Heat Check: Lakers take “3-1” lead over Nuggets; Davis, Murray highlights cap off head-to-head matchup

By JOHN LIKANJE

Heat Check is a weekly recap of the best basketball writing and analysis the internet has to offer.

• The Los Angeles Lakers held off the Denver Nuggets, Thursday night, to take a 3-1 series lead (via FanSided NBA junior editor Gerald Bourguet). Although the Nuggets are familiar with this position, the Lakers have proven they’re the better team thus far. I broke down why Game 4 should be an indication of the fact that the Lakers will follow through and win this series.
• Continuing on to the Nuggets, Bourguet listed five ways for the “Comeback Kids” to stun the best team in the Western Conference.

• Anthony Davis and Jamal Murray were the stars of the show in Thursday’s game. Davis scored a game-high 34 points while Murray led the Nuggets with 32. Both players had notable highlights as well: Davis nailed a baseline jumper after getting poked in the eye and Murray channeled Michael Jordan with this layup (via FanSided writer Alicia de Artola).
• Questions arose about Doc Rivers’ credibility as an elite NBA head coach after the Los Angeles Clippers’ loss. After last Tuesday’s Game 7 defeat, Rivers has now lost six playoff series in his coaching career in which his team held a 3-1 or 3-2 lead. I analyzed each series and inferred whether or not he deserved the majority of the blame.

You can also find John on FanSided and YouTube.