The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t find much success with their three-guard lineup in Game 1 vs. the Denver Nuggets.
They were getting crushed on both sides of the glass, with Nikola Jokic overpowering Anthony Davis every time he got to guard him one-on-one.
Darvin Ham turned to his bench to put Rui Hachimura on Jokic, and the Lakers came back from an 18-point deficit up to the point where they made it a one-possession game late in the fourth quarter.
That’s why it’s not much of a surprise to hear Chris Haynes report that Ham is considering starting Hachimura for Game 2, adding that it’s a decision that he’s keeping “very close to his chest.”
Sources: Lakers are considering a lineup change for Game 2 versus Nuggets. pic.twitter.com/I8OhxN0Jcc
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 18, 2023
The Lakers need to do something to try and match up with the Nuggets’ size.
They could also roll with Jarred Vanderbilt and make the most of his length and ability to run over screens to try and disrupt their offensive rhythm, trying to contain Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. around the perimeter.
Of course, the Nuggets also have the positional versatility to make this an interesting chess match, and they could also decide to go small with Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope if that were to be the case.
This series isn’t likely to end before six games, and both teams will most definitely go back and forth multiple times.
That’s the beauty of the NBA playoffs, especially this deep into the postseason.
NEXT:
Shannon Sharpe Makes His Game 2 Prediction For Lakers, Nuggets
