The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers have both been up and down throughout the Western Conference Finals. Nothing really exemplifies the difference between Game 4 and Game 5 than the interaction between Chris Andersen and Shannon Brown.
In Game 4, the Nuggets had all the energy (all game) and it showed as Andersen had one of the hardest blocks I’ve ever seen.
Chris Andersen Block (Game 4)
I have a feeling that Shannon Brown kept that in the back of his mind, because when he challenged the Birdman in Game 5, there was no way he was going to be denied.
Shannon Brown Dunk (Game 5)
Not surprisingly, Denver won Game 4 in a blowout and the Lakers won Game 5 going away. But more than just highlight worthy plays, both were the most important plays of the game. Andersen’s block carried the momentum that the Nuggets had at the beginning of the game. Instead of settling into a normal game, Andersen’s block announced that the Nuggets weren’t going to let the Lakers get started in Game 4.
In Game 5, the contest was in doubt for the majority of the game. The Lakers never seemed like they could get that boost of energy to help put them over the hump and grab the lead. Shannon Brown’s dunk was just the spark they had been looking for all game. The dunk energized the crowd, as well as the team—and the Lakers didn’t stop until they had the game in the bag.
So the next stop is Game 6. Chris Andersen threw down the gauntlet and Shannon Brown answered. Now what?
Matt Reitz
Matt Reitz is an NHL Writer for ProHockeyTalk on NBCSports and the Editor-In-Chief here at ViewFromMySeats.com. When he's not shoving a mic in the face of NHLers or explaining why home teams should wear white, he's usually trying to figure out what song to play next on his iPod. It's a never-ending job.
