For Nuggets, Clutch Peformance Needed

The clock is ticking on the Denver Nuggets. They seem like they're good enough to beat the L.A. Lakers in a seven-game series, but if they're going to get it done, it would probably behoove them to get a win tonight.

Will the Lakers prove to be resilient once again on their home floor? Or will the Nuggets make the right plays, close out a game and push the Lakers to the brink? Oh, and here are five more questions about tonight ...

1. Will Pau Gasol get the ball more, and if he does, will he deliver?

After his 21-point game – on 8-of-11 from the field – on Monday Lakers power forward Pau Gasol said he'd like to see his team go inside more and work a little more inside-out. For sure, Gasol has had success when the Lakers have gone to him, but does that necessarily mean they should go to him more?

Gasol can be the perfect complement to Kobe Bryant. But his call for getting the ball more isn't as simple as it sounds. Gasol is much better being a team's second option, and at various times during his career, has failed to come through when he's his team's main man.

Should the Lakers try to get Gasol more involved? Sure. But too much Gasol just means less Bryant – and that's not a good thing.

2. How is coach George Karl's message playing with his team?

Over the past few days, Karl's message to his team has become obvious: We're better than the Lakers.

The Nuggets entered the playoffs just another Western Conference playoff team not named the Lakers. But with two impressive rounds, Denver isn't looked at as longshots any longer.

It seems apparent the Nuggets have the talent to beat the Lakers. Question is: Do they believe it?

3. Can the Nuggets' front line continue its strong play from Game 4?

Kenyon Martin, Nene and Chris Andersen controlled the interior in Game 4 ... to the point that Gasol had to plead to get more involved afterward. But it's going to be tough to get Gasol more involved if Martin, Nene and Andersen continue to be as active as they were the other night and yet still stay out of foul trouble.

Carmelo Anthony might have struggled for a couple of games now, but he and Chauncey Billups are more than holding their own on the perimeter. If the Nuggets' front line continues to emerge, then the Lakers will have one less place to go for production.

4. What happens if the game is close late in the fourth quarter?

Hopefully, that's exactly what will happen tonight. Who doesn't want to see a one-possession game in the final minute?

Will Bryant come through as most would expect? Or will the Nuggets be able to finally make a play or two when it counts and win a nail-biter? And if the Nuggets do happen to come through late, will anyone other than Anthony and Billups have something to do with it?

Bottom line is the Nuggets need a little help from an unexpected source.

5. Is the Lakers' bench going to show up at any point?

They say that role players tend to play better at home than on the road so there's one less excuse for the Lakers' non-starters. Here is how the Lakers' bench has shot the ball through four games in this series, and it's not pretty: 10-for-28; 9-for-25; 5-for-16; and 7-for-27.

When the Lakers entered this series, Sasha Vujacic and Jordan Farmer were struggling. Now, deep into the Western Conference finals, it's tough to find any Laker substitute playing well.

Lamar Odom, who was so valuable against Utah and Houston, has gone missing at the wrong time, Vujacic and Farmar are still struggling, and Luke Walton and Derek Fisher aren't exactly stepping up.