Lakers try inspiring LeBron James and Co. by showing Boston Red Sox and LA Kings overturning 0-3 videos in Game 4
The LA Lakers are up for a near-Herculean task of coming back from a 0-3 series deficit against the defending NBA champions Denver Nuggets in their first-round NBA playoff matchup. However, they are reportedly drawing inspiration from special teams that achieved the feat in the past.
During Game 4 of the Lakers-Nuggets series on Saturday in Los Angeles, they tried to rally LeBron James and Co. by showing videos at the Crypto.com Arena of the Boston Red Sox and LA Kings overcoming 0-3 deficits.
Sportskeeda's Mark Medina reported on it, sharing on X (formerly Twitter):
"Crypto Arena is replaying the 2004 Boston Red Sox & 2014 LA Kings overcoming an 0-3 deficit. They showed a similar video during Game 4 last year vs the Nuggets."
The 2004 Red Sox overcame a 0-3 deficit during the 2004 American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees. They moved on to win the World Series that year against the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-0, their first since 1918.
The LA Kings, meanwhile, accomplished the feat a decade ago, when they fell 0-3 to the San Jose Sharks in their 2014 NHL Western Conference First Round clash. They rallied back and eventually ended their campaign with the Stanley Cup in their hands after defeating the New York Rangers in six games in the finals.
It is the same path the Lakers want to take after falling 0-3 against the Nuggets and try to avoid being swept by Denver for the second straight year in the postseason.
Lakers in good form early in Game 4 against Nuggets
The LA Lakers were in good form early in Game 4 of their first-round NBA playoff series as they tried to stay alive after going down 0-3 in the first three games of their duel against the Denver Nuggets .
Anthony Davis and LeBron James were at the forefront of their team's attack as they began the tough task of winning four straight against the defending champions Nuggets to advance to the next round of the playoffs.
Davis already had a monster double-double of 23 points and 19 rebounds as the Lakers took a 91-80 lead heading into the fourth quarter. James, meanwhile, had 16 points. Austin Reeves and D'Angelo Russell had 15 points apiece.
Heading into Game 4, James admitted they face a daunting task but they remain hopeful of overcoming the odds.
He said following their Game 3 loss:
"You take it one game at a time. At this point, you lose and you go home... As long as you have life and you always have belief. You play until the wheels fall off..."
The Lakers will try to force a Game 5, which would be played in Denver on Monday.