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December 2nd - Utah Jazz (19-14) at LA Lakers (25-5)
The Utah Jazz come into LA for the first game of the New Year for both teams.
So... what's going to happen?
I asked CB Jack from Utah blog True Blue Jazz agreed to share some of his thoughts on the game...
Buy stock in any company that makes knee braces, knee replacements, ankle supports, medical wraps, bandages, pain medications, cortisone shots, and ice packs....or high end suits.The Jazz will single handedly help you make a great return on your investment if you follow my advice. The Jazz have battled more injuries than most NFL teams have to deal with.
 The Jazz are without their leading scorer Carlos Boozer, who just announced he will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery in early January. Normally this wouldn't be a problem because the Jazz have such a deep bench and can bring Paul Millsap in to cover for Boozer.
What's that?
Millsap is out with a hyper extended knee?
That leaves the Jazz with rookie Kosta Koufas to fill in the gaps. Kosta has been playing great as of late and if flying under the ROY radar. He won't win it, but his ability to step in has been huge.
Overall this has been a very disappointing season for Jazz fans.The Jazz have not played one game this season with all of their regular season starters.
Boozer has missed a million games due to ailments such as the "strained quad" to the "painful knee".
Millsap is resting his knee for the next 6-8 days.
Deron was out for a few weeks with a sprained ankle and is just barely getting back to 90-95%.
Okur had missed a few games prior to the Philly game with back spasms.
Harpring had some sort of flesh eating staph infection that he is still recovering from.
Brevin Knight has had back injuries all season and seems to play a few games and then miss a few.
Jaron Collins crashed a golf cart in the offseason and hasn't seen floor time in months.
AK-47 has missed games due to back problems and knee problems.
Kyle Korver is still icing his wrist in between quarters. He missed a few games with a sprain as well.
Khrylo Fesenko missed games due to back problems a few weeks ago.
Do you get where I'm going?
We're hurt.
Most people, including me, thought the Jazz would be a top 5 team in the league at this point in the season. I'm not sure the Jazz can compete with the Lake Show at home, but with Deron Williams on the court, anything is possible.
Ok... so from a Lakers perspective: this is the kind of game that presents a little bit of danger for LA. It's easy to take an injury-ravaged team somewhat for granted, and it's when LA take teams for granted that they find themselves most in trouble. Focused... well, we all saw on Christmas Day what happens when the Lakers are on top of their game-plan.
LA protect one of the best home records in the NBA. At the Staples Center, they are currently 16-1. Utah come up against LA with less than stellar results when traveling. Utah's road record is currently 7-10. That's not so flash for a team with aspirations of being a top 5 team in the league. Yes, they've been hit with injuries, but success in the NBA is built largely on how you handle the inevitable adversity that will come your way (that said, I can't imagine too many teams coping with the adversity Utah have enjoyed this season!).
 Kobe's definitely stepped up his game over the last few games, and the Lakers are following eagerly. The absence of Jordan Farmar hurts in one sense, but it does force Phil to try the odd creative line-up. I'm hoping that Andrew Bynum gets the opportunity to show what he's capable of in the clutch - he's ready, at least for a chance. Utah are going to struggle with LA's length - (as mentioned by Mitch) they are lacking at the 4 slot. Millsap might be available, but it's unlikely that he'll see major minutes. So... Koufas? I'm wouldn't be counting on Okur to be able to stop Bynum/Gasol/Odom, so hopefully the Lakers make full use of the miss-matches available there.
Deron Williams is back, and any time he's available the Jazz have opportunities. It will be up to LA to shut him down, and continue their good form (well... the form they've shown since beating the Hornets in New Orleans).
I expect them to do so, and beat Utah by double figures. Too much height, too much firepower... too much Kobe.
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