Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Utah Jazz

This game picked up where Game 1 ended. When will some defense be played in this series? The Lakers started off this game by shooting 63%. The only thing that makes that a little questionable is that the Jazz shot 60% from the floor. The Lakers were led by their big 2, Kobe (26 pts, 9 asts, 6 rebs) and Gasol (22 pts, 6 rebs, 2 blks), but they ended up with 7 players in double figures. Lamar Odom was the biggest part of that bench with 19 pts. The layups and dunks that the Lakers got early in this game was ridiculous. It's like a grown man playing against a 10 yr old.

The Jazz, just don't have it. As I watched this game, at no point did I say to myself, the Jazz have a chance. Deron Williams (35 pts, 9 asts, 4 rebs, 4 stls,2 blks) had another great game and Boozer (20 pts, 10 rebs, 2 stls) contributed too, but the Jazz really have no chance. Unless,....they just start beating people up. Most Jazz teams of the past (yes, Karl Malone and John Stockton are somewhere crying) would have NEVER let the Lakers get that many open looks in the paint without drawing blood. This team, by it's coach's admission isn't nasty enough. With Okur out, they can't stretch the floor and that really highlights the limitations of this team (no one outside of Korver or Williams can hit a 3) and makes it easy to guard them. I hope the Jazz have at least one win in them.

Key facts:

- Shannon Brown has taken Jordan Farmar's spot in the rotation. Brown contributed 12 pts off the bench and has played solidly on both sides of the ball. This may have been a steal for the Lakers.

- Kobe is still showing patience and this is doing nothing but helping the Lakers. As you watch the game, you can tell that Kobe could take over at any moment, but he waits patiently to do that. 7 Lakers in double digits shows how much he has bought in to trusting his teammates.


This one is pretty much over. Call me when some blood is drawn or some heart is shown by the Jazz. What is your take on this one?

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