30 Team Association: Nuggets-Lakers Matchup Preview - mmcnab91's Dynasty

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30 Team Association: Nuggets-Lakers Matchup Preview

Posted on March 13, 2013 at 02:30 AM.

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#2 Denver Nuggets vs. #7 Los Angeles Lakers

Game 1: Nuggets vs. Lakers (4/19, 9:30 p.m.) TV: TNT
Game 2: Nuggets vs. Lakers (4/21, 9:30 p.m.) TV: ABC
Game 3: Lakers vs. Nuggets (4/23, 10:30 p.m.) TV: TNT
Game 4: Lakers vs. Nuggets (4/25, 10:30 p.m.) TV: TNT
Game 5: Nuggets vs. Lakers (4/27, 9:30 p.m.) TV: ABC
Game 6: Lakers vs. Nuggets (4/30, 10:30 p.m.) TV: TNT
Game 7: Nuggets vs. Lakers (5/2, 9:30 p.m.) TV: TNT
Games 5-7 if necessary

Matchup Preview *|* April 19, 2013

Los Angeles Lakers
(46-36, 22-19 Away, 24-17 Home)

Denver Nuggets
(54-28, 28-13 Home, 26-15 Away)

Stats Comparison
110.3	Points Per Game	109.6
108.3	PPG Allowed	105.5
.500	Field Goal %	.515
.375	3-Point %	.394
.753	Free Throw %	.742
45.6	Rebounds	45.5
6.3	Blocks	6.8
7.3	Steals	7.6
12.8	Turnovers	13.0

Projected Starters
Steve Blake	Point Guard	Ty Lawson
Kobe Bryant	Shooting Guard	Andre Iguodala
Antawn Jamison	Small Forward	Wilson Chandler
Pau Gasol	Power Forward	Kenneth Faried
Dwight Howard	Center	JaVale McGee

Injury Report
No Injuries		Kenneth Faried-Sore Back 4/30
		Anthony Randolph-Broken Toe 5/5

Game Notes
Denver surprised many in the NBA this season, rolling through most of the competition this season to claim a share of the Northwest Division and the #2 seed in the Western Conference. While Denver's offense runs primarily through point guard Ty Lawson and center JaVale McGee, their first round date with the Lakers is likely to hinge on the matchup between Andre Iguodala and Kobe Bryant. Iguodala's scoring average in 2013 was his lowest since his rookie season, but Iguodala-one of the game's best defenders-has the ability to shut Bryant's game down. Curtailing Bryant's output in this series is crucial with Denver's top interior defender likely out for this series in Kenneth Faried. If Iguodala can stop Bryant and Danilo Gallinari can get going filling in for Faried, expect Denver to coast into the conference quarterfinals.