I'm finally back to blogging after a busy week, and in the last seven days two things happened in Lakerland: regular season was finished and the Los Angeles Lakers are going into the 2009 NBA Playoffs against the Utah Jazz in the first round.
With the 82-game marathon over, the Lakers can now concentrate on winning the NBA championship. They wanted home court advantage throughout the playoffs, but the Cleveland Cavaliers edged the Lakers by a game to get that privilege. Number One on the Western Conference ain't bad, but this is the place the Lakers were last year.
The Utah Jazz aren't as week as experts perceive them to be. They are physical and they have the usual Kryptonite against the Lakers: The Jazz has a superb point guard who can play the pick and roll (and more). I have no doubt the Deron Williams will give the Lakers fits, so I want to see Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown pick up the defensive intensity.
Kobe Bryant may not be this season's MVP, but he definitely will be the best player in the series. He has found success playing against the Jazz this season. The better thing now is that Kobe has two seven footers in the paint to dish out to when he's double (or triple) teamed: Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.
The keys to this series? This can turn out to be one of the more physical series in the first round, I expect Jerry Sloan to rough up the Lakers with defense and pressure. But this could be short series because the Lakers have the inside presence and the game's best closer to overcome the challenges the Jazz can muster.
My prediction: Lakers in 5.
Technorati: Los Angeles Lakers
I have a feeling that Lakers are going to take Utah out in a Sweep like they did with Denver last year. I am most afraid of Portland at the moment.
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