I really wonder how much Jerry Sloan hates having to coach against Phil Jackson year after year in the NBA Playoffs. As if losing back to back NBA Finals to the Hall of Fame coach and Michael Jordan in the late 90’s wasn’t bad enough, he’s had to share a conference with Jackson’s Lakers led by Kobe Bryant for nearly ten years now.
While I’m sure there’s more respect than personal contempt as coach Sloan is the epitome of class and honor, but wouldn’t you harbor a touch of spite for Phil if you were him? Just a little?
That’s a rhetorical question by the way.
You can also tell that Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer are perhaps growing sick of having to contend with so much length and that guy named Bean for a third consecutive year now. They can’t get it done on their own. While we only outscored the Jazz 54-50 in the paint, it’s evident that the lack of interior defense will be too much for them to overcome in the series.
The strategy to pound the ball inside was blatantly obvious against the Thunder, but it’s even more critical that the Lakers execute that game plan against Utah because it will be the key to keeping the series short and earning a few crucial days of rest for the next round.
For the most part, Game 1 was definitely a good win, but our flat and unimpressive play for most of the fourth quarter showed how this series has the potential to be a trap for the Lakers. I’m not talking about whether or not we will advance through the Jazz however, but more so speaking on a matter of when.
The Lakers are still highly susceptible to playing down to the competition and forfeiting too many “effort plays” as Jalen Rose said this morning on Sportscenter. Couldn’t agree more right?
Regardless, I really don’t see any justifiable reason why we should have to play more than five games other than our biggest nemesis throughout the season – complacency. But hey, that’s also how I felt about the Thunder series. I’m banking on the hope that the team actually learned a thing or two last round.
NEXT: Signs of life from the bench.
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Going back to Game 5 of the previous round against OKC, our bench has slowly been picking up their play and contributing valuable minutes during the last few contests. Leading the way has been Shannon Brown as he’s been actively aggressive on the offensive end and if you noticed yesterday, he was also skying high to snatch rebounds into his big mits. Farmar has been somewhat spotty, but all in all, he’s been playing pretty steady basketball under control.
Although Lamar’s game has been highly criticized for much of the post-season, you can never discount his importance to our championship hopes. The offensive rebound and put-back that he executed late in crunch time off a Kobe miss to put us up 98-95 was quite possibly the most important play of the game.
Not to beat this point to death, but you really can’t judge LO by the numbers, especially in this series because he is a true matchup nightmare for the Jazz and usually has some of his best games against them in the playoffs.
I realize that Luke Walton isn’t exactly the most popular guy with Laker fans, but give the guy some credit. As much as you may want to hate on him and call him worthless (which I have been guilty of in the past), I think we really felt the detriment of his absence during the season with the erratic play of the second unit.
Walton’s incredibly high basketball IQ and passing ability, two elements that Jeff Van Gundy highlighted during Game 1, are what stabilize our bench’s offensive execution. Simply put, we need him as much as anyone else to repeat and he was quietly instrumental in the Game 1 victory.
The bench did struggle in the second half and did basically allow the Jazz to come all the way back, but I won’t slam them for it mainly due to the fact that we still pulled out the victory. And for a group that has had players shuffled around all season due to injury, they’re starting to come together, albeit gradually. We all know that if they don’t play well, we will not be crowned as champs at the end of the race.
They do however, need to improve their shot selection and play with a little more discipline on the defensive end.
NEXT: Batman and Robin.
[phpbay]nike zoom kobe v pop, 3, “”, “”[/phpbay]Isn’t Kobe supposed to be old, battered, and incapable of dominating a game from start to finish?
To the Mamba’s dear critics, I urge you, keep hating, it will only make him stronger.
You really couldn’t have asked for a better start to the series for Kobe as we all watched him use and abuse the Jazz for a strong 31 points on 12 of 19 from the field. Yes, you read correctly, he shot a scorching 63% starting 5 for 5 in the first quarter, his highest shooting percentage in…well, too long.
Anyone still question the Black Mamba’s ability to take a game over and score 11 points in the last four minutes with the victory up for grabs?
Again, rhetorical.
As my friends were asking me what I thought about Kobe’s health and unimpressive efficiency from the field before the Jazz series, I responded by suggesting that there’s nothing to really worry about with him.
I’ve always marveled at the Mamba’s ability to pace himself throughout the season and really take care of his body even during games. I don’t doubt the idea that he was essentially doing exactly that in six games against OKC because he knows he only has a certain amount of monster games left in him this year.
Even so, I do look for Kobe to be very aggressive for the rest of the series and I’m sure he salivates every time he gets an isolation against any defender Jerry Sloan throws his way because it basically doesn’t matter who checks him. However, don’t expect it to be all about scoring, but also about making the right plays off our bread and butter, the high pick and roll with Pau.
Speaking of Pau, I’ve been meaning to really give him his due respect and props because he’s been the most consistent Laker thus far in the playoffs. Going into Game 1, he was averaging 18 points a game, 12.2 boards, 1.3 blocks and had 25 pts, 12 rbs, 5 blks on Sunday alone. As Stuart Scott highlighted on Sportscenter last night, Pau is the first Laker to put up those kind of numbers in a single playoff game since Shaq Diesel was suiting up in purple and gold. Not too shabby.
I’m a little hesitant to say that Gasol has finally “gotten it” as far as playing with gritty toughness because he hasn’t had to face legit big men yet in the playoffs, but he’s at least dominating the post and appropriately exploiting his advantage in size and skill. Pau is scoring efficiently and obviously coming through in the clutch as well like he did in Game 6 against OKC.
As our editor Daniel said in his Batman vs. Superman editorial, Kobe is the Dark Knight who has the ability to save the day when the situation calls for it, but he also needs a reliable partner to do some damage of his own.
Pau is the perfect player to thrive in that role and he’s clearly the best superstar to compliment Kobe’s polarizing game. Boozer clearly cannot guard him on the block as well so I hope the team will keep feeding him and not fall in love with jumpers.
With Kobe playing arguably the most unselfish and all-around basketball of his career and Pau administering punishment down low, our dynamic duo looks primed to take LA back to the NBA Finals and win once more.
NEXT: Getting better each game.
[phpbay]Lakers, 3, “”, “”[/phpbay]Let’s not forget that the Lakers essentially tumbled and bumbled into this year’s playoffs and even barely squeaked out victories in Game 1 and 2 of the previous series with the Thunder. Still, it’s undeniable that our team’s focus and execution have gradually been improving since the absolute humiliation we suffered in our last Game 4.
Since that blowout, the team has really played with the sense of urgency that all of us fans have been begging for all year. Although we’ve all endured many disappointments during the regular season such as getting swept by the Cavs and failing to earn the league’s best record, the special thing about the playoffs is that none of those things have any bearing once post-season play begins.
It’s never too late to get better, playoffs included. Derek Fisher said that there comes a point when everything will pretty much “click” and if there’s any opportunity for the Lakers to find that zone of supreme confidence and execution, there is really no better opponent to discover that kind of rhythm against than the heavily overmatched Utah Jazz. We certainly look like we’re heading in the right direction – minus ten minutes of the fourth quarter.
Whatever we did poorly against the Thunder must not be repeated against Utah and the Lakers have to continue to improve their play quarter to quarter, game to game. As I harped on in the beginning, complacency is our worst enemy right now and the only way the team can lose in this series is by beating themselves, which will not happen as long as Phil, Kobe, and Derek continue to lead the team.
Let’s keep rolling Lakers. Game 2, Tuesday.
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