Inaasahan na umano ng Los Angeles Lakers na ibababad na nila ang kanilang mga big men sa kanilang nalalapit na kampanya sa Western Conference Finals.
Ayon kay Lakers coach Frank Vogel, kailangan nila ang malalaki nilang players tulad nina JaVale McGee at Dwight Howard upang ipantapat sa center ng Denver Nuggets na si Nikola Jokic.
Aminado si Vogel na malaking balakid para sa kanila si Jokic na kayang saktan ang kahit sinong player sa kahit saang bahagi ng court.
“‘Joker’ is one of the most unique players in the world, and one of the most unique players ever to play the center position in this league,” wika ni Vogel. “He can basically hurt you in all ways. He can hurt you at the 3-point line, in the pocket, playing the 4-on-3 game in the post, and obviously with his passing. …
“It does make this series a little different — a lot different, actually — in terms of how much we’ll use our centers. I don’t want to get too much into detail, but obviously we’re going to be the L.A. Lakers, who we’ve been all year. We adjusted to a small-ball team last series, but I would expect us to return to form.”
Samantala, inihayag ng coach na uhaw na uhaw na sila sa kampeonato kaya gagawin nila ang lahat para masopla ang Nuggets.
Sa panig ng Denver, kanilang bibigyan ng magandang laban ang Lakers gaya ng ginawa nilang pagdispatsa sa LA Clippers na pinamumunuan ng tandem nina Kawhi Leonard at Paul George.
Sa araw ng Sabado (Manila time) magsisimula ang inaabangang showdown ng Lakers at Nuggets sa loob ng NBA Bubble sa Orlando, Florida.
