2009 NBA PLAYOFFS WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER-FINALS (1) LOS ANGELES LAKERS vs. UTAH JAZZ (8)

Making the playoffs is a great feat in the tough Western Conference, but when you have to go up against the number one seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, you’re in the death seat. Too bad for the Utah Jazz, because they are such a likeable group and a solid team, but they are in tough versus the Lakers. After last seasons embarrassing game six loss in the Finals to the Boston Celtics, the Lakers are a team on a mission to get back to the Finals and win it all.

When a team is led by Kobe Bryant, that team is in good hands. You could also add in the fact that they will be coached by nine time champion Phil Jackson. Built around Kobe Bryant is a strong supporting cast with Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, and Derek Fisher. These players, plus a strong bench equaled a dominant offensive team, and they weren’t too shabby on the defensive end either.

This time around, the Lakers will have Andrew Bynum in the lineup for the playoff run, and this will be Bynum’s first playoff experience. It will be interesting to see how Bynum fits in, but at the same time, it never hurts to have another physical presence on the floor that could also score. Bynum in the lineup will be a huge boost for the Lakers.

Sadly for the Jazz, and I say sadly because they are a really good team, and also made an appearance in the Western Final two years ago, led by Deron Williams. This team cannot match-up against the Lakers and will struggle in that department. The only plus the Jazz do have is the point guard match-up, and Williams will rip Fisher apart. Even in the post, the Lakers have an advantage there with Gasol, Bynum and Odom. All three of these players can drive and hit the jump shot.

Carlos Boozer was injured for the majority of the season, so he should be well rested and really needs to play at a higher level, because he will be a key in this series. He does have a much bigger body than Gasol and Bynum and needs to get physical early in games and create foul trouble for the Lakers. That will be a tough task to do, because even if he accomplishes that, the Lakers can throw another body at him.

Depth on either side will play a large part in this series, and once again the Lakers win there. One area where these two teams match up is for points scored in a game. The Lakers come in averaging 106 points a game, while the Jazz aren’t too far back with 103.

So one thing you can count on seeing are high scoring games, and both are strong jump shooting teams.

In the end, if the Jazz want some glimmer of hope of advancing to the next round, Deron Williams has to carry this Jazz team on his back. Jazz Head Coach Jerry Sloan is the best in the business and he’ll make this series kind of close, but winning it won’t be in the cards.

SERIES PREDICTION --> THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS WILL WIN THIS SERIES IN 6 GAMES. NO ONE CAN GUARD KOBE BRYANT AND CAN WIN A GAME ON HIS OWN. SAME CAN BE SAID FOR THE JAZZ’S DERON WILLIAMS, BUT BRYANT IS A MORE CONSISTENT AND EXPLOSIVE SCORER.


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