We can now say that the Lakers' series with the Utah Jazz is no longer a threat. Despite home teams in the NBA Playoffs going 19-1 at home, including the Lakers 111-104 win on Wednesday night and up 3-2 in their Western Conference Semifinals series at Staples Center, L.A. can attempt to wrap up their series Friday night at the EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City.
What really surprised me in this game is that Kobe Bryant did not play superhero in the fourth quarter. That's because he did not attempt to shoot a field goal in that entire quarter. As we are all used to seeing him racking 40+ points a night, including in the last waning minutes of any game, it looked like Phil Jackson decided to pass the ball around and fool the Jazz defenders.
This was only one night we will all see this happen. The Lakers cannot afford to do the same thing, especially the hostile crowd at Salt Lake, whereas we saw in Games 3 and 4, they were totally shut down. No matter what happens in Utah, the Lakers will be back at Downtown Los Angeles preparing for the worse...either a possible Game 7 on Monday night, or Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals sometime next week.
When you are the #1 seed in the playoffs, league or conference, you are going to be hunted like a fugitive on a long outstanding run. They are aware of what is at stake. Anything can happen. If the Lakers are going to win the series in SLC this Friday night, they need to do two things:
1) Give the ball to Kobe. No questions asked. If the Lakers don't give up the ball to him, expect the Jazz to shut the Lakers down to under 90 points, and limit Kobe to under 25; giving the ball to Kobe and letting him carry the team will prevent a Game 7 back on Figueroa Avenue this Monday night.
2) Play severe backcourt press. You cannot let the Jazz relax upon receiving the ball. Head coach Jerry Sloan knows how to get his team to set up the offense once they have possession. The Lakers need to press hard and wear out the Jazz as quick as possible before they can make their play in the frontcourt.
Next game: Lakers at Jazz (Game 6), Friday 6:30 pm (ESPN / ESPN HD).
