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Lakers should win this, as long as they don't come out half assing it.
http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=310125013Coming off two fantastic offensive performances, the Utah Jazz 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 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 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 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 and Karl Malone 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 and Ron Artest scored 19 points apiece, Bryant and Lamar Odom had 18 and Andrew Bynum 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, 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.
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 .
Lakers should win this, as long as they don't come out half assing it.
Not even gonna watch it. Well, I'll be at work anyway but I'm not DVRing it either.
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 .......
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.
"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.
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
Deron's being a little right now. Playing like . 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 . Play better.
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.
mark another one in the loss column for the lakers
Should be a win but you never what Laker team will show up. We'll see....
Would not surprise me. We don't respond well to teams that are smart, and play desperate.
lol fragile gutless 7 ft gary coleman lookalike
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...
Last edited by crc21209; 01-26-2011 at 12:51 AM.
D-Will to Big D
I will have to pick the lakers here. They have been known to handle as much as you can give them.
? Oh I get it!! Jazz, , 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?
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.
I haven't seen Utah in a while.... Raja Bell looks completely done out there.
Close game Lakers pull away late ... but long streaks make me nervous ... they will end sometime ...
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