The Denver Nuggets have taken a commanding 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals, securing victories on their home court to begin the series and showing they are currently the superior team.
Despite the Nuggets’ strong performances and their commanding advantage heading to Los Angeles, Lakers head coach Mike Malone is frustrated with how the media is framing the series.
Malone expressed particular anger over the focus on Rui Hachimura’s success defending Nikola Jokic, instead of recognizing Jokic’s dominant performance in Game 1, where he posted a triple-double with 34 points, 21 rebounds, 14 assists, and two blocks.
Following the Nuggets’ second straight victory, Malone took aim at the media for promoting a pro-Lakers narrative during the postgame press conference. With the series now shifting to Los Angeles, the Nuggets are in an ideal position, leading 2-0, and have the chance to close out the series before returning home.
While the general consensus is that the Nuggets will likely move on to the NBA Finals, it’s expected that the Lakers will manage to secure a win in Los Angeles unless they falter in the upcoming games at Crypto.com Arena.
As the series progresses, it will be intriguing to see if the media continues to push a pro-Lakers storyline, especially with LeBron James and Anthony Davis struggling to keep pace with the Nuggets’ strong play, led by what many consider to be the league’s top player.
