15 flags and Nuggets have ZERO!!!
  12. Orlando
    12. Posted by Orlando Sat Nov 14, 2009 1:05 am EST

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    Horrible game for the Lakers. F it. We threw in the bench. Smart move by Phil. Avoid any more injuries. And get ready for next game. Nuggets played good. JR Smith throwing up airball 3s is funny. But good game Nuggets.
  13. thelegendarygregostertag
    13. Posted by thelegendarygregostertag Sat Nov 14, 2009 1:16 am EST

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    Hate. love.
  14. UZ
    14. Posted by UZ Sat Nov 14, 2009 3:09 am EST

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    Lakers fans crying about fatigue after the Nuggets won a similar game against division rivals in Portland earlier this year. Hilarious!
  15. genie.maine
    15. Posted by genie.maine Sat Nov 14, 2009 4:21 am EST

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    nuggets pwned gg
  16. Anton
    16. Posted by Anton Sat Nov 14, 2009 4:56 am EST

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    Ken W - try living in the here and now and stop using the past as an excuse. lol.
  17. Kenneth O
    17. Posted by Kenneth O Sat Nov 14, 2009 9:48 am EST

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    Just one game. Just like the Cavs got revenge on Orlando, Denver wanted this game. Lakers get there second loss and it's a bad one. Nuggets beat Lakers big, Hawks already whooped the Nuggets by 25 and the Lakers beat the Hawks. Does that really mean anything. Revenge game and they got there revenge. Cheers for the Nuggets. Now, lets see you do that with Gasol in the lineup. It's like in the playoffs last season when Orlando and Boston went 7 games. Orlando won but lets see them do the same thing with KG in the lineup. Denver, do this in the playoffs. Everyone says that the Nuggets should have and could have beat the Lakers last year. They choked and lost. Shoulda coulda woulda don't mean nothing. Before everybody starts saying the Lakers sucks (they are the defending champs with pretty much the same team this year) they do only have 2 losses. Nuggets have 3. They are both good teams. Good playoff teams. To me the Nuggets gotta prove they can go the distance.
  18. Sergio
    18. Posted by Sergio Sat Nov 14, 2009 10:33 am EST

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    #17 Lakers Suck. last Night's Demolishing of the Fakers! good job Nuggets and its not just one game its two what thay didnt get rest or just not that good. NBA cant give a better schedule. No Back to Back for the Lakers! 7-2 Fakers. 8-2 Suns........ " your 1 game back!" Go Suns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  19. Liur
    19. Posted by Liur Sat Nov 14, 2009 10:35 am EST

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    lakers?kobe? i also have a large collection of his shoes
    www.inpretty.com
  20. habs1rule
    20. Posted by habs1rule Sat Nov 14, 2009 10:49 am EST

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    Hey Fakers fans, Nice game, now here's some Humble Pie. If Ron Arrest is such a good defender, where was he last night., And that bench of yours..Phew. Not this year.
  21. Anton
    21. Posted by Anton Sat Nov 14, 2009 11:42 am EST

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    #17 - You can make up all the excuses you want as that is all you can do when your team loses but it is one game and you seem to be a sorer loser than any Laker player who actually PLAYED in the game.
  22. Hitman
    22. Posted by Hitman Sat Nov 14, 2009 4:05 pm EST

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    Los Angelas Fakers got their Hollywood, quiche eating, no huevos a$$es stomped. That says it all.
  23. BIGKATT
    23. Posted by BIGKATT Sun Nov 15, 2009 2:09 am EST

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    #17 - Actually Serge, that only equates to 1/2 of a game back. Holla when your boys actually "win" a championship. If I'm not mistaken, your last and only championship was in '77 with Broke-Foot Walton in center.

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Ball Don't Lie is an NBA blog edited by J.E. Skeets. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
Kelly Dwyer, Rod Benson, Trey Kerby, Dan Devine, Adrian Wojnarowski & Marc J. Spears,

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