Since the 2023 West Finals, Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets have held a 12-1 record over the Los Angeles Lakers. The only win LeBron James and co. managed was when trying to avoid a sweep last season. Heading into this season, new head coach JJ Redick was tasked to solve this specific problem.
Since the start of this season, the Lakers looked fluid and ran away to a 10-4 record. In their 15th game, missed free throws from LeBron James and Anthony Davis led to a close loss. That meant, they would try and fix those problems knowing the Denver Nuggets were coming to their house.
They executed what they practiced and held a double-digit lead for some time before the end of the first half. But coming out of the second half, they looked lost as the 2023 NBA champions ramped up their play to eventually win 127-102. With this loss, the Nuggets move to 13-1 against the Lakers, leaving JJ Redick to solve a few crucial problems.
1. Nikola Jokic needs attention all the time
Nikola Jokic is clearly the best basketball player on the planet. His unique skill set and approach to the game makes it difficult for the best defenders to stop him. But at least they can try and slow him down just that little bit.
In the first half, they did that well as the three-time MVP could not influence the game with his playmaking. But in the second half, they could not maintain that effort. All the Serbian superstar needs is that little bit of a breather as he orchestrated his teammates all across the floor.
Jokić always puts on a show 🤩
💥 34 PTS
💥 13 REB
💥 8 AST
💥 A Nuggets W pic.twitter.com/m0mbiqMAB8— NBA (@NBA) November 24, 2024
The Los Angeles Lakers tried a little bit of transition defense in the first half which worked. Had they sustained it, maybe the result could have been different. However, JJ Redick has to figure out how to slow The Joker down even when Anthony Davis has a bad night.
2. Anthony Davis went missing
Anthony Davis is a stellar player and has been in the MVP conversation so far this season. However, his past record against international big men seemed to be put to rest when he won against Domantas Sabonis last month.
However, in this game, he struggled mightily. Nikola Jokic is not one of the better defenders in the league, but he uses his strength and quick feet to force opposing players off their game. Tonight, he managed to do that and along with his teammates ensured Davis had his worst game of the season.
Shooting just 31% from the field and barely grabbing double digit rebounds was not the night the Los Angeles Lakers best player was supposed to do. JJ Redick has to analyze the game and those past clashes with the Denver Nuggets to figure out how to help Anthony Davis play better.
3. JJ Redick has to figure out a different game plan
Anthony Davis and Nikola Jokic‘s opposing performances aside, the problem the Los Angeles Lakers have always faced is when the Denver Nuggets run their offensive schemes. Sure, everything runs through Jokic, but the firepower the rest of the team possess is also a problem.
The way they execute that gameplan means the Lakers cannot get anything going, just like it was in the third quarter of this game. The purple and gold do not have the personnel to stop that from happening. However, a corresponding offensive response can help them stay in the game.
LeBron James and his teammates struggled to score against that transition defense and their own defense was wayward. Unless JJ Redick can find solutions, the Denver Nuggets will continue to be the Lakers’ Kryptonite. Moreover, this was one of the reasons Darvin Ham lost his job. Not saying Redick will, but it is a problem he needs to solve.
