It was no secret going into the Denver Nuggets' first round playoff series vs. the Los Angeles Lakers that Denver was going to have trouble contending with L.A.' size down low. Though the Nuggets were able to weather that storm in their Game 3 victory, the Lakers' big men exacted revenge in a big way on Sunday night, helping L.A. haul in 19 offensive rebounds, which they turned into 28 second-chance points.
This was certainly not lost on Denver head coach George Karl, who was frank in discussing why he believes his team fell in Game 4.
"I think everybody knows why we lost the game," the coach said. "It was because we didn't rebound."
(via Nuggets.com)
Denver can still win the series and advance to the second round, but in order to do so they'll have to solve their rebounding issue, and quickly. One problem, at least according to center JaVale McGee, might have been effort; the Nuggets big man told reporters after the game that he felt that the team's primary rebounders didn't hit the glass with the same aggression as they did in Game 3.
As for Karl, his outlook, at least publicly, still remains positive. Denver will have to at least partially neutralize L.A.'s size going forward if they want to win three games in a row. The numbers aren't in their favor, but Karl thinks that it can be done.
It's a powerful challenge," he said after the game. "I don't think it's an impossible challenge."
(via Denver Post)
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on these teams, visit Nuggets blog Denver Stiffs and Lakers blog Silver Screen and Roll. Head over to SB Nation NBA for more news and notes on the 2012 NBA Playoffs.