The Lakers needed late heroics from Kobe Bryant and Trevor Ariza to keep from losing Game 1 at home to the Nuggets. Imagine the poopstorm that would’ve ensued had L.A. gone down 1-0. It would’ve been like one of those brush fires that are always burning rich peoples’ houses out there, except the flames would’ve been poop, and Bill Plaschke would’ve been out there fanning the poop-flames.

