How much control you think the Lakers possess in their series with the Nuggets that they currently lead 2 games to 1 likely depends on 1. How much you think the Lakers playing hard has been an issue this series and 2. How much credit you give the Nuggets for the flow and tenor of the 3 games played to this point.
I fall somewhere in the middle on these. I do feel like the Lakers have let their foot off the gas over stretches of both games 2 and 3. Whether it was a big lead (game 2) or the comfort of being up 2-0 (game 3) that triggered this can only be known by the team itself, but it’s my best guess.