EL SEGUNDO — The comparisons – at least on the surface level – between the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings are easy to make.
So it isn’t surprising that the Lakers have struggled against both teams in recent years.
The Kings, the Lakers’ opponent on Wednesday night, and the Nuggets both deploy playmaking big men who they run their offense through with Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis and Denver’s Nikola Jokić – albeit with Jokić, a two-time league MVP and reigning Finals MVP, being multiple tiers better than Sabonis.
Both teams have high-level guards who have thrived against the Lakers – Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox and Denver’s Jamal Murray.
And both teams run a system through their big men that creates space for their playmakers and often leads to lethal offensive production.
“System,” Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell said of the Kings-Nuggets comparison after Tuesday morning’s practice. “Everything they do is systematic. That’s a credit to their coaching, their players, their style of play. When you look at Denver and compare them, it’s a great comparison.
“It’s only a few teams in the league that have a system in play. A lot of other teams may have star power, so it’s kind of hard to implement a system because their stars are too good.”
The Lakers’ struggles against the Nuggets have been evident, dropping their last eight matchups, including last spring’s sweep in the Western Conference finals.
But the Kings have also had the Lakers’ number as of late, winning the last four matchups and seven of the last eight, including Sacremento’s 130-120 victory last Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena.
“The beautiful thing about it – well, losing to them is not beautiful – but when you experience a game against them or any other team that forces you to do something different, it allows you to add something to the war chest,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “And allows you to get better in different areas. The…
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