LOS ANGELES — The Nuggets didn’t hold a shootaround or media availability this morning, resting up for the biggest game of the season, Game 2 of the Western Conference finals, tonight at Staples Center.
Trailing 1-0 after playing a pretty good Game 1, the Nuggets will try to regroup while refocusing their defensive efforts on Kobe Bryant, who scored 40 points in Game 1.
“I think he saw how close the game was and said ‘OK, I’m going to put this gang on my back,’ ” Denver’s Carmelo Anthony said of Bryant, who scored 18 in the fourth quarter. “I think any great player with that type of mentality, which not a lot of people have Kobe mentality, will say, ‘OK, I see my teammates are not performing the way they normally perform, and I’m going to put them on my back.’ ”
In a way, Melo did the same thing for Denver, scoring 39 points on an amazing 14-for-20 from the field. That efficiency will be hard to duplicate. But Anthony has shown throughout this postseason that he has the ability to rise to the challenge. Tonight’s a pretty big one.
Coach George Karl often praises his bench, though admitted he can’t always predict what he’ll get out of it. In Game 2, he’ll need more than he got from Game 1, that is for sure. J.R. Smith, Chris Andersen and Anthony Carter shot a combined 4-for-15, which is not good. Smith, notably, must be more efficient and explosive – he can change the complexion of a game with his daggers from long range.
What’s frightening about the Lakers is they didn’t play that great of a Game 1 – but won the game.
Pau Gasol, who often clobbers the Nuggets, scored a quiet 13 points and got to the free-throw line only five times. Nene, Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen must remain poised in the low-post, because Gasol will be looking to score more.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
