Lakers in 5
Somebody's got to start talking in us-against-the-world terms for the Jazz in the next couple of days before they open their first-round series against the Lakers. For the most part, their comments after Tuesday's loss were tinged with realism and resignation.
"We didn't give them much of battle," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said, "and knowing that we're going to have to play them again, it looks pretty bleak. Hate to say that, but it's one of those things. But that's why it's an interesting game. We're going to have to play it."
"They're a terrific team," Sloan added. "They pass the ball, they do about everything you'd ask a team to do. They've got guys that can make big shots, guys that just know how to play basketball, make the game look simple."
I apologized before sharing the 3-47 all-time record of No. 8 seeds with Kyle Korver and he answered with no small amount of sarcasm: "I mean, No. 8 seeds are supposed to lose. That's why it's 1 vs. 8. But three teams did win. Someday there's going to be a fourth."
What gives Korver encouragement?
"I mean, we just got beat, so I'm not going to sit here and be like, 'We've got them.' It's not like we have that attitude," Korver said. "We know them well. We've played against them a lot now. I think the series last year will probably help us out for this year."
How much frustration is there in getting the Lakers since they had to be the team you wanted to avoid?
"Obviously, the Lakers are the best team in the West as of now," Korver said. "But we weren't trying to avoid anyone. Obviously, we'd rather play them some other time down the road, but you've got to play them some time, you might as well play them first."
The Jazz have been a No. 8 seed once before in their history, when they lost in four games to Sacramento in 2002. The only No. 8 seeds to deliver first-round upsets have been Golden State in 2007, New York in 1999 and Denver in 1994.
"We don't back down from any challenges," Carlos Boozer said. "We haven't all season. We're not going to back down when we play the Lakers in the first round."
* * *
I would be surprised to find anybody, even the hometown beat writer, picking the Jazz in this series. Their problems start with the Lakers' twin 7-footer, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, who combined to total 42 points and 13 rebounds in Tuesday's game.
The Lakers bench looks strong, anchored by Lamar Odom, who had 16 points in 19 minutes Tuesday. Sasha Vujacic hit a three-pointer and three other jumpers in the second quarter with Kobe Bryant in foul trouble.
In fact, the Lakers outscored the Jazz 22-15 to close the first half even as Bryant went to the bench for the final 8:11 after picking up his third personal, fouling Kyle Korver on a jumper. Bryant played only 37 seconds in the second quarter.
The Lakers scored 58 points in the paint and hit 8 of 13 three-pointers. They totaled 125 points on 55.8 percent shooting against the Jazz and did so with Kobe Bryant scoring just 16 points and playing only 26 minutes.
In other words, the Lakers look like the total package right now. If they can beat Boston and Cleveland on the road, you'd better believe they can come to EnergySolutions Arena and win at least once during this series.
It seems as if the Jazz are going to have to work just as hard not to get embarrassed as they are to try to win the series.
The Jazz probably will need even more from Deron Williams than the 25 points and 13 assists he had Tuesday. Williams did everything to try to shoulder the load for the Jazz, including a spectacular dunk down the lane in the third quarter.
"I'm going to have to from the start," Williams said when asked about taking over. "Just try to do it all." He didn't disagree when I tossed out 30 points and 15 assists as one target number for that.
The Lakers, however, seem well aware that containing Williams is their first priority. "Of course we have a bunch of capable guys [to guard Williams]," Bryant said. "He is a problem. He was a problem for us last year and he will be a problem for us in this series."
"They're going to drive the ball down into your throat with Williams and then get to the foul line," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.
* * *
Nothing was confirmed, but it sounded as if the Lakers and Jazz would open Sunday in Los Angeles, followed by Game 2 on Tuesday. There was no word about the schedule for the games back in Utah the following weekend.
The Jazz were not thrilled, by the way, to have to play four games in five nights to finish the season, especially when they could have finished the season Wednesday just like everybody else in the league.
One question I have is just how many Lakers fans will be invading EnergySolutions. There's usually a solid third for a typical Lakers game. If Jazz fans don't buy tickets, I imagine those seats aren't going to go unsold.
* * *
Their numbers weren't terrible, but Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko continued to struggle Tuesday. Boozer was 5-for-11 with 16 points and nine rebounds while Kirilenko had 20 points but committed six turnovers.
Yet as the Lakers made their push in the second quarter, Boozer had a turnover, clanked a jumper and gave up deep post position to Pau Gasol for a layup. He missed another jumper as well as a layup and dunk as the Lakers went up 68-59 in the third.
Kirilenko, meanwhile, committed a questionable foul, putting Kobe Bryant on the line with 0.8 seconds left in the third. He also threw a lob out of bounds and missed a three-pointer as part of the Lakers' 10-0 run to open the fourth.
Williams' body language wasn't great in the second half. He was visibly frustrated after the Jazz got crossed up on their final play of the third quarter, with TNT getting a great shot of Williams' directing traffic.
* * *
Just in case anybody forgot, here are some of the staggering numbers from last year's series. The Lakers actually made more free throws (going 182-for-231) than the Jazz so much as attempted (138-for-172).
They averaged 110.3 points in the series thanks in no small part to the 38.5 free throws a game they attempted. Kobe Bryant got enough free points at the line for two monster games, going 80-for-96 in the series. Bryant averaged 33.2 points in the series.
* * *
You just know both Dallas and New Orleans are going to lose Wednesday, thus leaving the Jazz even more despondent. If you had to pick two losses that doomed them to this No. 8 seed, they would be Saturday's loss to a seven-man Golden State team and the triple-overtime March 14 loss at Miami in which they blew leads in the final minute of regulation and the first overtime and gave away a sure win.
* * *
If you wake up this morning and look at the standings, you will realize the Jazz went 1-20 this season on the road against teams that presently have winning records. Hard to argue they deserve much better than the No. 8 seed in that case. Same with their 3-18 record in the second game of back-to-backs, which is on par with the Washingtons, Memphises and Sacramentos of the NBA.
--Ross Siler
"We didn't give them much of battle," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said, "and knowing that we're going to have to play them again, it looks pretty bleak. Hate to say that, but it's one of those things. But that's why it's an interesting game. We're going to have to play it."
"They're a terrific team," Sloan added. "They pass the ball, they do about everything you'd ask a team to do. They've got guys that can make big shots, guys that just know how to play basketball, make the game look simple."
I apologized before sharing the 3-47 all-time record of No. 8 seeds with Kyle Korver and he answered with no small amount of sarcasm: "I mean, No. 8 seeds are supposed to lose. That's why it's 1 vs. 8. But three teams did win. Someday there's going to be a fourth."
What gives Korver encouragement?
"I mean, we just got beat, so I'm not going to sit here and be like, 'We've got them.' It's not like we have that attitude," Korver said. "We know them well. We've played against them a lot now. I think the series last year will probably help us out for this year."
How much frustration is there in getting the Lakers since they had to be the team you wanted to avoid?
"Obviously, the Lakers are the best team in the West as of now," Korver said. "But we weren't trying to avoid anyone. Obviously, we'd rather play them some other time down the road, but you've got to play them some time, you might as well play them first."
The Jazz have been a No. 8 seed once before in their history, when they lost in four games to Sacramento in 2002. The only No. 8 seeds to deliver first-round upsets have been Golden State in 2007, New York in 1999 and Denver in 1994.
"We don't back down from any challenges," Carlos Boozer said. "We haven't all season. We're not going to back down when we play the Lakers in the first round."
* * *
I would be surprised to find anybody, even the hometown beat writer, picking the Jazz in this series. Their problems start with the Lakers' twin 7-footer, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, who combined to total 42 points and 13 rebounds in Tuesday's game.
The Lakers bench looks strong, anchored by Lamar Odom, who had 16 points in 19 minutes Tuesday. Sasha Vujacic hit a three-pointer and three other jumpers in the second quarter with Kobe Bryant in foul trouble.
In fact, the Lakers outscored the Jazz 22-15 to close the first half even as Bryant went to the bench for the final 8:11 after picking up his third personal, fouling Kyle Korver on a jumper. Bryant played only 37 seconds in the second quarter.
The Lakers scored 58 points in the paint and hit 8 of 13 three-pointers. They totaled 125 points on 55.8 percent shooting against the Jazz and did so with Kobe Bryant scoring just 16 points and playing only 26 minutes.
In other words, the Lakers look like the total package right now. If they can beat Boston and Cleveland on the road, you'd better believe they can come to EnergySolutions Arena and win at least once during this series.
It seems as if the Jazz are going to have to work just as hard not to get embarrassed as they are to try to win the series.
The Jazz probably will need even more from Deron Williams than the 25 points and 13 assists he had Tuesday. Williams did everything to try to shoulder the load for the Jazz, including a spectacular dunk down the lane in the third quarter.
"I'm going to have to from the start," Williams said when asked about taking over. "Just try to do it all." He didn't disagree when I tossed out 30 points and 15 assists as one target number for that.
The Lakers, however, seem well aware that containing Williams is their first priority. "Of course we have a bunch of capable guys [to guard Williams]," Bryant said. "He is a problem. He was a problem for us last year and he will be a problem for us in this series."
"They're going to drive the ball down into your throat with Williams and then get to the foul line," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.
* * *
Nothing was confirmed, but it sounded as if the Lakers and Jazz would open Sunday in Los Angeles, followed by Game 2 on Tuesday. There was no word about the schedule for the games back in Utah the following weekend.
The Jazz were not thrilled, by the way, to have to play four games in five nights to finish the season, especially when they could have finished the season Wednesday just like everybody else in the league.
One question I have is just how many Lakers fans will be invading EnergySolutions. There's usually a solid third for a typical Lakers game. If Jazz fans don't buy tickets, I imagine those seats aren't going to go unsold.
* * *
Their numbers weren't terrible, but Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko continued to struggle Tuesday. Boozer was 5-for-11 with 16 points and nine rebounds while Kirilenko had 20 points but committed six turnovers.
Yet as the Lakers made their push in the second quarter, Boozer had a turnover, clanked a jumper and gave up deep post position to Pau Gasol for a layup. He missed another jumper as well as a layup and dunk as the Lakers went up 68-59 in the third.
Kirilenko, meanwhile, committed a questionable foul, putting Kobe Bryant on the line with 0.8 seconds left in the third. He also threw a lob out of bounds and missed a three-pointer as part of the Lakers' 10-0 run to open the fourth.
Williams' body language wasn't great in the second half. He was visibly frustrated after the Jazz got crossed up on their final play of the third quarter, with TNT getting a great shot of Williams' directing traffic.
* * *
Just in case anybody forgot, here are some of the staggering numbers from last year's series. The Lakers actually made more free throws (going 182-for-231) than the Jazz so much as attempted (138-for-172).
They averaged 110.3 points in the series thanks in no small part to the 38.5 free throws a game they attempted. Kobe Bryant got enough free points at the line for two monster games, going 80-for-96 in the series. Bryant averaged 33.2 points in the series.
* * *
You just know both Dallas and New Orleans are going to lose Wednesday, thus leaving the Jazz even more despondent. If you had to pick two losses that doomed them to this No. 8 seed, they would be Saturday's loss to a seven-man Golden State team and the triple-overtime March 14 loss at Miami in which they blew leads in the final minute of regulation and the first overtime and gave away a sure win.
* * *
If you wake up this morning and look at the standings, you will realize the Jazz went 1-20 this season on the road against teams that presently have winning records. Hard to argue they deserve much better than the No. 8 seed in that case. Same with their 3-18 record in the second game of back-to-backs, which is on par with the Washingtons, Memphises and Sacramentos of the NBA.
--Ross Siler
3:35 AM
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8 Comments:
SIGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WTF was Ronnie Price doing in the game? Kid's talented, but he's hasn't played in who knows how long.
Was this Sloan trying to send a message to his players?
How long, as fans, can we let this mediocrity continue?
Lakers in 5 is probably a little too optimistic. I really wouldn't be surprised if the Jazz fold and lose in 4. This team looks tired, unemotional, and worn down by on-court/off-court issues. I've never seen a Jazz team implode chemistry-wise so fast and it's disheartening.
If there is a silver lining to this season, it's that watching this team sputter in a downward spiral has already ended my emotional attachment to the franchise this year. I think as fans we've hit rock bottom and one or two wins against the Lakers is just an added bonus at this point.
It's unfortunate that this season has been a wash of being extremely disappointing and unpredictable to watch. Kevin O'Conner still hasn't seen the team he put together stay together for a full season. It will be interesting to see what he does in the off-season if anything.
Here's to a year where the Jazz made the playoffs, but not under the pretense in which any of us can stomach. A six-month break will be welcomed.
Richard, if you are going to complain about Price being in the game, you should preface it asking what has Knight been doing in the games all season. he's old, can't hold on to the ball, and generally doesn't actually fit in with the jazz. Price was our man last year, conducting the bench as well as Williams did our starters. there was the times he started and did great when Derron was out.
I can't see Price being in the game as anything but a good sign.
It's sad because the Jazz would give the Lakers a tough match-up if they were playing well and healthy. Okur is the outside shooting center that a Lakers opponent needs to pull a big away from the basket. Williams is the type of strong, quick guard that they never defend well. A lot of other guys play physical, which bothers the more finesse-oriented Lakers. The problem is that the Jazz play physical in a way that generates a lot of foul calls. My advice to your team would be to emulate what Boston does and how they can be physical without getting called.
Btw, as a Laker fan, Ross Siler is one of the few beat writers of other teams that I recognize. Because he's one of the best.
"We don't back down from any challenges," Carlos Boozer said. "We haven't all season.”
Ummm, yes, you have, Carlos. That’s why you’re an eighth-seed. Denver challenged your team; it backed down. San Antonio challenged your team; it backed down. Dallas challenged your team; it backed down; Miami challenged your team; it backed down. Golden State—all seven players!—challenged your team; it backed down. Minnesota challenged your team—in YOUR house—and it backed down. And with one last, desperate opportunity to avoid becoming an eighth-seed, the Lakers challenged your team last night, and—surprise, surprise!—it backed down. The Jazz HAVE backed down—all season.
Eric: “Lakers in 5 is probably a little too optimistic. I really wouldn't be surprised if the Jazz fold and lose in 4.”
Lakers in four? Heck, I’d say even THAT is optimistic: the way this team has played many of its last 26 games (what are they, 10-16?), if—when!!!—the Lakers get a 3-0 lead, the Jazz’ll probably just call it hopeless and FORFEIT the fourth game!
Drunken5yearold, Siler is a Laker beat writer working in Utah
Ken is right on the money. If I had been there when Boozer said, that I'd have been scratching my head trying to match it to reality.
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