Lakers vs. Jazz: A BDL Preview

by Josh Tucker on Apr 17, 2009 1:50 PM PDT

At the behest of J.E. Skeets, I've joined with SLC Dunk's Basketball John in contributing a short series preview over at Ball Don't Lie.

More in-depth analysis and expectations will be coming in the near future, along with hopefully some great insight from two or three new authors that are signing on to write regularly for SS&R.

In the meantime, head on over to BDL and check out our previews. I'm going bold and predicting a highly motivated LA team and a Lakers sweep, while Basketball John appears hopeless but still expects the Jazz to win two games. What do you think?

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Sweep defenitely not out of the question...

It is not because of Utah’s weaknesess but more so that the Lakers strengths have become even stronger. Last year against the Jazz the biggest issue was the Lakers length. This year the Lakers get Bynum back which makes their length that much better. Also, last year’s Lakers did not have the hunger that they have this year. They are not only a much better team talent wise with Ariza and Bynum but they have a year of being motivated even more so than last year. On the other side, the Jazz are virtually the same team and some may argue that according to how they ended the regular season they might be slightly less of a challenge for this year’s Laker team. That being said, I think that the addition of Ariza and Bynum could be the difference maker in winning two games in Utah. Not to mention S. Brown’s ability to at least stay with D. Williams.

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Apr 17, 2009 2:04 PM PDT reply actions

i still think that the jazz can win 1 game

but i would not be surprised if the lakers swept them

by Adamas on Apr 17, 2009 4:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Dude be careful what you wish for man

If the Lakers are too cocky, which I’m afraid might happen, they’ll get smashed. D-Will makes quick trash out of lazy defense. Plus the Lakers are looking at a potential second round matchup with the Blazers, whom they have legit reason to be worried about – which might take away their focus and concentration. If Kobe and co. overlook the Utah and start thinking about Portland, this has all the potential for disastrous upset.

That being said, I’m saying Lakers in 6. Utah is feisty when they’re at home and as a realistic person, I don’t think the Lakers will simply romp over them in Salt Lake City and just have their way.

by laker on Apr 17, 2009 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions

After what happened last year..

I doubt that the Lakers will get cocky or overconfident. I believe that the Lakers biggest challenge against the Jazz is going to be D-Will’s offensive game. Besides, after hearing what Phil said about Coach Sloan’s comment and saying that Sloan was just trying to goat his players I know that the Lakers are too experienced to take anyone lightly. But for the sake of being a Laker fan and seeing how easily the Lakers have beaten them in the regular season I have to say sweep! Lakers in 4.

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Apr 17, 2009 5:51 PM PDT up reply actions

I am not trying to pick on you I swear......

but most people don’t know this. It’s actually goad, not goat. Just for clarification, not trying to be nit picky

"Don't I know you from somewhere"?. "Nah, that ain't me, I'm from Buffalo" - Axel Foley

by pslakerfan on Apr 17, 2009 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions

totally cool...

believe me I rather type it right then keep typing it the wrong way. I’m not in any way going to take it as if you are trying to goad me… lol…all jokes aside. Thank you.

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Apr 17, 2009 7:32 PM PDT up reply actions

God I love Lakers fans

People capable of correcting each other respectfully, and taking correction as a positive (helping you not look unintelligent) rather than a negative (criticizing or picking on)… I do not ever see this. You guys rock. Just the kind of people I had hoped would become members of this blog.

Strength & Honor

by Josh Tucker on Apr 18, 2009 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions

Like I said before...........

go f*** yourself. Sorry, again I couldn’t resist.

"Don't I know you from somewhere"?. "Nah, that ain't me, I'm from Buffalo" - Axel Foley

by pslakerfan on Apr 18, 2009 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions

I hope they don't get cocky, but...

Just to clarify, when you mean what happened last year do you mean vs. the Jazz or vs. the Celtics?

Last year, they weren’t complete favorites (the Jazz weren’t as big underdogs as they are perceived this year), so the Lakers had reason to not overlook them. But this year, if the Lakers look past the Jazz and view a potential second round w/ the Blazers, it will be hard to focus.

Anyways, whatever. I think it’s awesome how the Lakers played their starters, which pretty much told the Jazz “we control your fate, suckers and we’re not letting you play anybody else”.

by laker on Apr 17, 2009 9:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Jerry Sloan may be headed for the Hall of Fame, but the Jazz are heading for an early vacation, courtesy of the Lakers.

by dEDGE on Apr 17, 2009 4:07 PM PDT reply actions

There's always three teams on the court when the Jazz are involved

The one thing missing from this preview and most people’s comments on the series is the influence the refs have over the game. It’s probably kind of a taboo subject to bring up the importance of referees in a series, but the Jazz style of play puts a huge amount of onus on the refs, and the way the refs call the game can be extremely significant in the outcome of individual games. Take last year’s series for example. There were two games in which the refs called an extremely one-sided game, game 4 in Utah and game 5 in LA. Both of these games were won by the home team, and either could have been stolen by the road team if not for home cookin’ on the foul calls.

I’m going to assume for the sake of convenience that the Lakers can and will win in LA regardless of how the refs call the game. But if the Lakers go into Salt Lake and find themselves playing 5 v 8 (a distinct possibility considering the atmosphere of the normal Jazz home playoff game), its not hard to see them dropping one. That’s the secret reason why Jazz in 5 is the consensus pick for the national media.

by C.A. Clark on Apr 17, 2009 4:42 PM PDT reply actions

I'd go out on a limb and say Lakers in six - just to be super realistic

I could be wrong about this and I seriously hope I am, but the Lakers have shown they have some cockiness issues against inferior teams. If they had lost to Utah in season finale that would have been a wakeup call, but their win along with Sloan’s deferential, deceptive comments suggests the Lakers may subconsciously find it difficult to concentrate, given they have a potential second round match up with the Blazers, which they might be thinking about. The Lakers need to focus 100% on the Utah Jazz.

by laker on Apr 17, 2009 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Completely off topic

How in the hell was the name “laker” available. How long have you been a member of this site?

It’s like the guy who has the email JohnSmith@gmail.com…

by C.A. Clark on Apr 17, 2009 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions

C'mon...

let’s just stick to basketball.

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Apr 17, 2009 5:56 PM PDT up reply actions

It wasn't intended as mean-spirited

Believe me, I would never criticize anybody based on their handle. I’m just amazed that it’s available.

by C.A. Clark on Apr 17, 2009 8:28 PM PDT up reply actions

fair enough...

….Laker fan or not everyone is welcomed.

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Apr 17, 2009 8:55 PM PDT up reply actions

LoL I was surprised too

But I guess nobody even tried to register it. But having handle “laker” is not really like having email JohnSmith@gmail.com lol. My handle actually demonstrates that I’m a true fan, whereas JohnSmith@gmail.com doesn’t demonstrate anything. Anyways, let’s just talk about basketball

by laker on Apr 17, 2009 9:33 PM PDT up reply actions

I think he was just saying it’s the kind of name you expect to have been taken long, long ago. I’m pretty surprised myself. Congrats to you for getting it, it’s an awesome handle for a Laker fan!

Strength & Honor

by Josh Tucker on Apr 18, 2009 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions

Good points

The Lakers have the potential to be on either end of the spectrum. Bored and uninterested, in which case they’ll lose a game or two, or highly motivated and not taking anything for granted. That latter team, when it shows up, destroys everything in its path. I’m hoping the arrival of the playoffs (a.k.a. the start of the real season) will provide all the motivation they need. If that team shows up, a Utah win would require such egregiously bad reffing that even Kings fans would be crying foul.

But will that team show up?

Strength & Honor

by Josh Tucker on Apr 18, 2009 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions

Every year the refs become a topic...

especially when so much is at stake then everything gets blown out of proportion. I do think that from time to time there are games not series that are decided by the ref’s calls. That is unfortunate and every team is subject to be on the bad end of those circumstances. BUT! Any good team that can call themselves a playoff bound team knows that no series is ever decided by bad/good calls. If a team is good enough or better enough they should be able to win a series regardless of the ref’s calls. That topic is overblown by the media and die hard fans. But it is rarely ever a factor when looking at an entire series.

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Apr 17, 2009 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Agreed

Case in point: Game 2 in Boston. The Lakers went down big in the first half, with the huge free throw disparity, and then mounted a huge comeback in the second half, coming within just a couple points of a come-from-behind victory. If the officiating hadn’t been so horrendously bad, it likely would have been a Laker win.

But we all know that pulling off game two wouldn’t have won us the series. Not the way games 4 and 6 went.

Anyhow… the problem with talking about officiating is that it’s pandora’s box, especially for Lakers fans. Because you know at some point, people are going to swear we’re winning because we get the calls, especially during games in Staples Center. If we open the door to complaining about officiating, it’ll never be shut again.

Strength & Honor

by Josh Tucker on Apr 18, 2009 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions

Jazz are a solid team at home

so I expect them to take at least one of them. The big key is Deron Williams and the kind of roll he my get on. Our bench needs to step up now because they have become kind of lazy in some of the games at the end. I do expect them to rise up now that it is playoff time.

I really liked to see Shannon get some time against the Jazz so he just might be a key player for us in this series. I pick the Lakers in 5.

GO BRONCOS IN 2009 AND BEYOND!!

http://www.silverscreenandroll.com

by weazel on Apr 17, 2009 6:08 PM PDT reply actions

100% right....

Deron is going to be huge. I also want to see more of S. Brown and I was thinking the same thing during the Lakers Jazz last matchup. But what did Deron do on the first play that S. Brown was guarding him, he freakin crossed him over. SICK! That dude is going to be a crazy PG for years to come.

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Apr 17, 2009 6:15 PM PDT up reply actions

The Jazz are solid at home

because the refs let them get away with murder. The officials placate the fans. Not on the road, and that’s why they’re terrible away from Salt Lake.

I agree with Josh. I see a sweep. The Jazz have to win their 1st home game. If they don’t, it’ll be finished in Utah. I expect the Lakers to rip their hearts out in Game 3.

by wondahbap on Apr 18, 2009 6:54 AM PDT up reply actions