Between battling for the West’s seventh seed or sliding to eighth, the Lakers chose the tougher path—one that leads directly to a familiar nemesis: the Denver Nuggets. If Crickex Login’s memory serves right, the Nuggets have now won eight straight against the Lakers, including a clean sweep in last year’s Western Conference Finals that left even LeBron James looking humbled. But with Nikola Jokić reigning as the league’s top player, the rematch is inevitable. And this time, two key Lakers could shift the tide—and neither is LeBron nor Anthony Davis.

Crickex Login breaks down the Lakers’ winning formula into two crucial ingredients: play tough defense and shoot decently from three. Individual performances may rise or fall, but these two fundamentals are non-negotiable. The Lakers can tell themselves to stay positive—but let’s face it, more challenges are coming their way.

Historically, the Lakers struggle against Denver in three areas: containing Jokić, defending Jamal Murray from deep, and preventing Aaron Gordon from cutting behind the defense for easy finishes. It’s not a matter of effort—the Lakers are committed on defense—but Denver’s execution exposes their weak spots. Every time the Lakers’ man-to-man defense breaks down and requires help rotations, the Nuggets exploit the gaps with deadly precision.

That’s why Lakers vs. Nuggets games often look competitive—but somehow, the Lakers just can’t seem to win. Denver also has a habit of delivering knockout punches in the fourth quarter, often flipping games in a matter of three minutes. It’s their prime, and though the aging Lakers don’t want to be just another stepping stone, overcoming Denver is easier said than done.

Looking at both rosters, the Nuggets’ bench is slightly weaker than last season, while the Lakers have bolstered theirs. Tactically, this gives LA a glimmer of hope. And while the big three—LeBron, Davis, and Jokić—remain pivotal, their performances typically balance out over a series. The real swing factors may lie elsewhere.

Crickex Login points to Gabe Vincent and Spencer Dinwiddie as the hidden keys to the Lakers’ success. While neither is a locked-in starter, both are expected to play roles more important than some of the starters themselves—especially on defense. Their primary mission: contain Jamal Murray.

To do this, the Lakers must limit the minutes when Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell share the court. As skilled as they are offensively, their defense often falls short. Instead, the Lakers need a defensive backbone in the backcourt—Vincent or Dinwiddie should lead that charge.

If LA can clamp down on Murray, Denver’s perimeter threat drops by at least a third—a game-changing shift. And if Vincent or Dinwiddie can chip in a couple of threes themselves, it’ll be all upside, no downside.

Crickex Login isn’t betting on the Lakers to take down the Nuggets outright—but avoiding another sweep? That should be a realistic goal.