Real’s Series Preview: Lakers Topple Jazz

First and foremost, congratulations to the 2008 Most Valuable Player, Kobe Bryant. It’s funny how one can go from being the most hated player in the NBA (even among his own team’s fanbase) to the MVP, favored by not just Lakers fans, but some non-Lakers fans as well. Since changing his number, nobody really knew what to expect from Bryant, but we know now: it was a transition from an athlete always in attack mode, to one possessing the ability to “throw the dagger” even without the ball in his hands, more of a complete weapon than the scoring juggernaut we’ve watched for two or three years after the dynasty.

After sweeping the Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers are storming into the second round against a tired Utah Jazz. Watching Game 6 of the Rockets/Jazz series, I noticed how vulnerable the Jazz are in the first half of games. They will either give up a mass amount of points in the first six minutes, or allow late-quarter runs in the first and second quarters of the games.

In a notable game this year, the Lakers were up by 20 points at the end of the first quarter of a game in Utah, on March 20th. Surprisingly, that game was played without Pau Gasol (ankle) and Andrew Bynum (knee). The result was a 106-95 win, snapping Utah’s 19-game home win streak. We were out-rebounded and had less free throw attempts, but shot 52.5% from the field compared to Utah’s 45%. With similar turnovers, assists, and three-point numbers, you’d think it would be a one-point game.

In a meeting on the 28th of December, the Jazz were blasted, being down 32 at the end of the third quarter. The rebounding numbers were the same, similar assists, but the shooting numbers were similar to the game above, with the Lakers shooting over 54% from the floor. Deron was a non-factor, Kobe sit the entire fourth, and the Lakers held on for a 123-109 victory.

We shot 56% against them on the 4th of November, when Kwame Brown was starting for us. It led to a 119-109 victory. Oh yeah, no Odom.

The only loss was back in Utah, where the Lakers were defeated by a Boozer-less, Okur-less Jazz team. Kobe played less minutes due to foul trouble, the Lakers were out-rebounded by 14, and shot only 44% from the floor. Fluke? I’d like to think so.

Kobe has made life easier for everyone on the floor, there’s no denying it. The Lakers win games with Kobe distributing the ball, shooting over 50% against Utah in all three of our wins, and doing so while posting similar rebounding stats, as well as turnovers.

As much as I’d like to stay in between optimistic and pessimistic sometimes, this Utah Jazz team may not have a chance.

Keep in mind that this team would be a sixth-seeded West team if it wasn’t for the “division champs” rule.

I watched a ton of the Lakers through the dynasty. I’m sure many of you did, also. The triangle offense, being ran today, looks nearly as good as it did eight years ago. When it’s running perfect, the Lakers are a post threat, as well as an outside threat. Teams like the Jazz can’t overcome something so complicated, especially without momentum, and you can almost certainly tally four wins for the Lakers based on home court advantage alone.

The spreading of the floor, the passing among all five players, the post game of Gasol, versatility of Odom and the three-point daggers by Fisher and Vujacic (not to mention Luke Walton’s average of 16/5/5 on 63% shooting versus Denver) is a huge advantage for us. Did I forget about Kobe Bryant?

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