Lakers provide team effort in Game 7 win over Denver (Web links)

Game stories

--The Times’ Mike Bresnahan credits the Lakers’ frontline effort of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum for the team’s 96-87 Game 7 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

--The Orange County Register’s Kevin Ding notices the Lakers played with more fire in Game 7.

--The Denver Post’s Benjamin Hochman calls the Lakers-Nuggets series a “fun ride.”

--The Daily News’ Elliott Teaford explains how the Lakers survived Denver in seven games.

Notebooks

--The Times’ Bresnahan talks to Metta World Peace, who acknowledges the Thunder fans will greet him with animosity for elbowing James Harden.

--The Times’ Ben Bolch highlights the Lakers’ public support for Coach Mike Brown after Magic Johnson suggested on ESPN the the first-year coach would be fired if the Lakers lost Game 7.

--The Orange County Register’s Janis Carr points out how Brown took Johnson’s comments in stride.

--The Denver Post’s Hochman details Kenneth Faried’s progression.

--The Daily News’ Teaford also mentions the Lakers’ support for Brown.

Sidebars

--The Times’ Bresnahan highlights the Lakers’ Game 7 victory.

--I detail how Andrew Bynum brought an improved defensive mind-set to Game 7.

--The Times’ Ben Bolch focuses on Steve Blake’s sharp shooting.

--The Times’ Melissa Rohlin spotlights Kobe Bryant’s effort in getting others involved.

--The Daily News’ Phil Collin credits World Peace for his physical play against Denver.

--The Denver Post’s Chris Dempsey reports Nuggets guard Andre Miller will keep his options open regarding his free agency.

--The Denver Post’s David Krause mentions Brown’s admission that Johnson’s critical comments “could be a distraction.”

--Yahoo! Sports’ Marc Spears believes World Peace saved the Lakers’ season.

Columns

--The Times’ Bill Plaschke mentions how the Lakers hardly made Game 7 an easy affair.

--ESPN.com’s J.A. Adande credits Gasol for his improved aggressiveness in Game 7.

--CBS Sports’ Ken Berger praises Metta World Peace’s presence in Game 7.

--NBA.com’s Scott Howard-Cooper wonders how the Lakers will handle Oklahoma City with limited rest.

--Sports Illustrated’s Lee Jenkins believes Gasol salvaged his Lakers’ career with his Game 7 effort.

--Fox Sports’ Mark Kriegel wonders how World Peace will play against the Thunder.

--The Orange County Register’s Jeff Miller argues Bynum must stand tall for the rest of the playoffs.

--The Denver Post’s Woody Paige admires the Nuggets’ wilingness and ability to contend with the Lakers.

--The Daily News’ Jill Painter details the Lakers’ frontline’s performance.

--ESPN Los Angeles’ Ramona Shelburne talks to Gasol, who acknowledges the Lakers would have made changes if they lost early in the playoffs. Shelburne believes Gasol escaped some of the scrutiny, at least for now.

Blogs

--ESPN Los Angeles’ Brian Kamenetzky breaks down the Lakers’ Game 7 win over Denver.

--ESPN Los Angeles’ Dave McMenamin highlights Blake’s playoff career-high night.

--Silver Screen and Roll’s C.A. Clark believes the Lakers’ first-round survival over Denver delays their “apocalypse.”

--Forum Blue and Gold’s R.R. Magellan argues the Lakers’ Game 7 win over the Nuggets provides temporary relief.

Tweet of the Day: “Bynum after Game 7: ‘We’ll win this championship if we commit to defense.’ ” -- Mike_Bresnahan (L.A. Times’ Mike Bresnahan)

Rick Friedman Reader Comment of the Day: “Somehow, the victory seems a bit hollow. As they have for the past few years, it’s two Laker teams that show up to just about every game. Laker team #1 plays with hustle, goes inside, players move without the ball and the defense is good. That team builds a lead. Sometimes a big lead, but then in the third quarter something happens to those guys. It’s as if, in the locker room at halftime, they think the game is over and all they have to do is make an appearance on the court and win. They stop doing EVERYTHING that got them the lead. They become a jump shooting team that can’t rebound and it’s one and done. No more inside/outside/inside game. No more ball movement. No more player movement. No more defense. They become spectators while the opposition actually plays the whole 48 minutes.

“This is how The Lakers have played for a couple of years. Teams know The Lakers will give up their big leads. Tonights game, it worked out for The Lakers thank goodness. Too many times, it doesn’t.” -- Bob August23

Lakers provide team effort in Game 7 win over Denver (Web links)