3 tweaks Michael Malone and Nuggets should make in game 2 to keep edge over Lakers

2. Neutralize the free throw discrepancy

Now this one may be more of wishful thinking and hopeful ambition than something the Nuggets can actually tweak against the Lakers. Much has been made about their ridiculous positive free throw discrepancy over the past couple of seasons. Part of that is the way the Lakers play on both ends, but part of it is absolutely related to the names on the front and back of their jerseys.

So in that sense, there may not be anything that Denver can do to change the math on this one. But still, the Lakers attempting 19 free throws to just 6 for the Nuggets at home in Ball Arena is a pretty massive difference. That’s a lot to overcome simply in terms of points, and it also impacted the game with individual foul trouble to players like Gordon, as mentioned earlier.

Maybe Michael Malone can do a good old-fashioned Phil Jackson impression and make a couple of sarcastic comments to the media to try and buy his team a few extra calls in game two. Or maybe the Nuggets can make a concerted effort to be less handsy.

But either way, it would be nice to at least keep the free throw margin somewhat close. Those are easy points for a team that is struggling to score, and they can add up quickly.