Nikola Jokic walked into a trap against the Los Angeles Lakers

1. It’s always interesting when you go straight from a contentious seven-game series into a completely new series, against new personnel, and against a completely different defensive game plan. In game one of the Western Conference Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers emphasized switching the Nikola Jokic pick and pop in an effort to erase Jokic’s catch and shoot three-point opportunities. The Nuggets did a nice job adjusting on the fly in the first quarter of game one but may have to develop a few new principles to make sure that they fully take advantage of this defensive strategy.

2. The Lakers seem to have done their homework on some of the ways Jokic draws off-ball fouls. The video below shows how the officials call the same action several different ways, eventually landing on calling it against Jokic for his 3rd foul.

3. NBA teams often run the same set play two, three, or even four times in a row but look for different results out of the same play.

4. I loved this cut from Torrey Craig.

5. If you are feeling down about the way the Nuggets look against the Lakers, just take a sneak peak at how easily the Nuggets will be able to create scoring opportunities once they work Michael Porter Jr. into the offense in what could become the league’s most unstoppable three-man game.

6. Mason Plumlee is good for one or two inexplicable decisions per game.

7. One of a dozen questionable calls that went against the Nuggets in the 2nd quarter. Not sure where the contact is on this one.

8. This one made me laugh.

9. Savvy move by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

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