The Lakers Lose Heartbreaker, Eliminated By Denver in Game 5

When those who defend the Lakers talk about how the distance between them and the best teams in the league isn't necessarily that big, Monday's Game 5 loss to the Nuggets, eliminating the Lakers from the postseason, is what they're talking about. 

Jamal Murray, once again, was the catalyst. He scores Denver's final five points, and they beat LA 108-106. 

This was a fantastic game, with huge punches thrown by both teams, and massive emotional swings. Both teams were banged up. There were significant injuries during the game, to Anthony Davis first and foremost (a shoulder that functionally removed him from LA's offense for the last 18 minutes or so), but also Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and for a moment, at least, LeBron. The Lakers lost this game on the margins in many ways - untimely offensive rebounds given up, open shots that needed to go down - and spots that aren't exactly marginal, like nine missed free throws. 

The Lakers went down swinging, but they went down. Really, the issue wasn't that they lost this game, but that they lost Game 2. Or the opportunity to win Game 1, or Game 3. 

So now the Lakers have a ton of questions to ask. About Darvin Ham, most importantly. But about the roster, as well. What happens if/when LeBron James and D'Angelo Russell opt out? Do the Lakers package guys in a trade for another star? Which one? Can the Lakers make significant improvements to the supporting cast? Do they run it back and try to continue developing the continuity that has served a team like Denver so well? 

Is Rob Pelinka the right guy to be orchestrating all of this? 

It's going to be a VERY interesting offseason... 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers lose a heartbreaker. 

SEGMENT 2: Who gets blamed for Game 5? A lot of fingers are pointing to Ham, as usual. 

SEGMENT 3: What to make of the series.

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