Will the Nuggets become Hollywood fool’s gold?
by Myles Brown
Life’s expectations can be trapping. Misconceptions can make us their unwitting prey and it can be a struggle to accept that many of our dreams and desires will be denied. Life’s path is long, its opportunities few, and its lessons most often are absorbed through defeat.
Life can be hard. In fact, life can be war. With one’s self and surroundings in a battle to forge an identity and seize what’s rightfully ours.
Denver’s escape from the first round certainly has been impressive, though any idiot on ESPN could tell you to look at the schedule. The Hornets did everything short of fold their arms and stare back at Byron Scott and were it not for the most egregious of officiating blunders in Dallas things might have taken a turn for the worse in that series. But regardless of how you look at it, the fact of the matter remains that the Nuggets haven’t proven themselves under duress.
The Lakers failure to maintain a chokehold on the competition has been nothing short of disappointing, though when enraged something is still to be said for their power. As it should also be said that the Jazz and Rockets were missing key players, however both teams still proposed a number of problems for any opponent undermanned at point guard and weak willed in the post. But regardless of how you look at it, the fact of the matter remains that the Lakers have proven themselves to be vulnerable.
Last year in L.A. the Lakers march through May began with the Nuggets and now that same team is the final obstacle to surmount in escaping a bloodthirsty Western Conference. Any prior doubts concerning Denver’s character were removed in that same series last year and now they have a chance not only to reclaim their honor, but stake their claim to a ring.
And now is all either of these teams have. Though they’re both primarily young, Chauncey Billups and Kobe Bryant aren’t getting any younger. The Nuggets are rebellious and determined, defying convention and making their own rules. The Lakers are a flummoxed giant, incapable of focusing their strength until pushed to the brink of collapse. Both will attempt to defeat the forces and frailties that torment them, but only one of them can escape. And whoever doesn’t make it might finally go f*cking crazy.
What will happen?
Lakers in six. It’s right there, you figure it out.
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