DENVER — The reality hit like a D’Angelo Russell brick.
The truth echoed like a Rocky Mountain roar.
The reality swirled and stuck and froze like the snow outside Ball Arena on a night when the Lakers were forced to face the facts.
They’re simply not as good as the Denver Nuggets.
They’re not as tough. They’re not as deep. They’re not as skilled. They’re not as connected.
If they somehow overcome Saturday’s opening-game 114-103 defeat and unseat the defending NBA champions in this first-round playoff series, it will be the upset of the century.