Schedule & Predictions

by Josh Tucker on Apr 16, 2009 11:26 AM PDT

Scheduling information has been released for the first round of the 2009 Playoffs. As expected, the Lakers will begin their first round series against the Jazz on Sunday. Full details after the jump.

The following provides full scheduling details, including date, time, and what channel you can find it on. All times are in Pacific Daylight Time (Los Angeles).

Game	Location	Day	Time	TV
Game 1	Staples Center (LA)	Sunday, April 19	12:00 p.m.	ABC
Game 2	Staples Center (LA)	Tuesday, April 21	7:30 p.m.	TNT FS West
Game 3	EnergySolutions Arena (Utah)	Thursday, April 23	7:30 p.m.	TNT KCAL
Game 4	EnergySolutions Arena (Utah)	Saturday, April 25	6:30 p.m.	ESPN KCAL
Game 5*	Staples Center (LA)	Monday, April 27	TBD	ESPN or TNT FS West
Game 6*	EnergySolutions Arena (Utah)	Thursday, April 30	TBD	ESPN or TNT KCAL
Game 7*	Staples Center (LA)	Saturday, May 2	TBD	TNT FS West

* if necessary

Be sure to check out the SB Nation Playoffs Hub. ESPN.com and NBA.com also have their playoff pages up:

Visit the link above to ESPN's page to find series predictions from 10 of ESPN's regular NBA analysts. Eight out of 10 are predicting Lakers in five games, with Tim Legler showing some bold confidence in the Jazz — still predicting a Laker victory, but going to six games, instead of five — and Marc Stein expeting the Lakers to take care of business in four quick games.

Silver Screen and Roll's predictions will be coming soon, at which point we'll also be asking you to weigh in with your own predictions.

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Comments

Sweep

I’m predicting a Laker sweep, and that’s not just homerism (not entirely homerism, anyway). The Lakers have been so businesslike all season, even on the road, that I really have a hard time seeing Utah winning even one game, considering how great the talent gap is. Utah plays hard, I’ll give them that, but the Lakers have an edge at 4 of the 5 positions, and the Lakers’ size will really wear the Jazz out. Last year the Lakers’ size gave Utah a lot of problems and that was without Bynum in there. Without a strong defense or a good ability to rebound, LA will have a lot of second chances and easy opportunities. Remember that a year ago the Lakers came close to winning Games 3 and 4 in Utah, and that was a much better Jazz team and a much worse Laker team. I think LA handles the Jazz this year like they did Denver last season.

by WildYams on Apr 16, 2009 11:52 AM PDT reply actions

Like I tell everyone who predicts a sweep...

don’t count the jazz out yet man. If the Lakers are mentally focused, they can win it big. But against crappy teams this year, it doesn’t seem like it’s always been the case. I know we’re all biased cuz we love the lakers, but I predict lakers will have to take it in game 6. The Jazz are feisty at defending their home court.

by laker on Apr 17, 2009 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't think anyone is counting the Jazz out

I’m predicting a sweet, and I know I’m not counting the Jazz out. Just because I expect a certain Lakers team to show up — the one that doesn’t fool around — and dominate, doesn’t mean I expect the Jazz to be easy. If you read out comments, you’ll see that we both fully recognize LA’s tendency this season to be lazy and unmotivated.

But we both also recognize that there are reasons for the Lakers lack of motivation — reasons which we have good cause to believe will be addressed by being in the playoffs. And just as you appeal to their regular season tendencies to make the point about their sometimes lagging mental focus, we also point to their record when motivated, and the type of basketball they play under those circumstances, so suggest that now that the boredom of the regular season has passed, and the excitement of the regular season is here, we expect that very motivated, very dominant team to show up.

No one is discounting the Jazz. We’re just making educated predictions, built primarily on which Lakers team we think will show up.

Strength & Honor

by Josh Tucker on Apr 18, 2009 5:02 PM PDT up reply actions

i think the jazz

are good for one game, probably game 3. but hopefully a sweep, time to see if bynum was the missing piece to a championship

Bills make me wanna SHOUT!

by silverstreak3k on Apr 16, 2009 12:28 PM PDT reply actions

I am glad Bynum is healthy for the playoffs.

I was bummed that he wasn’t able to play in postseason last year. The NBA Finals would have been a lot closer if he was in there. The Jazz are tough at home so I expect them to put up a fight in their house.

GO BRONCOS IN 2009 AND BEYOND!!

http://www.silverscreenandroll.com

by weazel on Apr 17, 2009 12:19 AM PDT up reply actions