LeBron James and Anthony Davis entered the Western Conference finals with a playoff record of 26-11 as a tandem. After two games in Denver, their record now stands at 26-13 due to the Jokic-Murray tandem outperforming them. The Nuggets’ 108-103 victory over the Lakers gave Denver a 2-0 series lead, just two wins from the Finals.
The Jokic-Murray Tandem Dominates
Adjustments were made to the Lakers’ starting lineup, and players like Rui Hachimura, Bruce Brown, and Tristan Thompson had notable contributions. The Nuggets have been the dominant force in this series, largely due to their stars outperforming the Lakers’ duo. This was particularly evident in the fourth quarter of Game 2, where Jamal Murray single-handedly scored 23 points, almost doubling the combined total of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who managed 12 points in the same period.
During the playoffs, LeBron James and Anthony Davis consistently performed well when they were in good health. They have managed to achieve two surprising victories this postseason, displaying different levels of dominance throughout. In the 2020 conference finals, when both LeBron and AD were at their peak, they collectively contributed an impressive average of 58.2 points, 16.6 rebounds, and 11.6 assists per game against the Nuggets.
LeBron and Davis Are Being Outperformed
In two games, the Jokic-Murray tandem was averaging impressive numbers: 62.5 points, 26.5 rebounds, and 18.0 assists. Jokic had a triple-double with 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 12 assists, while Murray struggled initially but scored 37 points in the final 12 minutes. In contrast, James and Davis faced difficulties. LeBron finished with 22 points, missing attempts at the rim and going 0-6 from beyond the arc. Davis, single-covered by Jokic, converted only four of his 15 shots for 18 points. Defensively, Davis struggled to contain Jokic, leading to adjustments in the Lakers’ coverages. Hachimura and Reaves contributed 43 points for Denver. Consistency from James and Davis is crucial, as their performance against less talented teams won’t suffice against the Nuggets due to age, altitude, or fatigue.
Denver is pulling ahead in the playoffs. Jokic’s defensive weaknesses remain hidden, and they won Game 2 after a shootout in Game 1. Despite the Lakers targeting Jokic, the Nuggets had an impressive defensive efficiency. The Jokic-Murray tandem has consistently outperformed James and Davis, and Denver is getting closer to the finals, exceeding expectations.