The Lakers were eyeing a split in Denver, they will go for broke to steal the next one. Game 2 is very important for Denver if they don't want to have a long series. Being up 2-0 is quite comfortable because they will be the ones to target a split in LA and they will be up 3-1, and it will be a commanding lead. Denver played a very typical home game, long bombs were connecting and their passing and defense were as good as it gets. They withstood the rally of the Lakers thanks to Murray, Pope and Brown's timely clutch shots. So the Lakers know what they have to do to keep it close for the next few games. Russell, Schroeder, Vanderbilt and Walker had minimal output. Had any of the 2 combined for 30 points, that would have been another story.
This iteration of the Lakers is already one for the books. Five rotational players - Schroder, Walker, Russell, Hachimura, and Vanderbilt were not in their lineup last season, and the last 3 came in just 3 months ago. How bout that for 'jelling'? The other 3 teams in the final four have players in their teams for many years, in contrast to this Lakers team. Again, I give credit to Ham, and to Pelinka who was greatly maligned until he got rid of Westbrook, for steering this team to where they are now. Steve maybe right in saying this is LeBron's last chance at the title but ever since LeBron got to LA, his Lakers cast had changed drastically each year with the exception of Davis, and all those years were 'win now' formation teams. Them 2 are the longest tenured Lakers in the LeBron era. Right now, they are joined by a great cast.