LakeShow
05-03-2008, 10:11 AM
Friday, May 2, 2008
Lakers-Utah: Who has the edge?
By KEVIN DING
The Orange County Register
Comments 2 (http://www.ocregister.com/articles/lakers-utah-jazz-2033474-kobe-bryant#slComments) | Recommend (javascript:recommendReview('OCRArticle2033474'))3
CENTER
Is it possible the Lakers will actually miss Kwame Brown? Coach Phil Jackson liked having Brown's post defense against Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer; Jackson would then have his power forward chase Mehmet Okur, Utah's perimeter-oriented center. Okur took a team-high 294 3-point attempts for Utah, and his 38.8 percent success rate was better than Kobe Bryant's (36.1). The Lakers are 26-5 with Pau Gasol, who delivered big in the first round: 22.3 points (per game), nine rebounds, five assists, 2.8 blocks. Okur is physical but limited defensively.
Edge: LAKERS
POWER FORWARD
The Lakers' defense will benefit from Gasol, frail but a shot-blocking presence, inside on Boozer at times. (Houston center Dikembe Mutombo guarded Boozer last round.) Lamar Odom isn't altogether comfortable pounding inside, and Boozer (21.1 ppg, 18th in the NBA) is an outstanding post scorer who can hook with both hands. Odom (10.6 rpg) and Boozer (10.4) were among the NBA's top eight rebounders. Odom shot 41.9 percent from the field and 55 percent from the foul line last round.
Edge: JAZZ
SMALL FORWARD
Andrei Kirilenko has declined since his 2004 All-Star appearance, and he asked for a trade before the season. A skilled defender, he stayed and led Utah with 1.5 blocks per game; he can contest Bryant's jumper well. Vladimir Radmanovic shot just 31.6 percent last round and is always prone to fouls and errors, but he's a potent 3-point threat who will get chances when "AK-47" roams. Radmanovic often gets fired up for head-to-head matchups with top foreign players.
Edge: JAZZ
SHOOTING GUARD
Ronnie Brewer's defense was one reason Bryant shot 4 for 16 in an October exhibition at Honda Center; Bryant's interest in being traded was another reason. Brewer, 23, led the NBA in steals-to-turnover ratio (1.85) and fares well with mostly in-paint shooting (55.8 field-goal percentage). His approach against Bryant is to bring early intensity and stay close. Bryant was compared to Michael Jordan earlier this season by Utah coach Jerry Sloan, who has been most impressed by Bryant's recommitment to defense.
Edge: LAKERS
POINT GUARD
Deron Williams and Derek Fisher became good friends in Utah last season, with Fisher playing ahead of Brewer as the top Jazz perimeter defender. Fisher is an acclaimed postseason performer but has a torn tendon in his right foot and will be challenged by Williams and his potent crossover dribble. Williams' 212 assists in March were the most in an NBA month since John Stockton's 215 in January 1992. Watch how patient Williams is with Utah's countless ball-screens.
Edge: JAZZ
BENCH
Ronny Turiaf, who filled in for Gasol when the Lakers won in Utah in March, will guard Boozer plenty but hardly played last round because of tonsillitis. Luke Walton is healthy, on fire and another capable post defender for Boozer. Trevor Ariza (foot) might return soon and bother Kyle Korver, who can fire as well as Sasha Vujacic. Jordan Farmar is far more potent than Ronnie Price. Matt Harpring will try to use his guile, force and fouls against Bryant. Paul Millsap offers Utah good interior energy.
Edge: LAKERS
COACH
Jackson and Jerry Sloan run precise offenses that are basically the same as when Jackson's Bulls beat Sloan's Jazz in the 1997 and '98 NBA Finals. Sloan went 8-1 those years against the Lakers in the West playoffs. Sloan is a disciplinarian with a fiery temper and is still hunting a championship in his 20th head-coaching season. Jackson has the highest playoff winning percentage in NBA history and is tied with Red Auerbach with nine NBA coaching titles.
Edge: LAKERS
PREDICTION: LAKERS, 4-1.
From a point-differential-per-game standpoint, the NBA's top four regular-season teams were Boston, Detroit, the Lakers and Utah. The Jazz, however, did little of that damage on the road, where they went 17-24. To win this series, Utah has to win at Staples Center, which is unlikely. If Utah can get hot from 3-point range and dominate the boards, the series could go the distance. If not, the Lakers will get more defensive stops and have Bryant to bring them home.
Lakers-Utah: Who has the edge?
By KEVIN DING
The Orange County Register
Comments 2 (http://www.ocregister.com/articles/lakers-utah-jazz-2033474-kobe-bryant#slComments) | Recommend (javascript:recommendReview('OCRArticle2033474'))3
CENTER
Is it possible the Lakers will actually miss Kwame Brown? Coach Phil Jackson liked having Brown's post defense against Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer; Jackson would then have his power forward chase Mehmet Okur, Utah's perimeter-oriented center. Okur took a team-high 294 3-point attempts for Utah, and his 38.8 percent success rate was better than Kobe Bryant's (36.1). The Lakers are 26-5 with Pau Gasol, who delivered big in the first round: 22.3 points (per game), nine rebounds, five assists, 2.8 blocks. Okur is physical but limited defensively.
Edge: LAKERS
POWER FORWARD
The Lakers' defense will benefit from Gasol, frail but a shot-blocking presence, inside on Boozer at times. (Houston center Dikembe Mutombo guarded Boozer last round.) Lamar Odom isn't altogether comfortable pounding inside, and Boozer (21.1 ppg, 18th in the NBA) is an outstanding post scorer who can hook with both hands. Odom (10.6 rpg) and Boozer (10.4) were among the NBA's top eight rebounders. Odom shot 41.9 percent from the field and 55 percent from the foul line last round.
Edge: JAZZ
SMALL FORWARD
Andrei Kirilenko has declined since his 2004 All-Star appearance, and he asked for a trade before the season. A skilled defender, he stayed and led Utah with 1.5 blocks per game; he can contest Bryant's jumper well. Vladimir Radmanovic shot just 31.6 percent last round and is always prone to fouls and errors, but he's a potent 3-point threat who will get chances when "AK-47" roams. Radmanovic often gets fired up for head-to-head matchups with top foreign players.
Edge: JAZZ
SHOOTING GUARD
Ronnie Brewer's defense was one reason Bryant shot 4 for 16 in an October exhibition at Honda Center; Bryant's interest in being traded was another reason. Brewer, 23, led the NBA in steals-to-turnover ratio (1.85) and fares well with mostly in-paint shooting (55.8 field-goal percentage). His approach against Bryant is to bring early intensity and stay close. Bryant was compared to Michael Jordan earlier this season by Utah coach Jerry Sloan, who has been most impressed by Bryant's recommitment to defense.
Edge: LAKERS
POINT GUARD
Deron Williams and Derek Fisher became good friends in Utah last season, with Fisher playing ahead of Brewer as the top Jazz perimeter defender. Fisher is an acclaimed postseason performer but has a torn tendon in his right foot and will be challenged by Williams and his potent crossover dribble. Williams' 212 assists in March were the most in an NBA month since John Stockton's 215 in January 1992. Watch how patient Williams is with Utah's countless ball-screens.
Edge: JAZZ
BENCH
Ronny Turiaf, who filled in for Gasol when the Lakers won in Utah in March, will guard Boozer plenty but hardly played last round because of tonsillitis. Luke Walton is healthy, on fire and another capable post defender for Boozer. Trevor Ariza (foot) might return soon and bother Kyle Korver, who can fire as well as Sasha Vujacic. Jordan Farmar is far more potent than Ronnie Price. Matt Harpring will try to use his guile, force and fouls against Bryant. Paul Millsap offers Utah good interior energy.
Edge: LAKERS
COACH
Jackson and Jerry Sloan run precise offenses that are basically the same as when Jackson's Bulls beat Sloan's Jazz in the 1997 and '98 NBA Finals. Sloan went 8-1 those years against the Lakers in the West playoffs. Sloan is a disciplinarian with a fiery temper and is still hunting a championship in his 20th head-coaching season. Jackson has the highest playoff winning percentage in NBA history and is tied with Red Auerbach with nine NBA coaching titles.
Edge: LAKERS
PREDICTION: LAKERS, 4-1.
From a point-differential-per-game standpoint, the NBA's top four regular-season teams were Boston, Detroit, the Lakers and Utah. The Jazz, however, did little of that damage on the road, where they went 17-24. To win this series, Utah has to win at Staples Center, which is unlikely. If Utah can get hot from 3-point range and dominate the boards, the series could go the distance. If not, the Lakers will get more defensive stops and have Bryant to bring them home.