DON'T look now but after the Lakers’ 114-108 victory over the Nuggets, Thursday, Sept. 24, talks teem of a Denver comeback in the remaining three games.
That LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Los Angeles must brace for what Denver is capable of doing when it is pinned on the ropes: Resurrect a la Jesus Christ.
Blasphemous?
Perish the thought.
While it’s frighteningly true that Denver is now on the brink after facing a 3-1 hole in the seven-game series for the NBA Western crown, Nugget nuts are not about ready to throw in the towel.
Crazy? Uh-oh. Not at all.
Denver diehards don’t give up that easily because the Nuggets are no strangers to being tossed to the edge—only to cheat death.
Did they not achieve that to reach the West Finals? Twice at that?
Down 3-1 against Utah, Denver won the last three games for a 4-3 victory in the quarters.
Down 3-1 again in the semis versus the Clippers, the Nuggets snared a 4-3 escape to become the first team in NBA history to rally from 3-1 twice and prevail each time.
Almost instantly after achieving those improbable feats, the Nuggets were rechristened the Comeback Kids.
Give it to them.
For doing it twice, they more than earned it.
So, now, the question: Will the Nuggets be the Nuggets a third time? Climb out of a 3-1 hole and complete a title dream in fairytale fashion?
Sorry, but I doubt that. Very much.
Not against the Lakers, who have the league’s best 1-2 punchers in James and Davis. That’s why they are the West’s No. 1 going to the NBA bubble in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Denver dumped Utah because the Jazz had only Mitchell Donovan to take care of.
Denver dusted the Clippers off because cursed were the Clips since they first lost a won title in 1984.
Not even Kawhi Leonard and Paul George could clip a curse that keeps rearing its head when everything was on the line for the Clippers.
But I don’t think the Comeback Kids could do it against the Lakers, who’ve come this far after nabbing sweat-free 4-1 wins against Portland and Houston.
Facing a lineup as complete as the Lakers, the Nuggets, this time, are doomed.
Embrace the thought.