The 2009 NBA Playoffs are finally here… but about a month too late if you ask Jazz fans.
But, this is not a dire situation. I have overheard many Jazz fans say that they would rather have missed out on the playoffs all together rather than face these Lakers. Yes, the Lakers are a quality team but they are not yet NBA champions.
Yes, the Jazz have a chance to win this series. I may be an optimist but I fully believe the Jazz can win all three home games of this series and thus send it to a seventh game and have a shot to take down the mightly Lakers. And yes, the Jazz were terrible on the road this season, but weren’t they pretty terrible the last 2 seasons as well yet went on to win road games in Houston (3 times) and Golden State (Jazz were given little chance in that game).
David Locke has a great breakdown of the series:
Rest is Underrated
The Jazz will have had some much needed rest when they take the court in L.A. today:
The Jazz will have at least one advantage this year against the Lakers compared to last year’s series. They had to turn around barely 48 hours after closing out Houston in the first round last May and open their conference semifinals series in Los Angeles.
This year, the Jazz will have had four days to prepare for the Lakers, time for two full practices and a shootaround. It’s as much practice time as they’ve had in the last three weeks combined thanks to a crazy closing schedule.
“I think more than anything it’s three days to recover a little bit,” Sloan said. “We’ve been in this situation before. The year that we went to the [Western Conference] finals, we had a terrible finish. It wasn’t a great finish. Everybody panicked with the way the season went.
“That seems to be the way it is now. But our players, I think, will come together and give us a good effort, and that’s how you have a chance to win.”
Source: Salt Lake Tribune Jazz Blog]
I think that much of the Jazz problems down the stretch of the season could have been solved with some rest. The team had a brutal schedule sending them out on the road for most of the last month. Once it began to unravel, there was never any time to take a break and work it out. With this extended rest heading into the Laker series, the Jazz will have at least had time to prepare and gather themselves.
Keep Kobe Off the Line
In the six game series last season between the Lakers and Jazz, Kobe went to the free-throw line 96 times. In game one alone Kobe hit 21 of 23 free throws.
Ronnie Brewer and Andrei Kirilenko need to stay in front of Kobe without fouling him. Of course, much easier said than done, but the foul-happy Jazz need to keep Bryant from getting free opportunities from the line.
Are all 7 Games in L.A.?
Has everyone forgotten that the Jazz are really good at home?
Yes, the Jazz lost at home to the Warriors and T-wolves at the end of the season but before that they were riding a 15-game home winning streak and their problems were mainly confined to the road. Despite those loses, ESA is a different animal when it is playoff atmosphere making it difficult for any opposing team to come away with a victory.
The Jazz won games 3 and 4 last year at home to the Lakers and really should have had game 6 if not for a miserable first quarter which they nearly recovered from.
Memo’s Hammy
Memo Okur is looking doubtful for game one in L.A. and could be out even longer with his hamstring injury. The Jazz must get Memo back by game 3 at home to really have a chance in this series.
Previews, Previews, Previews
Jazz-Lakers series page at ESPN.com
Scouts, Inc. breakdown of Jazz-Lakers by position, etc.
Luke Walton NBA Blog Squad preview
SLC Dunk: 3 Reasons with the L.A. Times
True Blue Jazz: Optimist vs. Pessimist Breakdown
Popularity: 81% [?]
Leave a Reply