P.J. Tucker didn’t like Denver’s late defensive substitution vs. Lakers

The Nuggets took out Paul Millsap for Mason Plumlee with a 1-point lead and 2.1 seconds left. Anthony Davis then hit the game-winning shot.

On the defensive end of the court, the undersized Houston Rockets pride themselves on versatility and their ability to constantly switch.

With 6-foot-5 P.J. Tucker starting at center, Houston had the No. 2 defensive rating in the playoffs among Western Conference teams — and their ability to contest on the perimeter at all positions was a big reason. In particular, Tucker’s leadership and defensive versatility proved essential, along with his constant emphasis on communication.

The Denver Nuggets, on the other hand, entered Sunday at No. 6 on defense among the eight West playoff teams. And one of their defensive miscues cost them dearly in the final seconds of Game 2 (box score) of the Western Conference Finals versus the Los Angeles Lakers.

With Denver leading by a point in the closing seconds, they forced a pair of missed shots on the last possession — including Jamal Murray’s block against Danny Green, which went out of bounds with only 2.1 seconds left. But despite their initial success, the Nuggets removed forward Paul Millsap before the final play for a more conventional big man in Mason Plumlee, presumably with an eye on more length and rim protection.

Unfortunately for the Nuggets, there was an apparent miscommunication between Plumlee and Jerami Grant, and Anthony Davis (who Plumlee was initially guarding) sank an open 3-pointer to win the game. Both Plumlee and Grant appeared preoccupied with LeBron James.

In a series of Instagram stories, Tucker had one simple question: Why did the Nuggets change the lineup? “No screen, no scheme,” he wrote.

The late substitution by Denver coach Michael Malone took place without a timeout, which might have contributed to the apparent confusion. Between Plumlee and Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets had two centers out there for the final play. While their length prevented any shot at the rim, it also may have played a role in how open the Davis 3-pointer was.

Tucker’s Rockets, of course, lost to those same Lakers by a 4-1 margin in the second round of the playoffs. The Nuggets currently trail, 2-0.

“Good game, nonetheless,” Tucker concluded in his series of messages.

Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals between the Lakers and Nuggets is set for an 8:00 p.m. Central tip-off time on Tuesday night.

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