On this day 11 years ago, the Lakers beat the Nuggets in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, 119-92, to clinch the series and knock out the best team Carmelo Anthony ever played for. The series’ scores:
Game 1: 105-103, Lakers
Game 2: 106-103, Nuggets
Game 3: 103-97, Lakers
Game 4: 120-101, Nuggets
Game 5: 103-94, Lakers
Game 6: 119-92, Lakers
Carmelo’s WCF stats: 27.5/4.8/3.7, along with a series-long, high-level one-on-one matchup between him and Kobe. That was the year that Allen Iverson was traded for Chauncey Billups a few games in. With finally a real point guard to play with, Carmelo turned into less of a ball hog and more of a team player. The Nuggets won 54 games and beat the Hornets and Mavericks in five games before falling two wins short of the Finals. Finally in a good position, Carmelo turned into a player who drove winning. Then came the Knicks.
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