GT: Jazz @ Lakers (2/13)

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<font color=""blue"">The Utah Jazz (25-26)</font> vs. <font color="purple">The Los Angeles Lakers (25-25)</font>
Monday, February 10th, 2006
STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, California
7:30 Pacific; Local
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<font size="3">Projected Starters</font>

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<font size="1">(D. Williams, D. Brown, A. Kirilenko, M. Okur, G. Ostertag)</font></font></div>

<font size="1">Leading Scorer: Mehmet Okur - 17.8
Leading Rebounder: Mehmet Okur - 9.4
Assist Man: Andrei Kirilenko - 4.1
The Bench Man: Matt Harpring (11.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, .9 APG)</font>

<font size="3">Backcourt</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/deron_williams.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Deron Williams</font>5, APG: 3.9[/i]
The Jazz rookie point guard is having a decent season, but I think fans expected a little better. Only 3.9 assists? That's not to good, especially when you consider the Jazz could've had Chris Paul, who is among the league leaders in assists. Deron needs to come into this game and shoot well, find open men, and stop Smush, who can get hot at times. If Deron does that, the Jazz will be closer to victory.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/devin_brown.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Devin Brown</font>
PPG: 7.5, RPG: 2.7, APG: 1.1
He's no allstar, he's an average role player at best. But Devin Brown is a work horse, and he can hit shots if he's left open. Will he be left open? I doubt it, Kobe Bryant doesn't slouch on defense. Devin Brown needs to play physical with Kobe, he's been against Kobe before, he knows what to expect. </font>

<font size="3">Frontcourt</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/andrei_kirilenko.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Andrei Kirilenko</font>
PPG: 15.8, RPG: 8.4, APG: 4.1
The league's most versatile player, Kirilenko shredded the Lakers the last time these two teams met. He was hitting shots inside and out, blocking shots, dishing out dimes, grabbing boards, and stealing the ball. If he gets a repeat performance, the Jazz should expect no less than a win. Will he? I doubt it, but Kirilenko will have to be assertive in this game.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/mehmet_okur.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Mehmet Okur</font>
PPG: 17.8, RPG: 9.4, BPG: .8
Mehmet Okur is a very quiet big man. He puts up very respectable numbers, but gets next to no recognition for it. He could be lethal in this game against the Lakers. If Kwame Brown does not get out on the perimeter and guard him, Okur should stray out there all game long, becuase he can knock those shots down...EASILY.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/greg_ostertag.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Greg Ostertag</font>
PPG: 2.9, RPG: 4.4, BPG: 1.19
Ostertag isn't a great player, but he's a hard worker. Don't expect decent numbers, but expect his sweat on the floor every night. In this game, Ostertag needs to keep Smush, Lamar, and Kobe out of the paint. If he can grab some offensive rebounds as well, he'll put in a hard night's work.</font>

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<font size="3">Projected Starters</font>

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<font size="1">(S. Parker, K. Bryant, D. George, B. Cook, K. Brown) </font></font></div>

<font size="1">Leading Scorer: Kobe Bryant - 35.2 PPG
Leading Rebounder: Lamar Odom - 9.4 RPG
Assist Man: Lamar Odom - 5.3 APG
The Bench Man: Devean George (6.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.0 APG)</font>

<font size="3">Backcourt</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/smush_parker.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Smush Parker</font>
PPG: 11.6, RPG: 3.1, APG: 3.1
Smushy! Smush has been off and on lately. In this one, Smush needs to be on. The Jazz have beat the Lakers twice this year, granted both times were without Kobe, but still, it's not acceptable. Smush is going to have to drive and dish, get to the free throw line, and hit the shots that Kobe and Lamar create for him.</font>


<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kobe_bryant.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Kobe Bryant</font>
PPG: 35.2, RPG: 5.5, APG: 4.4
He's been seeing a lot tougher defense lately, but he's still being very effective. His assists have been nice lately, his steals are nice, and his scoring is still untouchable, yet the Lakers are struggling. Kobe needs to drive a lot in this game, get to the free throw line. He also has to call for the ball before the double team can get to him. He'll get his, it's just a matter of the rest of the team helping him.</font>

<font size="3">Frontcourt</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/lamar_odom.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Lamad Odom</font>
PPG: 13.8, RPG: 9.4, APG: 5.3
Ugh, Lamar. He couldn't lead the Lakers to a victory in back to back games against the Jazz earlier this year when Kobe was supsended, and now he's injured. He just need to worry about creating for others, he can't be concerned about scoring because he can barely lift one of his arms. If he can get rebounds and dish out passes, he'll be more effective than he is when he's healthy.</font>


<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/brian_cook.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Brian Cook</font>
PPG: 7.7, RPG: 3.01, BPG: .43
The Lakers latest bonehead. Cookie caused the Lakers a win against Memphis, he can't screw up again tonight. If he's not feeling his shot, don't shoot. That simple. We need Cook, though. We need him to hit those open perimeter shots us Laker fans have became accustomed to, we need his sweet stroke to fall in this game, becuase you never know what kind of game Kwame Brown will give you.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kwame_brown.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Kwame Brown</font>
PPG: 6.2, RPG: 6.0, BPG: .65
Kwame had a perfect game against Memphis, unfortunately, the Lakers couldn't get a win. Normally Kwame doesn't follow up good games with consistency, but hopefully this time, Kwame can. If he can come in here and produce another double digit scoring effort, and 8-10 rebounds, the Lakers will be steps ahead of the Jazz.</font>

<font size="3">Keys to the Game</font><ul>[*]<font color="blue">Control the Pace</font> - If the Jazz come out and try to place at a pushed pace, they can get at the Lakers' neck early and control it. HTe Lakers aren't good at starting games, and they are even worse in an uptempo game, so you add two and two, you get the perfect game plan.[*]<font color="blue">Andre Kirilenko</font> - The Laker killer has done just that this year, kill the Lakers. If he can come in here and put up another ridiculous stat line, chalk up a victory for the Jazz.[*]<font color="blue">Double Kobe</font> - The Lakers have struggled since Kobe's been seeing double and triple teams, so the Jazz should throw doubles and triples his way. They won't stop him, but they will affect the game plan of Los Angeles. [*]<font color="purple">Follow up, Kwame</font> - A spectacular game Saturday against Memphis, can Kwame do it again? For the Lakers to win, someone other than Kobe Bryant is going to have to step up. If Kwame can string in another good outting, the Lakers will greatly benefit from it.[*]<font color="purple">Come out Strong</font> - The Lakers aren't a good out of the gate team. In this one, the Lakers have to come out strong, and stay strong. They get down early, and look depleted and it crushes their confidence. They then spend all of their energy trying to catch up, and suck at closing the game out.[*]<font color="purple">C'mon, Lets See Some Passion</font> - THe Lakers are struggling, and the teams right beneath them, clawing for their 8th seed are starting to get hot. The Lakers need to realize that and play with some passion. Now would be the perfect time to start a win streak.[/list]<font size="3">Prediction</font>

The Lakers lost twice to the Jazz earlier this year without Kobe, but won once with him. Kobe's here, Lakers win.

Lakers: 97, Jazz: 85

 

The Lakers have put themselves in a position to win every home game against teams they <u>should</u> beat. The Jazz and Lakers are on the same level with Mihm out, but the homecourt should favor the Lakers in this match-up.

The Jazz always play well against the Lakers, because they can throw a lot of different looks defensively at Kobe Bryant and force other players to beat them. The Jazz are always going to be solid on the rebounding and don't make a lot of mistakes with the basketball.

Carlos Boozer gives the Jazz another option off the bench, who has done damage to the Lakers in the past. The Lakers will need Devean George to step up again and provide a lift.

Staying out of foul trouble is key for the Lakers to win this game. The Jazz are relentless at putting pressure on the frontline and the Laker players are prone to pick up ticky tack fouls. The perimeter defense has to be tight all night long, to prevent dribble penetration and open looks from behind the arc.

Lakers need to play with a sense of urgency the rest of the way, tonight is a great chance to get back on track in the win column.

Lakers win in OT 96-93

 

Even though we won, Smush, can he just shoot his free throws from the 3 point line?

 

It's hard to be excited, when really, the Jazz aren't that much of a challenge when Kobe Bryant's in the lineup. The two times they beat us this year, where the back to back games when Kobe was suspended. We know we could beat this team.

I don't want to send Smush to the free throw line ever again.

 

Kobe is struggling, but it's because no one else on the Lakers is stepping up on a consistent basis. He is now seeing double, triple, and rarely quadruple teams because opponents don't have to worry about anyone else on the court. Once Mihm gets back, I think you'll see Kobe's play get back, as well.

 

Kobe is definitely fatigued from carrying the load. PJax talked about during the pre-game and said Kobe has to spend extra energy battling through double and triple teams. He said it's up to his teammates to convert those wide open looks.

PJax also said the other players have to stop settling for the long ball, and start taking shots closer to the basket. The team has to make it's next adjustment in the offense by attacking the rim more.

 

Everyone outside of Smush had an all around good game, Lamar with 17, Kobe with 39, Kwame with 10, and George with 16. If we would've hit our free throws, we would've won, but the Hawks out did us tonight, no excuses.