Utah Jazz (27-17, 12-10 away) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (32-13, 17-5 home) Thread

[Ashy Larry]

Coming off two fantastic offensive performances, the Utah Jazz (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=uth) felt good about themselves heading into a five-game road trip.


Four games in, that confidence has taken a big hit -- and Tuesday night's finale doesn't seem likely to restore it.


The Jazz try to avoid their first 0-5 road trip in nearly six years by doing something they haven't done in more than five years and 16 games -- beat the Los Angeles Lakers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=lal) at Staples Center.


Utah (27-17) went into the trip on a three-game winning streak, averaging 126.0 points and shooting 55.1 percent in its last two home games against a pair of Eastern Conference opponents.


That hot shooting disappeared on the Eastern portion of the Jazz's five-game trip. Utah shot 42.2 percent and averaged just 91.8 points in dropping all four games, with Saturday's 96-85 loss at Philadelphia the third to a sub-.500 opponent.


"We've lost our focus," coach Jerry Sloan said. "I think we're feeling sorry for ourselves. ... Our energy level has been down this whole trip."

The Jazz haven't had a winless trip of this length since going 0-5 from March 13-19, 2005 -- three months before selecting Deron Williams (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2798) with the No. 3 pick in the NBA draft.


Williams had five points off the bench in a 98-94 road win against the Lakers on Jan. 1, 2006 -- a game in which Kobe Bryant (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=110) was suspended -- and that's the only time the All-Star point guard has beaten Los Angeles away from home. Utah has lost 16 straight road games to the Lakers -- eight while being ushered out of the playoffs the past three seasons -- by an average of 12.4 points.


In fact, the Jazz have beaten Los Angeles (32-13) just once at the 11-year-old Staples Center with Bryant in the lineup -- with John Stockton (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=812) and Karl Malone (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=501) on Nov. 1, 2000. The two-time Finals MVP has averaged 30.8 points as the Lakers have beaten Utah 24 consecutive times at home with him in the starting backcourt.


Los Angeles couldn't beat the Jazz in Salt Lake City on Nov. 26 despite Bryant's 31 points, losing 102-96 as Williams had 29 points and 12 assists.
A more balanced effort from the Lakers paved the way to an impressive road win over another Northwest Division opponent their last time out, however. Pau Gasol (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=996) and Ron Artest (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=25) scored 19 points apiece, Bryant and Lamar Odom (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=617) had 18 and Andrew Bynum (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2748) 17 in a 107-97 victory Friday at Denver.


Bryant had just four points in the first half, but 14 during the Lakers' 33-point third quarter.


"It's important for me to keep my guys involved, and build their confidence. I know I can score at any moment or get looks at any moment," Bryant said. "The last thing we were concerned about was my scoring."

If Utah is going to snap its road hex against the Lakers, it'll likely need to figure out a way to contain Gasol. Los Angeles' big man has averaged 20.7 points -- shooting 61.4 percent -- and 15.1 rebounds in nine games against the Jazz since the start of last season.


Getting Gasol good looks is an excellent precursor to the Lakers' success. They're 23-4 when Gasol scores at least 18 points, and 9-9 when he goes for 17 or fewer.


Utah, meanwhile, needs more from C.J. Miles (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2778), who was averaging 13.9 points in his previous 14 games prior to the road trip.


Miles averaged 9.0 points -- shooting 31.6 percent -- in the four losses. Utah is 14-1 when he scores at least 14.


http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=310125013

This is just the game the Lakers are bound to lose. A wounded animal comes into Staples beaten and bloodied and instead of the Lakers chewing on the carcass, they help mend the wounds and nurse him back to health, see Mavs loss.

This would be the perfect time to rip the nuts off the Utah Jazz. Handle ya shit.

[jjktkk]

Lakers should win this, as long as they don't come out half assing it.

[Girasuck]

Not even gonna watch it. Well, I'll be at work anyway but I'm not DVRing it either.

[ChrisRichards]

Utah NEVER wins at the Staples Center and the Jazz are a HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE road team. This is going to be a W for the Lakers no doubt even if Kobe shoots 8/32.

[Ashy Larry]

Utah NEVER wins at the Staples Center and the Jazz are a HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE road team. This is going to be a W for the Lakers no doubt even if Kobe shoots 8/32.



Let's hope not .......

[ChrisRichards]

Ashy,

Kobe historically owns the Jazz but he has been playing great all around ball for the past 7 games. Averaging just at 20 FGA. That's his cap, he'll go out guns blazing this time I suppose.


Chris

[Ashy Larry]

Ashy,

Kobe historically owns the Jazz but he has been playing great all around ball for the past 7 games. Averaging just at 20 FGA. That's his cap, he'll go out guns blazing this time I suppose.


Chris


If Kobe can control himself and keep that balanced gameflow like they had against the Nuggets, they should mow fools down. I mean that box score against Denver was just gorgeous. Even though they won by ten, it wasn't that close. Hopefully, even after 15 years in the league, he realizes that he has plenty of help.

[Rummpd]

"It's important for me to keep my guys involved, and build their confidence. I know I can score at any moment or get looks at any moment," Bryant said. "The last thing we were concerned about was my scoring."

Mr. 6 for 24 shooting smack again.

[j.dizzle]

I think this game will be close actually. LA has been off for a few days so they'll come out a little rusty & Utah will probably play hard since they're on a losing streak & need a W pretty bad. Hopefully Ron Ron can keep shooting well. Ever since Barnes got injured he's stepped up his game. I think he's almost at 40% from three for the season now

[balli]

:depressed

[balli]

Deron's being a little bitch right now. Playing like shit. Inflating his stats at the end of blowouts. Calling out the coach and the management and the system.

There's nothing wrong with Utah's system.

Be a surly leader Deron. Not a whiny bitch. Play better.

[Girasuck]

Utah NEVER wins at the Staples Center and the Jazz are a HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE road team. This is going to be a W for the Lakers no doubt even if Kobe shoots 8/32.

Listen...I'm not going to argue the fact that we've been a bad team on the road in the past, but up until this recent road trip we had a 12-6 road record. After this horrible stretch, which almost every team in the NBA goes through, we still have the 4th best road record in the West. We're not a HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE road team like you claim.

[cheguevara]

mark another one in the loss column for the lakers

[Jelloisjigglin]

Should be a win but you never what Laker team will show up. We'll see....

[Killakobe81]

mark another one in the loss column for the lakers

Would not surprise me. We don't respond well to teams that are smart, and play desperate.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

lol fragile gutless 7 ft gary coleman lookalike

[crc21209]

Umm...no thread needed. The Lakers always spank the Jazz's ass in L.A. anyway, why should we expect Utah to make this a good game when they're playing extra crappy right now...

[Ghazi]

D-Will to Big D

[DMC]

I will have to pick the lakers here. They have been known to handle as much jizz as you can give them.

[#41 Shoot Em Up]

Jizz? Oh I get it!! Jazz, JIZZ, jajajajajajaja

Creative. Anyway Lakers win this easily, just too good.

[DMC]

Jizz? Oh I get it!! Jazz, JIZZ, jajajajajajaja

Creative. Anyway Lakers win this easily, just too good.
Plus saying that on the forum might help you get in with the fake ass white boy crew, right?

[Pelicans78]

Deron's being a little bitch right now. Playing like shit. Inflating his stats at the end of blowouts. Calling out the coach and the management and the system.

There's nothing wrong with Utah's system.

Be a surly leader Deron. Not a whiny bitch. Play better.

It seems like D-Will was calling out his teammates for not executing better in the system. Either way, they have to start playing better defense, otherwise D-Will will have to score 20+ points every game for them to win.

[Darth_Pelican]

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/517013/nbalakersfan.gif

[ElNono]

I haven't seen Utah in a while.... Raja Bell looks completely done out there.

[Killakobe81]

Close game Lakers pull away late ... but long streaks make me nervous ... they will end sometime ...

[Killakobe81]

Ron mfin artest!!!!!!

[ElNono]

Utah is sad... :lol

I don't think this will be close at all. Al Jefferson has to be the worst bigman defender out there.

[HarlemHeat37]

I bet on the Lakers @ -4.5 at the half, so they better not blow this fucking lead..

[Giuseppe]

^Your pic makes me melancholy, Har, for youth and Summer and the beach. Kinda a sad pic.

[ElNono]

I just hope Utah blows just as much tomorrow

[Pelicans78]

The Jazz need to come home soon. This road trip has been awful for them.

[Killakobe81]

Well. Even if I cant put Dwill in my top 2 of PG's anymore ...I feel bad for him.

He lost Boozer (best rebounder/post player)
He lost Matthews (best athlete/defender)
He lost Korver (best shooter)

The replacements? not as good ...

[Venti Quattro]

Al Jefferson is going to fit in the Utah offense :lmao

[HarlemHeat37]

I bet Blessings is gonna bash Al Jefferson after the game..

[Jelloisjigglin]

Lakers just crushing this sad team.

[Pelicans78]

Well. Even if I cant put Dwill in my top 2 of PG's anymore ...I feel bad for him.

He lost Boozer (best rebounder/post player)
He lost Matthews (best athlete/defender)
He lost Korver (best shooter)

The replacements? not as good ...

Who do you have higher than D-Will? Rose has been the best this season, but who's next?

[balli]

fuck the Jazz.

[ElNono]

I bet Blessings is gonna bash Al Jefferson after the game..

He'll probably talk him up so he can turn around and say Bynum dominated him... :lol

[Killakobe81]

AL jeff is OK ... just overrated.

Problem is they run a structured offense with two many new parts and not enouigh shooters plus OKur is not what he used to be either.

I hope they continue to suck and we get our Fish replacement ...for when Fish retires.

[ElNono]

This is starting to look like the Cavs game... I'll probably skip the second half and go to sleep early

[Killakobe81]

Before season I went:

1. Dwill
2. Paul
3. Rondo
4. Rose
5. Westbrook

After the first month:

1. Dwill
2. Rondo
3. Rose
4. Westbrook
5. Paul

Now?

1. Rose
2. Paul
3. Rondo
4. Westbrook
5. Dwill

[Venti Quattro]

Right now, I'd take Rondo and Westbrook over D-Will.

[InRareForm]

Looks like Jazz won't be tired tommorow.

[Killakobe81]

Right now, I'd take Rondo and Westbrook over D-Will.

Yes you are right.
But to be fair many did not knock Paul when he played and his team sucked last year .... and rOndo was on a shitty team his riookie year too.

But the fact he is not showing leadership is disappointing. YEs his team is not as good ...but Kobe went through a couple of crappy seasons BEFORE he blew up ...

[ElNono]

I have:

1) Rose
2) Rondo
3) Paulina
4) DWill
5) Open to debate (Westbrook/Parker/Brooks could all make a case)

[Venti Quattro]

Looks like Jazz won't be tired tommorow.

Utah always has an energy boost pack ready whenever they're at home. I think it was last December when Kobe zapped the Jazz in the closing minutes with 14 straight points but the Jazz still found a way to win the game.

[ElNono]

I wonder how Sloan is going to shake up this team. They look out of character out there.

[Venti Quattro]

I wonder how Sloan is going to shake up this team. They look out of character out there.

Tbh Sloan has to be shaken up. Or fired.

[Pelicans78]

I don't see how Rondo is up there.

[Killakobe81]

No way they should of let Boozer AND Matthews go. True Boozer was undersized ...but milsap is even smaller, though younger.

[Killakobe81]

I don't see how Rondo is up there.

Im not a big fan of undersized PG's who gamble too much, can't shoot 3's or FT's ...

But teh guy hustles, runs that offense to perfection and makes a lot of critical winning plays. I would not take him over any of those guys but right now he is playing better than Dwill. But he should, he has a WAYYYY better team.

[j.dizzle]

Bynum just being the anchor hes supposed to be. What a difference it is with him in the middle rather then Pau. Pau is getting much needed rest now & coming in fresh. Theo gonna probably play 5 minutes a game & in garbage time when hes back soon.

[ElNono]

I put Rondo up there because I think he's really important to the Celts, and they've been one of the better teams so far.

The only reason I have Westbrook kinda low is that while he's freakishly athletic, he also has had a lot of turnovers and sloppy plays against good teams, and if he can't get to the line, he can be effectively nullified.

[Killakobe81]

And I may think some PG's are better than PAul and Rondo (Dwill) but they are running a more effective team right now ... props to Paul and Rondo

[#41 Shoot Em Up]

Utah will beat SA tommorow, most likely

[Killakobe81]

So glad we signed Barnes instead of Raja ...even with Matt's injury.

[Jelloisjigglin]

So glad we signed Barnes instead of Raja ...even with Matt's injury.


Couldn't agree more. Raja looks done.

[Jelloisjigglin]

DWill on the verge of a meltdown.

[Pelicans78]

Im not a big fan of undersized PG's who gamble too much, can't shoot 3's or FT's ...

But teh guy hustles, runs that offense to perfection and makes a lot of critical winning plays. I would not take him over any of those guys but right now he is playing better than Dwill. But he should, he has a WAYYYY better team.

I agree. He has a way better team. He does run it well.

I guess its an interesting argument. CP3 and Rondo are running their teams perfectly, while D-Will, Westbrook, and Rose are pretty having to score more and put up bigger numbers to help their teams win. Honestly, outside of Durant and Westbrook, OKC sucks. They just do. Same case with D-Will. Rose has a more help, especially defensively, but he also doesn't have alot of shooters around him.

[Killakobe81]

Didnt he get a multi-year deal?

[Banzai]

Is it just me..or does Artest wear shorter NBA shorts than the rest of the team?

[Killakobe81]

DWill on the verge of a meltdown.

I'll give him credit he calmed down and hasnt quit tonight. But Sloan should.
He should play all bench cats in the 4th ...

[Killakobe81]

Didnt he get a multi-year deal?

I meant Raja didnt he get a multi-year deal ...

[Pelicans78]

Its time for Sloan to step down.

[HarlemHeat37]

man, Steve Blake is so ugly..White trash, tbh..

[Banzai]

Earl shooting his "wad"son

[TE]

I hope the Jazz play this shitty against the Spurs. What sucks is the Jazz are due a win after all these road losses, fuck.

[Trainwreck2100]

I hope the Jazz play this shitty against the Spurs. What sucks is the Jazz are due a win after all these road losses, fuck.

not to mention all the rest the starters are gonna get

[Killakobe81]

I cant see the jazz beating the sPurs after a night like this ...

[DJ Mbenga]

what a wasted draft pick in hayward. they should have picked somebody that could have helped them now.

[crc21209]

Umm...no thread needed. The Lakers always spank the Jazz's ass in L.A. anyway, why should we expect Utah to make this a good game when they're playing extra crappy right now...

I called it...:lol

[ChrisRichards]

Listen...I'm not going to argue the fact that we've been a bad team on the road in the past, but up until this recent road trip we had a 12-6 road record. After this horrible stretch, which almost every team in the NBA goes through, we still have the 4th best road record in the West. We're not a HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE road team like you claim.
Let me reiterate. You guys are a horrible road team.

[Giuseppe]

what a wasted draft pick in hayward. they should have picked somebody that could have helped them now.

But, the kid looks like I always imagined DoK looking.

[Rummpd]

An impressive win by the Lakers last night with great balance against a Jazz team that seems to have some major issues that are only now coming out including the probable FA of Williams and the fact Jefferson is a step back from Boozer despite filling the stat sheet at times. Sloan's team have never failed to give effort but in that regard this Jazz team looks horrid but to the credit of the LAL they jumped on that team that they seem to have in the Jazz's heads after sweeping them from the playoffs, and absolutely gave them no confidence.


As such, the Spurs need to keep or maintain most of their lead for HC during the Lakers homestand but it will be tough as LAL is primed it seems to go on a run like they are capable of heading into their equally if not tougher road heavy stretch begining next month - LAL has about 5 less baclk to backs but a harder SOS and while it will be tough for them to catch the SAS for HC it is not implausible so Spurs need to keep their edge and try to ramp up their efforts to win the Feb 3 game as LAL will surely come at the SAS hard early and late in that game.

[Giuseppe]

^Go swap out some bed pans, Doc.

Scat!

Get it, Doc, "bed pans" "Scat"? I crack myself up. Get it, Doc, "bed pans" "Scat" "crack."?

[Rummpd]

^Go swap out some bed pans, Doc.

Scat!

Get it, Doc, "bed pans" "Scat"? I crack myself up. Get it, Doc, "bed pans" "Scat" "crack."?

Years ago I had to clean bed pans a few of those as an Army medic and then a nursing assistant in a supposedly state of the art nursing home - pre medical school (and still admire all the hard working nursing assistants and the like who have to do that poor thing!) but past those inglorious days I got to write orders for others to do all those kinds of thiings or other horrid stuff that is sometimes make cleaning bed pans like a piece of cake = so life is good!

[DMC]

Utah will beat SA tommorow, most likely
Interested in a bet?

[Giuseppe]

Interested in a bet?

I'll do it, DMC. I don't like you, and I always will.

I'll take Utah. If Utah wins you leave until February 1st. San Antonio wins I leave until February 1st.

Come ta Pappy.

[ElNono]

'Seppe playing with house money, since he has to depart starting Saturday anyways...

[Giuseppe]

I'm hopin' by the time she returns she'll have turned her attention on to some other worthwhile cause and leave me the fuck alone.