More Lakers, more Jazz, more thoughts
There’s no place like home. Literally.
By Cub Buenning
A series doesn’t start until the home team loses a game.
This edict has been offered up for many years and at some level, it holds some merit. That unexpected first-round series between Boston and Atlanta was a perfect example of a series basically just coming down to Game 7, because the other six were deemed moot with home victories. The Utah Jazz have had one of the staunchest home records for years and despite their issues with Houston, they reside in one of the most feared and daunting arenas in the league. For this reason, the 2-0 lead enjoyed by the Los Angeles Lakers was much like the one the Hornets had before this weekend, tenuous at best.
Xerox wants some royalties from this LA/Utah second-round series. To this point, all four of the games have seemed eerily familiar. Not only in just the locations and results, but also in how the action and flow of the games has played out. Just three days ago, the Lakers were up 2-0, still hadn’t dropped a game in the postseason but with the impending trip to Utah, it couldn’t be a given that they would soon be stamping their ticket for the conference finals. Now with the series knotted at two games a piece–after the Jazz held serve with a weekend deuce back in the SLC–the situation should be borderline drastic around the Staples Center.
Yesterday, the man known as Kobe Bryant almost looked like the post-Shaq/pre-Pau player that was universally condemned for not being a team-first guy. Yesterday’s performance in Game 4 not only calls this knock to mind, but also illustrates just how he strayed from the beautiful, patient game he has played all season long. Kobe came out firing from the start (including a really bad shot in the game’s first minute) where as the past had seen him look predominately for his teammates and for himself later in the game. Kobe did have some good associated numbers (I hate when a guy is deemed to have a bad night, just because he didn’t shoot well), but whenever you have as many shot attempts as you do points (33), you have dominated the ball in a negative way. Lamar Odom seemed to be in the right place all night long and despite his continued poor shooting from the foul line, he should have been more assertive or included in the extra time. His only shot attempt was a high-percentage dunk and he just never seemed to keep his individual momentum coming in after regulation. Kobe managed 8 shots in overtime, if that matters.
Throw in the obvious bad back issue and there must be serious concern on the part of Laker fans. (I sat out my entire senior season in college with back spasms; Kobe’s health must not be underestimated. When I was feeling good, there were no problems, the best ball of my life; but when the back acted up, basic things on the court were borderline impossible.) A few too many of those late game drives and shots from Game 4 were obviously hindered by Kobe’s ailing back. If this injury rears its ugly head again at any point during the remainder of the series, the Lakers WILL be in trouble.
Back to that photo-copying analogy. Games 1 and 2 were largely dominated by the home team (LA) but each game was still up for grabs in the game’s final minutes (in the NBA, if you are within 15 with 5 left, you are still in the game.) Both games were won in similar fashion with the home side holding off a 4th-quarter rally to win with relative ease. Games 3 and 4 were basically the same, with yesterday’s Game 4, a bit closer due to some great late-game shooting from Lakers’ guard, Derek Fisher and some poor late game defensive rebounding by Utah. (SIDE NOTE: the booing of Fisher by the Jazz fans is downright despicable. I expect more from a sophisticated fan base like the one that exists in the SLC, but then again, they do suffer from the “only show in town” syndrome, see San Antonio Spurs fan and they live in Utah.)
Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer were great in both home games for the Jazz as they were able to bounce back from their respective sub par games in LA. X-factor Mehmet Okur was lethal from long range, and truth be told, the Jazz are downright nasty when Memo is hitting and complimenting the standard dopeness of Stockton/Malone 2000.
Where does this series go now? Are we to assume that the Lakers SHOULD hold serve and win the series at some point just because they have the lower “little number” in front of their name? I’ll reiterate an earlier point, Kobe’s health is important. When an MVP goes down, that team is rarely any good, especially against the Jerry Sloan-led machine that is the Jazz.
I trust what I see, and I can’t see the Lakers losing at home. If the doctor says Kobe ‘needs a backeotomy’ then the Lakers might be sunk. But Kobe is not only the MVP, but he is the best basketball player in the world; his team isn’t that shabby, either. Lakers in 7.
29 Responses to “More Lakers, more Jazz, more thoughts”
May.12 at 2:28 pm
Eboy says:
If Boozer and Williams can play great (not just good) in the same game, the Lakers would REALLY be in trouble. Somehow this hasn’t happened. If the Jazz steal game 5, it’s over, but I concur, the Lakers should seal it, in 6 by my estimation. And back pain is for the birds. I had lower back issues throughout the winter/spring down here, and just bending down to pick up lower than normal post passes were a chore, let alone lateral movement and odd turns that need to be made. Understand Kobe’s hurt, just like I did for Lebron’s back pain a while back. I guess Lebron’s is overrated though, since no one gave him leahway.
May.12 at 2:30 pm
Eboy says:
Nice analysis, btw, Cub.
May.12 at 2:51 pm
TADOne says:
I don’t know, but the Jazz really do seem to suffer from “chronic b*tch dependency” away from SLC. (Thanks Jake!)
May.12 at 2:58 pm
Myles Brown says:
10 assists? And theres a pic of one Utah fan mockingly covering his eye while Fish was at the FT line. But I suppose I should be impressed that no one threw any batteries. I’ve never hated a group of fans like Utah’s.
May.12 at 3:28 pm
Darksaber says:
Booing a man who left town to be closer to expert medical care for his daughter. Priceless.
May.12 at 3:33 pm
Darksaber says:
Watched both games last night (appreciate that i live in central europe, yawwwwn) and i must say i thoroughly enjoyed the commentators for the Lakers/Jazz game 4 than the “others” for Spurs/Hornets. Let’s just say Reggie’s voice TRULY gets on my nerves. And Marv Albert throwing in those voice commercials for (add random stupid product/restaurant/dandruff shampoo name here) really pissed me off. Still love watching the NBA with the original commentary though. And Kobe, back spasms included, sure battled his way through the game. Being guarded by AK47/Harpring/Brewer/Milsap in the same game, and still posting guys up etc. Props. (and i dislike the guy).
May.12 at 3:41 pm
Mayor of Lovetron says:
I said it before, it’s repression in the community. No joke. Utah fans let loose at basketball games just like they do when driving. It’s like in Orwell’s 1984 when the people see that dude on the tele they flip out and start yelling things because they finally get a chance to be out of control. It’s embarrassing because Salt Lake is a gem of a city in many ways.
May.12 at 4:09 pm
jay says:
Myles, I saw that pic and was disgusted, that was wrong on so many levels. I think i hate these fans more than boston and sacto guys.
May.12 at 4:11 pm
jay says:
Darksaber, its the first time you called him Kobe too. me thinks you like him very much on the down low.
May.12 at 4:54 pm
sab says:
that bit at the end of the “only show in town” line is downright sloppily written, but i’ve grown to expect this sorta thing at welovethelakers.com … good roundup though Cub, appreciate it really!
May.12 at 5:03 pm
RobertPBodis says:
I’m all for booing Fisher.. especially when he puts the game on his back.. The Jazz never had to let him out of his contract.. They did it as an act of courtesy due to his situation.. They should have stipulated that he couldn’t sign with a team from the West.. He knows there team and all of their tendencies.. Arguably the most important player in this series so far for the Lakers.. Boo Fisher.. Boo
May.12 at 5:10 pm
sab says:
i thought there were only a couple of places he could possibly go? and since he knew people in LA, of course he went there. sometimes human decency should overtake sporting rivalry….. but your point is interesting. the Jazz are doing well to hold the amazing Lakers to 2-2 considering the Lakers have an inside spy!! don’t expect any Jazz-related coverage on here though, it’s all about the Lakers and their march to the title zzzz
May.12 at 5:15 pm
RobertPBodis says:
Fisher could go either East or West Coast - they should have stipulated East Coast. I don’t agree with the Decency piece - at the end of the day he is on the other team. That’s all that matters - hopefully the Jazz keep going hard and wear down the Lakers.. Bryant stays hurt.. and they can sneak into the West Finals..
May.12 at 5:19 pm
Cub Buenning says:
Sab, unfortunately for you there are a few Laker fans out there. Since I have always been known as a Laker hater, its kinda wierd that you are saying the opposite.
The above thoughts were about the series NOT the Lakers
May.12 at 5:29 pm
RobertPBodis says:
Sab - just let it out.. Jazz Power!!!
May.12 at 5:49 pm
sab says:
seriously Cub, nice piece. it was an antidote to all the pro-Lakers stuff we normally see. it gets on my nerves, cos i’m a hater… i’m too scared to call Mutoni out in person though, cos i’m only new round here, so i’ll just hide in your thread…
May.12 at 5:56 pm
Cub Buenning says:
That line got it’s parenthesis messed up. “I expect more from a sophisticated fan base like the one that exists in the SLC, but then again, they do suffer from the “only show in town” syndrome, see San Antonio Spurs fan and they live in Utah.)
Supposed to say, “only show in town” syndrome (see San Antonio Spurs fan) and they live in Utah.
That last bit was just a friendly, neighborly jab from a Coloradan. Our powder is better than yours.
May.12 at 6:09 pm
Brado says:
Utah gets so much crap for booing fisher, but gets no credit for letting the man out of his contract. What other teams in this leage would have let fish out of his contract? That’s unheard of. They didn’t even try to trade him. I’m a Utah fan and don’t appreciate fisher being booed either, but I do see how the whole him singing with the lakers the day after asking to be released looks a little fishy (no pun intended)
May.12 at 6:23 pm
Michael says:
Kobe was horrible inn overtime. I Understand him trying to take over but his back wouldn;t let him he should have let Lamar take boozer and Okur off the driblle. If Kobe is healthy though i don’t mind him taking a lot of shots as long as there in the paint becasue even with his back hurt yesterday the Jazz still couldn’t stop Kobe from getting to the basket. Oh and Kobe 10 assists the Lakers two point gaurds: 0.
May.12 at 6:41 pm
B. Long says:
Utah Fans are the most classless group of inbred morons on the face of the Earth. The covering the eye was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever witnessed a fan do.
May.12 at 7:15 pm
matt r says:
I’m a Jazz season ticket holder and have been at all the games this season vs the Lakers. What can’t Utah fans boo fisher? He killed us in the regular season as well as in the playoffs. He was everyone’s favorite player last season. We loved him and he left for another team. It would be weird not to boo. Besides the 1st game in the regular season, the boos haven’t even that bad. Oh, and making fun of someone’s religion is not very nice at all. Inbred mormons? Yeah, that’s both intelligent and classy. Can you imagine why Utah fans feel like when all that we hear is that? We always hear we are the worst people, we have the worst city, that we are racists. It’s very unfair and flat-out not true! But it can be easy to be frustrated at Fish if you are a fan. A guy worth 30 mil got let out of his contract for not even a trade–nothing–and he’s KILLING us in the playoffs! Fans are going to boo. We are. He deserves it because he’s on the other team. We all wish his family well but we want him to lose now. I’ll boo kobe, lemar, pau, phil and–even though he’s a great guy–fish
May.12 at 7:36 pm
Jackie Moon says:
When Bryant was asked if he should have shot so much after injuring his back he said, “I got some pretty good looks. They didn’t fall down for me. Some nights they do, some nights they don’t.”
May.12 at 9:48 pm
tealish says:
Yes, let’s take the tasteless jesture of one classless fan and blame the entire state of Utah. Nice. Am I too late to hop abroad the anti-Utah train? Would it help if I threw in a “silly mormons” rant?
May.12 at 9:58 pm
Jj says:
the weird thing that noone points out is that fisher left the jazz for supposedly a city where he could treat his daughter, yet his daughter is still treated, as I read the other day, and Memorial in New York… that’s the reason of the boos
May.12 at 11:16 pm
Sean says:
Cub Buenning: Sorry, bra. Alta got 750 inches (62.5 feet) this year and it’s still snowing. Snowbird might be open until the 4th of July. I was swimming through the sweetness for four months without a bad day. Love Colorado, but the sweet stuff is in Utah. Go Jazz!
May.13 at 1:21 am
jay says:
matt r, now u just reading into it cause he aint even say inbred MORMONS, he said MORONs, aint there a difference??
May.13 at 8:02 am
Tariq says:
Eboy:
Deron has been beasting, but Boozer is having trouble because he usually takes the big who’s guarding him off the dribble, a strategy he can’t really utilize against Pau. Gasol’s length is also a problem. I don’t really see Boozer having a monster, monster game against the Lakers. Of course, now that I’ve said this, he’ll probably get 40/20 next game.
May.13 at 8:41 am
Cub Buenning says:
Sean. I just dug my wife out of 10 new inches that fell last night! Crazy snow season. arapahoe basin will make in to july 4th this year. Steamboat best snow, anywhere, period.
Agreed that fans can and should have the right to boo, but the whole treatment has just surprised me all year long.
Tariq, Pau is really tall and long (legitimatly)
May.13 at 3:33 pm
albie1kenobi says:
i have a question:
where do fans get their batteries to throw from? do they buy a pack before they go to games? i’m just puzzled.