Lakers Play D in 4th Quarter

It finally happened. We have been waiting for it.

A big playoff win that we can contribute to our defense, rather than our offense, and it happened when it matters most — the fourth quarter.

• The Denver Nuggets were held to just 39% shooting in Game 3.
• Chauncey Billups shot only 5-15 from the field.
• J.R. Smith shot only 4-15 from the field.
• Nuggets were 5-27 from the three point line.
• Carmelo Anthony, after scoring 14 first quarter points, was held to only three points in the second half and 4-13 overall. Trevor Ariza and Luke Walton played excellent defense keeping him out of the paint (he was 1-7 from the three point line, and he’s now only one for his last 13 from three).
• No play was bigger than Ariza’s steal with 36 seconds remaining in a two point game, which lead to Melo picking up his sixth foul and sealed the deal — again.

What a fourth quarter for the Lakers.

• Lakers outscored the Nuggets 32-18.
• We hit 9-15 shots; the Nuggets only hit 5-22.
• We hit 3-5 from the three point line; the Nuggets were 1-8.
• We may have missed 14 free throws in the game, but were 11-14 in the fourth; Denver was 7-8.
• Meanwhile, the Lakers finally went to Pau Gasol early and often: 8 pts, 4 reb, and 1 blk in the fourth, which opened things up for Ariza.
• Speaking of Ariza, he had a remarkable fourth quarter: 12 pts, 2 reb, 1 ast, 2 threes, 1 stl, 1 blk.
• Kobe Bryant had 13 pts, 1 ast, 1 three, on 3-5 from the field and 5-7 from the free throw line (4-4 in the final 22 seconds).

One last thing, I hate to gripe about the refs, but what a horrible job they did all game, and it’s not just the Lakers that can complain. I thought they were bad throughout, but especially in that third quarter. 1) The push in the back by Dahntay Jones on Kobe would have been a flagrant if he fell, possibly a flagrant two, only he stayed on his feet. 2) Then Nene mugged Derek Fisher for a loose ball, only to dive on Gasol’s back in a scramble that ended up in a jump ball instead of free throws. 3) That bogus four-point-play by Chauncey Billups. I mean come on now. Kobe gets hit harder in the lay up lines before the game. You know things are bad when teams combine to shoot 76 free throws. This can’t happen again.