Despite a valiant effort to mount a come-from-the-back win, Anthony Davis’ 40-point performance wasn’t enough for the Los Angeles Lakers to grab a Game 1 win against the Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic, who was relatively silent in the final period of the Western Conference Finals clash, ended the night with 21 rebounds. Having been outrebounded by the Colorado-based franchise 47-30, Skip Bayless criticized Davis for his poor display on the glass.
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In an exciting duel between two of the best big men in the league, the Brow and the Joker produced an absolutely sensational Game 1. Both put up scintillating numbers.
Dominating the postseason, both superstars had some huge praise for each other after the conclusion of the game. However, Skip Bayless couldn’t have been more disappointed by the former Kentucky Wildcat’s rebounding production.
“Anthony Davis has to rise above Nikola Jokic”: Skip Bayless
On the latest episode of “UNDISPUTED”, Bayless and Shannon Sharpe went back and forth having discussions about the Nuggets-Lakers clash.
One of the many aspects the duo spoke about was Darvin Ham’s boys’ poor rebounding. Skip, who didn’t have any complaints with AD’s offensive outing, did in fact heavily criticize the 6-foot-10 star for being outrebounded by the Serbian. Urging the 30-year-old to rise above a slightly taller Jokic, the 71-year-old analyst said:
“AD, weirdly, he showed up in one way and completely no-showed in another way because you can’t let Jokic outrebound you 21-10. You just can’t do it. If you’re that guy, that dude, if you’re him, if you are, in many people’s eye, the best player left in the playoffs, you have to rise above a Jokic whose 6’11. You’re more of an athletic, physical force than he is. You cannot let your team get outrebounded 47-30.”
AD, if you’re him, you have to rise above Jokić. More @undisputed, now on FS1. https://t.co/D1QWMzynkL
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 17, 2023
How can LeBron James and Co. prepare for Game 2?
The Lakers are coming off a series where they faced a smaller Golden State Warriors. Clearly, the California-based franchise wasn’t prepared to take on the more physical Denver team.
As Bayless and many other analysts pointed out, Jokic and Co. asserted their dominance in the paint. Starting three guards in D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Schroder might not be the smartest plan entering Game 2.
While Jarred Vanderbilt has started more games in the postseason, after his recent 17-point performance, it won’t be a surprise if Rui Hachimura starts at the 4 with LeBron James shifting to small forward.
The Lakers were being dominated for the first 3 quarters of the clash. However, restricting Denver’s 2-time Most Valuable Player to merely 3/2/2 in the final period, the Lakers went on a 34-26 run.
Despite suffering the loss, LAL will head into Game 2 with their morales up. Who do you think comes out on top?
