Gameday Pr0phile - Utah

Utah Jazz (13-16, 4th Northwest)

Los Angeles Lakers (15-14, 4th Pacific)

Lakers Team Stats
Offense 96.4 ppg, 20.2 apg, 42.6 rpg
Defense 94.1 ppg, 19.5 apg, 41.4 rpg

Jazz Team Stats
Offense 88.2 ppg, 20.7 apg, 43.4 rpg
Defense 91.1 ppg, 17.5 apg, 38.0 rpg

Season Series
LA leads the series, 1-0.
Last Meeting:

Lakers downed Utah 105-101, in Utah, Dec. 1st.

image courtesy AP / Douglas C. Pizac

Top 6 Lakers

PG Smush Parker 11.5 points, 2.9 assists, 3.1 rebounds
SG Von Wafer 0.8 points, 0.2 assists, 0.3 rebounds
SF Devean George 6.1 points, 1.0 assists, 3.8 rebounds
PF Lamar Odom 14.5 points, 5.3 assists, 9.4 rebounds
C Chris Mihm 10.0 points, 0.8 assists, 6.7 rebounds
6th Kwame 5.5 points, 0.8 assists, 5.9 rebounds

Top 6 Jazz

PG Keith McLeod 6.6 points, 2.1 assist, 1.2 rebounds
SG Gordan Giricek 11.1 points, 2.0 assists, 2.1 rebounds
SF AK-47 12.7 points, 4.0 assists, 8.1 rebounds
PF Jarron Collins 6.4 points, 1.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds
C Mehmet Okur 17.8 points, 2.3 assists, 8.9 rebounds
6th Deron Williams 11.3 points, 4.9 assists, 2.9 rebounds

Key Matchup: George vs. Kirilenko

The matchups are tough to assess at this point, but it seems reasonable that George will get the start at the 3 while Odom slides to the 4 in order to get more experience out there around Wafer…Jackson has already said that Wafer will likely start at the 2. Given the fact that Harpring is sitting in the second game of back-to-backs (and this will be one), he’s out. Deron Williams has been benched while McLeod starts. This likely means that George, a tough (albeit not the slickest) defender may draw AK.

Kirilenko has the ability to put up 20 points, grab 10 rebounds, and block several shots on any given night. He gives shorter players fits on both sides of the ball, often blocking Kobe’s shots, for instance. In his second start of the season, George put up 18 points 4 boards, and 2 blocks. He is perhaps two inches shorter than AK but works hard. This should be a good matchup with Odom working to get everyone involved.

Featured Peformers
Lamar Odom 16 points, 7 assists, 10 rebounds
Mehmet Okur 15 points, 3 assists, 9 rebounds

Outlook

Lakers have beaten this team once in the regular season and once in the preseason. I know the Lakers are stumbling, but Utah has some serious issues with its offense. Factor in some recent injuries (Harpring, Giricek) and some struggling players (Deron Williams) and Utah is limping into this game, especially after having to play Philly tonight. On the other side, LA is limping as well, having lost three straight and likely being without Kobe. Both teams have split their past ten games. This could just be a gut check game. Which team hasn’t quit just yet?

If Kobe were playing, this would be a big Lakers win. Even negating the home court advantage (because LA doesn’t use it), the Lakers should still come out on top, but it will be a tough game. The triangle has looked especially nice on the 2nd unit…largely because they don’t have Bryant to rely upon to bail them out. Look for Odom to get people involved while Mihm and Kwame combine to put up good numbers against Okur. George will reach double digits and Wafer may as well in his debut.

Lakers 92
Jazz 89