Taking a 3-0 lead at the Los Angeles Lakers Saturday night, many members of the Denver Nuggets echoed the sentiment of staying focused against one of the game’s all-time greatest players.
No team has ever swept LeBron James before the NBA Finals and Denver not only has the opportunity to finally complete the feat, but it would also be a chance for them to record their first series sweep in franchise history.
I mean, this is LeBron’s man, veteran Nuggets forward Jeff Green Sunday after the Nuggets watched the movie at their team hotel.
He’s done some amazing things over the past 20 years. For me, we have to end it.
It’s like, you can’t keep giving him life. The more life you give him, the more confidence he gains and the more confidence he instills in his teammates. So for me, it must end [Monday]”.
Nuggets forward Jeff Green said the team can’t allow LAL superstar LeBron James to gain confidence
Bruce Brown and Nikola Jokic echoed the sentiment by keeping the pressure on the Lakers
Green wasn’t the only veteran of the team who expressed his desire to keep the pressure on the Lakers.
“We want to not give them any hope,” said shooting guard Bruce Brown. “no trust”.
“I wouldn’t say I’m afraid,” said MVP candidate and star quarterback Nikola Jokic.
“But I’m worried because they have LeBron on the other side and he can do everything.”
Immediately after the game during his post-game interview, star guard Jamal Murray also said, “Five more to go,” referring to the winning Final against Los Angeles before turning the team’s attention to four wins in the NBA Finals.
The Lakers can’t seem to hide that they could be eliminated without a series win either.
“It’s something very real,” said Lakers coach Darvin Hamm about fueling the Lakers to avoid finishing the season 4-0.
James has never been swept in a postseason series before the NBA Finals in his career
Lakers coach Darvin Hamm acknowledged that avoiding the sweep was fuel for the team
“It’s an honorary group that, again, is very competitive and they care and want to put on a good show for our fans as well.”
Everyone will find out if Los Angeles can avoid taking home a 4-0 win Monday night in Game 4.
“We’re up against one hell of a football club, a very well-coached group of talent,” said Hamm.
But we have things we can do, too. The only thing we need to do is focus on just one match. We don’t have to get confused by outside noise or the overall chain. We just have to worry about one game, what exactly is in front of us.”
