Michael Ventre

Well, that was a brisk little workout. It was the equivalent of going to the gym to squeeze in a quick one between work and errands. A little treadmill, a few situps, and maybe some dumbbell time.

The difference for the Lakers, of course, is that they had a lot more dumbbell time.

The first round of the playoffs is over for the Lakers, who dispensed with the less-than-cerebral Nuggets Monday night in Denver. They did so in the minimum number of games, making the Nuggets the first 50-win team to ever get swept in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Somewhere in Denver, J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin are still taunting Kobe Bryant, albeit telepathically.

Obviously there are benefits to sweeping an opponent. Players get to go home and rest up for the next round. They can get in some quality practice time. And they don’t have to look at Craig Sager’s suits.

But the downside for the Lakers in dispatching the Denver Nuggets so easily is that they may develop a false sense of security. They may begin to believe that all playoff opponents will implode on cue like the Nuggets. They could start to think that all future foes will simply be hordes of rampantly tattooed individuals who like to jaw much more than they like to play defense.

The Lakers have a lot of time on their hands. Perhaps they’ll do some thinking and come to the conclusion that no team they play from here on out could possibly underachieve as brashly as the Denver Nuggets.

That will start with the Utah Jazz, the Lakers’ likely next opponent. The Jazz holds a 3-1 lead over the shaky Rockets and could close out that series with a victory Tuesday night at Houston.

Utah is coached by Jerry Sloan, who as an NBA player was a defensive demon. His team finished a respectable No. 13 in points allowed during the 2007-08 regular season, but it figures to be better than that in the playoffs, when Sloan breaks out the whip and chair.

More importantly, the Jazz plays like a team consistently, whereas the Nuggets did so only sporadically. Denver’s idea of effective half-court offense is letting Allen Iverson dribble around for 21 of the 24 seconds on a possession and then throw up a fadeaway 30-footer. And when he gets too tired to do that, Carmelo Anthony and Smith do the honors.

Special feature Celebs on the scene Check out big stars watching their favorite teams from the good seats NBCSports.com

The Nuggets are too lopsided to go anywhere — near the top of the league in points scored, near the bottom in points allowed — and they’re far too combustible. Judging by their on-court demeanor and anger level, they look like a bunch of guys who should be tossing Molotov cocktails rather than hoisting shots.

Poor George Karl. Good coach, bad situation. He’s the substitute teacher who gets saddled with a collection of incorrigibles. He went in with the idealistic notion that he could change the culture of the group, and right now he’s probably thinking it’s not too late to consider a career in restaurant management.

Meanwhile, the Lakers gear up for a real test. The Western Conference playoff field was supposed to be tough from top to bottom, from No. 1 to No. 8. Make that from No. 1 to No. 7. Los Angeles would be wise to recognize that the Jazz will not be the Nuggets, on offense or defense.

MORE FROM NBA

NBA Section Front

McGrady says he'll miss 3 weeks for knee rehab Young Warriors keep on stumbling Marbury, Knicks talk — but future 'not resolved' Trash Talk: Which idiot team will sign Marbury? T-Wolves' Brewer out for season with knee injury Expert: A road map to what awaits for Class of 2010 Rumors: Dwight Howard waffling on dunk contest? Latest odds Latest injuries Game matchups NBA Section Front   Add NBA headlines to your news reader: