Lakers vs. Jazz - Second-Round Playoff Preview
by Bodog Sportsbook | May 6 2008
After sweeping the Denver Nuggets, MVP candidate Kobe Bryant and the
Los Angeles Lakers take on the
Utah Jazz.
Lakers vs. Jazz PreviewThe Lakers barely even broke a sweat in their first-round series against the Denver Nuggets. The Utah Jazz sent T-Mac and the Rockets home after six games and now look to take on the Western Conference leaders. The Lakers won three of the four meetings between these two clubs during the regular season. Each game played between these two teams was a high scoring affair. The Lakers looked amazing against the Nuggets while the Jazz seemed to struggle at times containing T-Mac and the Rockets. Utah plays significantly more defense than the Nuggets do but unlike the Rockets, the Lakers combine outside scoring with a legitimate inside presence in Pau Gasol; they also have the best player in the world in Kobe Bryant. Locksmith, you were dead on about the Jazz in six games against the Rockets, and you had the Lakers in six games against the Nuggets. What’s your take on this one?
Locksmith: Well, the Nuggets just plain stunk, all series long. Their lack of defense allowed the Lakers to score at will. Utah will put up a better fight, simply because they play defense and are extremely tough to beat at home. The Lakers are playing their best basketball of the year right now and Kobe Bryant is playing at the top of his game. In fact, I don’t think I have ever seen Kobe Bryant play as complete a game as he has been. He doesn’t force shots, he shoots for a high percentage; he’s reading double teams extremely well and finding ways to get his teammates involved. His point production hasn’t suffered at all: Kobe enters this series averaging 33.5 points per game and just over six assists a game. The result of Kobe’s play is that other teams have to respect all five Lakers on the floor at all times. This makes playing defense on the Lakers extremely difficult and it makes Kobe Bryant almost unstoppable because there simply is not enough help defense; teams have to choose their poison. The Jazz are strong offensively and move the ball beautifully. Deron Williams is an excellent floor general and with Carlos Boozer and the other live bodies the Jazz have inside, they may have a slight rebounding edge which will keep them in games. Even so, they do not have the offensive fire power to match the Lakers. They may be able to win at home but this series has Lake Show written all over it. I see all of these games being high scoring affairs with the Jazz falling short. I see the Lakers taking this one in five games.
Locksmith says Lakers in five. What do you say?
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