Energy Solutions Arena, where the Utah Jazz went 37-4, was the toughest place for a visiting team to win all season long. Well, during the post-season, the Lakers post big numbers. For the second Friday night in a row, Los Angeles marched to Salt Lake City trying to wrap up their conference semi-final duel with Utah. This Friday, however, would bear much more favorable results for Lakers fans.
Once again, the Lakers got support from all angles, with six players scoring in double figures during their 108-105 victory over the Jazz. Derek Fisher locking Deron Williams down for most of the game was the center piece of a strong defensive effort by the Lake Show. Utah was held to a deplorable 38% shooting performance; meanwhile Los Angeles shot 64% from downtown. These numbers tell a better story than the seemingly close final score, which I attribute to the Lakers not playing any defense in the closing minutes as they were so excited to be advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since the Shaq-Malone-Payton experiment.
Pau Gasol added his centerly tithe with 13 rebounds and four blocks, while Odom played a relaxed game—letting his 13 points and 9 rebounds come to him. Sasha Vujacic and his Slovenian sharpshooting added well-timed big shots, twisting the dagger every time Utah tried to fight back.
How’d Kobe do? It was an opportunity to put the nail in the coffin of Karl Malone’s team…do we really have to ask how Kobe did?
Kobe led all scorers with 34 points, and made sure to fill up the stat sheet with 8 rebounds and 6 assists. The Utah Jazz had been trying a system of rotating different defenders at KB24, so as to keep Andrei Kirilenko out foul trouble, but all that did was allow Kobe to score at will. There’s no denying that Kirilenko is a superb defender, but watchin’ him try to stymie Kobe Bryant was like watching Ivan Drago being pummelled by Apollo Creed (the way it should’ve been). Rocky IV references aside, during these playoffs KB24 has been playing like a competitor focused on one thing, and one thing alone: making sure the NBA title rests in L.A. come mid-June. The Jazz may have Energy Solutions, but they had no solution for the big Kobe problem running around on their court.
Now Laker Nation must wait for the outcome of Monday’s contest between New Orleans and San Antonio to see who their next opponent will be. It doesn’t matter to me, but I think we’d have more fun with New Orleans. I’m kinda tired of watching ol' boring Tim Duncan , plus, Robert Horry’s half-fro pisses me off.
Till next time: stay humble, stay hungry.
Once again, the Lakers got support from all angles, with six players scoring in double figures during their 108-105 victory over the Jazz. Derek Fisher locking Deron Williams down for most of the game was the center piece of a strong defensive effort by the Lake Show. Utah was held to a deplorable 38% shooting performance; meanwhile Los Angeles shot 64% from downtown. These numbers tell a better story than the seemingly close final score, which I attribute to the Lakers not playing any defense in the closing minutes as they were so excited to be advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since the Shaq-Malone-Payton experiment.
Pau Gasol added his centerly tithe with 13 rebounds and four blocks, while Odom played a relaxed game—letting his 13 points and 9 rebounds come to him. Sasha Vujacic and his Slovenian sharpshooting added well-timed big shots, twisting the dagger every time Utah tried to fight back.
How’d Kobe do? It was an opportunity to put the nail in the coffin of Karl Malone’s team…do we really have to ask how Kobe did?
Kobe led all scorers with 34 points, and made sure to fill up the stat sheet with 8 rebounds and 6 assists. The Utah Jazz had been trying a system of rotating different defenders at KB24, so as to keep Andrei Kirilenko out foul trouble, but all that did was allow Kobe to score at will. There’s no denying that Kirilenko is a superb defender, but watchin’ him try to stymie Kobe Bryant was like watching Ivan Drago being pummelled by Apollo Creed (the way it should’ve been). Rocky IV references aside, during these playoffs KB24 has been playing like a competitor focused on one thing, and one thing alone: making sure the NBA title rests in L.A. come mid-June. The Jazz may have Energy Solutions, but they had no solution for the big Kobe problem running around on their court.
Now Laker Nation must wait for the outcome of Monday’s contest between New Orleans and San Antonio to see who their next opponent will be. It doesn’t matter to me, but I think we’d have more fun with New Orleans. I’m kinda tired of watching ol' boring Tim Duncan , plus, Robert Horry’s half-fro pisses me off.
Till next time: stay humble, stay hungry.
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