Mike Malone: Lakers will try to send a message in Game 1. We have to match their intensity

"I thought in Game 1 against the Clippers we did it for a quarter and a half, couldn’t sustain it. I think we were just gassed" Malone said

Mike Malone said that the key of Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals will be whether the Nuggets will be able to match Lakers’ intensity.

Per ESPN, “I know [LeBron James ], having been around him,” said Malone, who was an assistant in Cleveland during James’ time there. “They’re going to try to come out and send a message tomorrow. I don’t think our guys are satisfied. That’s going to be the greatest challenge tomorrow, can we match the intensity. I thought in Game 1 against the Clippers we did it for a quarter and a half, couldn’t sustain it. I think we were just gassed.”