| 24 April 2009
Sheesh...as a Lakerfan, it's hard to not feel like something was stolen post game 3 of the Utah/LA series. Deron Williams, relatively well-held all night (I mean... 13 points/9 assists?) comes up with a game winning shot at 2.2 seconds. This was a game that should've been won. Up 8 points at the end of 3 quarters, to fall by 2 on a last second heave hurts a bit. Kobe was well below what the Lakers need, and didn't seem to recognise it. Some very questionable fouls on Bynum early made it difficult to leave him out there, and it hurt. Boozer bullied his way to a gutting 23 points with 22 boards. Lamar Odom probably had his best game of the series thus far with 21 points and 14 boards, and Pau Gasol was pretty much what's expected of him with 20 points and 9 boards... but we need the rest of the team to come to the party as well.
- Kobe needs to recognise where he is in a game, whether he's feeling it... or not. And play accordingly. That's a tough thing to say - as so often Kobe's able to shoot himself out of a slump. But this Laker team is good enough to not need Kobe to score 40 to win, and that means that it's better for Kobe to not take over a game... or at least recognise when it's not going to happen. Shooting 24 times at just marginally better than 20% is just a complete no-no.
- Stop Boozer. Please. C'mon, 22 rebounds from a guy who's 6'9"? I get it that Bynum's foul trouble turns LA into a less physical side, but we survived pretty much the entire season without Bynum, so c'mon. Boozer? Hell, even Millsap (yet another 6'9" guy) got 14 boards. They ate LA alive on an area that really should be a powerhouse for the team. Man up.
- Don't fall into the trap of being a jumpshooting team, especially against a team that's somewhat vertically challenged. Attack the paint.
- Let's be realistic: it was a 2 point win with pretty much a miraculous shot at ESA, a venue that's supposed to have a HUGE advantage for the Jazz. I take solace in that. And that the Jazz needed to have D-Will get that shot, Boozey play like the second coming of the Mailman, Bynum sit the entire game (well... all bar 7 or so minutes), Kobe play terribly for the 3rd straight game and for all of this to combine at ESA... and we lose by 2 points? I don't see that playing out again on Saturday.
Right before the playoffs started, I picked us (LA) to win in 5. I still like that.
But just in case anyone forgets...
Let's not let that happen again, ok?
