Nuggets find no diamonds in the rough against Lakers

A review of Lakers playoff game No. 4 -- 12 wins to go

DENVER -- These people here can't believe what they're hearing from their basketball star, a whining All-Star who never likes to pass the ball or hold himself accountable.

Right now he dominates the newspapers, TV and sports talk here.

His team is about to exit the first round of the NBA playoffs again, and so he's frustrated, angry and saying the most outlandish things.

He seriously wonders whether his team has what it takes to win a championship, and now there is talk of him going elsewhere.

It's just a darn good thing we don't have those problems in Los Angeles with our Lakers, where everyone loves everyone.

PREGAME: It's all about Carmelo Anthony and how will the hometown fans react after he caused such an uproar with his comments after Game 3. Kobe Bryant told reporters, and he would know, "It's all in how it turns out." As you know, it takes pressure to make a diamond, and there has to be a ton of it on Anthony.

FIRST QUARTER: If the Nuggets really are a bunch of quitters, at least they have something in common with the onetime great Pat Riley.

Anthony hits a jump shot, and the crowd chants, "Melo, Melo," and I guess wherever you go -- talent wins over baby behavior off the court.

Referee Dick Bavetta didn't know how to beat CharlesBarkley, but he knows how to beat the Nuggets, slapping a second phantom foul on Marcus Camby, taking him out of the game early.

John Elway shows up with a female companion and he's carrying her purse. Things sure have changed in Denver from what I remember.

SECOND QUARTER: TNT's Craig Sager is interviewing Phil Jackson, and Sager is wearing a lovely lilac suit complete with lilac alligator shoes. I never thought I would ever see anyone prettier than Jeanie with Phil.

Bryant throws up a bomb, lands on Eduardo Najera's foot, and Najera is called for the foul. Obviously Najera didn't put his best foot forward in the judgment of the ref.

Vladimir Radmanovic is 0 for 6 before he scores, and he's playing the Nuggets, who don't play any defense. Denver's Kenyon Martin is seen on TV mouthing the words, "It ain't over." Not as long as Radmanovic keeps shooting.

Lakers take a 10-point halftime lead. No word whether Nuggets will return to the court.

THIRD QUARTER: It's only a rumor, and probably not true, because you remember Chucky Atkins. But as the story goes, Atkins left the court in the third quarter of Game 3 to go to the locker room to have a hot dog.

After the Nuggets play their little hearts out, scrambling for a loose ball, Anthony blows a wide-open dunk and the ball bounces so hard off the rim it goes out of bounds. The rim is playing better defense than the Lakers.

The Nuggets are within three points of the Lakers. Did I mention Radmanovic is now one for nine?

The Lakers finish the quarter up by two, Radmanovic hitting a pair of baskets, and if you're the Nuggets, do you believe in miracles? Obviously Radmanovic did.

FOURTH QUARTER: If the Lakers can put away the Nuggets, we can get on to more serious things such as the newest Disney attraction, the risqué photos of Miley Cyrus.