Game 1 Observations: Transition terrors, the Anthony Davis conundrum and more

There’s plenty to say about the officiating from the second quarter of Game 1.

– The Lakers shot 24 free-throws in the second. The most free-throws the Nuggets shot over their 14 playoff games before Friday’s Game 1 is 27.

– The Nuggets were whistled for 16 fouls in the second quarter. The Lakers were whistled for 19 fouls during the competitive portion of Game 1 (quarters 1-3).

– Due to foul trouble and a fourth-quarter filled with mostly garbage time, Nikola Jokic played a playoff-low 25 minutes. Jamal Murray logged 29 minutes, his second-fewest total of the playoffs behind Game 3 against the Jazz when he played only 27 minutes.

Definitely don’t watch this compilation of Jokic and Murray’s fouls from Game 1.

Despite all of that, plus a 17-1 Lakers run to open the second quarter, the Nuggets found themselves trailing by only 11 points at halftime. That’s nothing for this group.

“If you watched the game, you could tell,” Murray said about what happened early in the second quarter. “Yeah. If you watched the game, you could tell.”

“Just try to play through it. It’s tough. They want to talk about every call and have conversations and try to manipulate what happens. But you can’t worry about it. We know how it’s going to be. We know we’re the younger team. We’re just going to play through it. We’re going to find a way, and we’re not going to go away so easy.”

The Nuggets were well within striking distance when the third quarter tipped. Then, Jokic was called for his fourth foul on what definitely was a foul, and the Lakers opened the half on a 20-12 run. That 11-point deficit was 18 by the 3:26 mark of the third. Pretty soon, the Nuggets were game-planning for Game 2.

Here’s what else stood out from Game 1.

Turnovers = Transition

It was Michael Malone’s worst nightmare.

The Nuggets turned the ball over nine times in the first half of Game 1, and several of those giveaways handed the Lakers prime fast break chances. In total, the Lakers scored 24 points off Nuggets turnovers Friday. Live ball turnovers especially are a recipe for disaster against a LeBron James-led transition attack.

The Lakers even ran after made baskets.

Denver knew it was coming.

“We can not make this a jumping contest. If this is a track and field event we’re going to lose,” Malone said more than 24 hours before Game 1.

The Lakers are a stout playoff defense and have the third-best Defensive Rating in the postseason, but many of Denver’s turnovers in Game 1 were self-inflicted. Jokic had a team-high four turnovers. Murray had three. Gary Harris and Michael Porter Jr. each turned the ball over twice.

The Nuggets handed the Lakers a handful of Game 1 baskets on a silver platter. The Clippers didn’t look to get out and run as much as the Lakers do. Denver’s going to have to shift its mindset this series in that regard.

A reason for optimism

If you look past the foul trouble, the Nuggets’ big two had strong offensive nights.

Murray finished with 21 points on 7 of 12 shooting and went 3-5 from beyond the arc. Jokic had 21 as well and went 8-14 from the floor. Before the second-quarters parade to the free-throw line began, Murray and Jokic combined for 20 of the Nuggets’ 38 first-quarter points after 12 minutes of play where Denver led by two.

Murray should be able to have a strong series. The Lakers have a number of pesky defenders they can throw Murray’s way, including Danny Green, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Alex Caruso. They all spent time on Murray in Game 1. But coming off a series where he was blanketed by the much longer Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Murray will be able to get to his spots against the Lakers’ smaller defenders.

It will be interesting to track how the Lakers deploy their bigs against Jokic as the series moves along. JaVale McGee got the first crack at Jokic in Game 1 and the Nuggets got Jokic plenty of looks early on. Jokic attempted six of Denver’s first nine shots of the game.

Dwight Howard then started the second half for the Lakers, a half where he doubled McGee in playing time. I’d bet he sees more minutes than McGee over the remainder of the series.

“JaVale had a really good energy in the first quarter. Then he was in foul trouble,” Jokic said. “AD was really good scoring-wise and Dwight was really good. He kind of picked up their energy.”

“Well, he’s an awesome player and I loved watching his growth from where he came into the league until now. For me, as soon as I step on the court, I want to let him know that I’m there,” Howard said of defending Jokic. “Since we’re staying at the same hotel, I might meet him right outside his room and let him know that for the rest of the series, I’m gonna be right there, locked into you.”

Jokic should still be effective no matter who the Lakers throw at him but Howard has played him well in the past.

Another reason for optimism: Denver shot just 9-26 from three-point range despite generating more than enough open triples. Murray said the Nuggets liked the looks they got too. Denver should shoot better from three over the course of the series.

My biggest worry if I’m the Nuggets

This felt like the ultimate feel-out Game 1 for LeBron. He attempted just 11 shots which tied a personal playoff low for him in this postseason. Some of that obviously had to do with him only playing four minutes in the fourth quarter, but even throughout the first half it didn’t feel like James ever forced the issue.

This wasn’t a taxing night for LeBron, even while Game 1 was competitive. He let Anthony Davis do the heavy lifting, and Davis obliged, going for 37 points on 12-21 shooting (57%). He also shot 12-15 from the foul line.

The Nuggets don’t have a matchup for Davis and LeBron seems to know it. Establishing Davis in Game 1 and throughout the series was and is likely atop Frank Vogel’s game plan. The Lakers were successful in doing that on Friday.

“We have to do something different with him,” Malone said. “It was too easy for him tonight. He did not feel us. And I think over 48 minutes we just can’t play him the same, give him the same look.”

What can the Nuggets do? They could bring a steadier dose of double-teams Davis’ way. But that could lead to more Laker three-pointers. Los Angeles shot 11-26 from three in Game 1. They could switch up their personnel that’s guarding Davis in Game 2, but Davis hurt the Nuggets while going up against a number of different matchups throughout the regular season.

In the three regular season meetings between the Nuggets and Lakers outside of the Disney World bubble, Davis averaged 30 points on 53% shooting and 10.3 rebounds per game. I’m not sure Denver has an answer for him.