3 things Lakers need to overcome 0-3 hole vs. Nuggets, besides a miracle

DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 18: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after losing to the Denver Nuggets in game two of the Western Conference Finals at Ball Arena on May 18, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

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DENVER, COLORADO – MAY 16: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after being poked in the eye during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets in game one of the Western Conference Finals at Ball Arena on May 16, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

The Los Angeles Lakers are down 3-0 in the Western Conference against the Nuggets. Here’s what they need to do to pull off a legendary comeback.

This Cinderella run for the Los Angeles Lakers is now potentially coming to an end. The NBA trade deadline was Feb. 9, the Lakers were the No. 13 seed and had a record of 25-31. After the trade deadline, the Lakers would go 18-9 and finish the season as the No. 7 seed with a record of 43-39.

The Lakers would then go on to beat the Timberwolves in the Play-In, Grizzlies in the first round, Warriors in the second round and would then find themselves in the Conference Finals. Many had thought the Lakers would have a chance to make their second finals in the LeBron era but they’ve lost each of the first three games to the Nuggets.

Nothing short of a miracle will save the Lakers now as teams are 0-149 when they fall down 0-3 in the series. Even though the odds are heavily against the Lakers, they are not zero, and here is what they need to do to win this series.

Comeback keys for the Lakers: 3. Keep attacking the basket

In this series, the Lakers and Nuggets have been fairly evenly matched, but one area that the Nuggets have excelled at is shooting the deep ball. The Nuggets are shooting 41.4 percent from 3 and the Lakers are shooting 33.7 percent from 3. The Lakers don’t have the shooters to out-shoot or keep up with the Nuggets.

The one area in the series that the Lakers have excelled at is attacking the basket. The Lakers are shooting 59 percent in the paint to the Nuggets 54 percent. Also, the Lakers are making and taking more free throws than the Nuggets. The Nuggets do lack a defensive presence at the rim and the Lakers have taken full advantage of it.

The math would suggest that the only Lakers that should be shooting 3s are Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. Everyone else should be attacking the basket and getting the Nuggets into foul trouble. If they can excel at doing this, they might see a better chance of staying alive in this series.