Lakers on Defensive for Game 3

Maybe, before the Western Conference finals began, you really didn't know if the Nuggets could knock off the Lakers. After two games, it's seems apparent they can.

Not that they will, mind you. Just that they can.

The series is even one game apiece and Game 3 is tonight in Denver. Here are five questions heading in:

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1. How will the Lakers handle the atmosphere in the Pepsi Center and the Nuggets' team they'll see there?

The Nuggets were 33-8 at home this year, and their reputation is that they play much better there than on the road. Not all together true, since Denver was a respectable 21-20 away from home.

Still, there is no denying that the Nuggets play with more energy in Denver, and role players such as J.R. Smith and Linas Kleiza usually are more of a factor there. Expect the Nuggets to hit the Lakers early and hard with emotion and intensity. Let's see if L.A. can weather that.

The Lakers were in this exact situation against Houston (tied 1-1, and heading into a hostile environment) and came up with a Game 3 win against the Rockets. Only one issue: Denver is better than Houston.

2. Can the Lakers get Chauncey Billups under control?

The simple answer is likely no, but the Lakers are going to have to a better job of limiting Billups' effectiveness. It's no secret that for a while now the Lakers have struggled with talented point guards.

Big or small, quick or strong, if the opposing point guard is competent that usually spells trouble for the Lakers.

Whether it was Tony Parker or Steve Nash in series past or Deron Williams and Aaron Brooks this season, defending the one has never been a strong suit of Phil Jackson's Lakers' teams.

Billups has a lethal combination of strength, talent and experience, and he used it in Game 2 to bring home a victory for Denver. It seems obvious Carmelo Anthony is going to get his against the Lakers. If Billups gets his, too, it's going to make it much tougher for L.A. to win this series.

3. Will the series turn a little uglier tonight?

Let's face it, we all thought there would be more physicality in this series. After Houston had some success with bruising and banging in the conference semifinals against the Lakers, you'd figure Denver would be right there to follow that up with some more punishment.

But that hasn't really happened. Perhaps the Nuggets don't feel a real sense of urgency just yet and aren't yet ready to play that card. But if the Lakers begin to establish any kind of control, whether it's in tonight's game or somewhere down the line in the series, expect the Nuggets' front line to turn a little nastier.

4. Will one of Kobe Bryant's teammates lend him more of a hand?

Perhaps the second part of that question should be: Will Bryant allow a teammate to lend more of a hand?

Bottom line, Bryant has been too big a part of the Lakers' offense. In Game 2, for example, Bryant took 20 shots and no other Laker took more than nine. In Game 1, Bryant took 28 shots, and only Derek Fisher, who took 13 shots, made it into double figures in shot attempts.

Trevor Ariza had 20 points in Game 2, but that happened with only seven shot attempts. Point is, whether it's Pau Gasol or Lamar Odom or Ariza, the Lakers have to begin to make a serious effort at getting someone else involved consistently. But as of now, we have no idea whom that player will be.

5. Can Sasha Vujacic be remotely useful?

What a horrible postseason it's been for Vujacic, who can't make a shot and isn't really helping in any other area, either. Vujacic is 1-for-9 through two games against Denver, which really isn't that much worse than he's been throughout the playoffs.

Vujacic is shooting 25 percent from the field in the playoffs (19-for-76), but if you take out his one "good" game – a 4-for-7 shooting night in a Game 7 blowout of Houston – that postseason percentage drops down to 21 percent. Awful.

Make no mistake, Vujacic isn't exactly a key to the Lakers' success. But it would really give them a lift if he could knock down a jumper or two.