Michael Malone, coach of the Denver Nuggets, has been harping on the need of improved opening statements for the whole series.
It wasn't always true that the Nuggets could always recover from double-digit deficits in the second half, even though they had done it in each of the first three games of their first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Nuggets started off to a poor start again on Saturday. A spokeswoman for the Denver Nuggets said that there was an oversight in getting the insoles of a few players aboard the early bus to the arena,
so some of the players actually stepped onto the court barefoot before Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against Los Angeles, which they lost 119-108.
"Is it perfect?" "No," expressed Malone. Hopefully, though, we can find a solution and prevent it from happening again.
Is it perfect if you're interested in finding out why our team lost—like, for whatever reason, our players didn't have their shoes with them when they arrived for regular warmups—and you want to play by those rules? No.
However, I refrain from making excuses. And I won't even bring up the fact that our footwear was missing as an excuse for getting kicked in the paint. From my point of view, that's a stretch.
The sustained domination of the Lakers in the paint was of far greater concern to Malone. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Lakers scored 72 paint points in Game 4, which is the most in a playoff game in the prior 25 years.
Select Red Wings eliminated from playoff race despite comeback victory against CanadiensRed Wings eliminated from playoff race despite comeback victory against Canadiens