Draymond Green Reveals What Adjustments Lakers Should Make In Game 2

The Los Angeles Lakers were getting completely manhandled in the first three quarters of Game 1 vs. the Denver Nuggets.

Nikola Jokic went off against Anthony Davis, knocking down 10 of 13 shots and averaging 1.53 points per possession when he was the closest defender.

Darvin Ham then put Rui Hachimura on Jokic and made life more difficult for the two-time MVP, allowing Davis to be the help defender and keeping another body between him and the rim.

And now that the Lakers and Nuggets will square off for Game 2, Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green wants to give his friend LeBron James a helping hand in doing a better job of containing Denver’s explosive offense.

.@Money23Green breaks down what defensive adjustment the Lakers should make in Game 2 pic.twitter.com/mIYDKz6aqu

— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) May 17, 2023

Per Green, Ham and the Lakers should put Jarred Vanderbilt on Jamal Murray and LeBron James on Jokic, then switch in the pick and roll to keep Davis in the paint.

That way, Green says, Jokic could still get his points, but they’d do a better job of containing Murray, not to mention they’d also take away some of those kick-out passes and the Nuggets’ role players wouldn’t be able to get into an offensive rhythm as it happened in Game 1.

Green acknowledged that there’s not much they can do to keep Jokic from scoring and predicted he’d probably still go off.

However, basketball is a team sport, and he cannot single-handedly beat another team; it’s as simple as that.

Coach Ham has made some timely and sound adjustments throughout the playoffs, and this series will be another interesting chess match.

NEXT: 
Darvin Ham Comments On Lakers’ Mindset Going Into Game 2