"Rise and shine campers because it's GROUNDHOG DAY!" Boy it seems like we can't rid of the Lakers and their twin towers. Just to be straight, I don't like this matchup for the Utah Jazz. There was two teams I didn't want to see in the playoffs: San Antonio Spurs or the Los Angeles Lakers, I definitley didn't want to see the latter. So here we are, matching up with the defending champs for the 3rd year in a row and for the 3rd year in a row I may try something that will harm my body. Here is the top 3 reasons why I don't like the matchup with the Lakers.
1. Length
The Lakers have two seven footers that matchup nicely with our 6'6" power forwards in Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap. The human camel (Gasol) has a knack for making life a living hell for Jerry Sloan, mainly because we've had a soft 7 footer (Mehmet Okur) guarding him. Kyrlo Fesenko might be the most important player on the Jazz this series. Fes NEEDS to stay out of foul trouble, he is the only one who can body up with Bynum or Gasol. When Boozer and Millsap are both on the floor, all hell may break lose. There is no way on God's green earth that we will stop Gasol with Millsap or Boozer guarding him. Mind if I have a smoke right now?
2. Kobe Bryant & Lamar Odom
So Mr. Kardashian eeerrrrr Lamar Odom seems to play well against the Jazz. Mainly because we always have Carlos "Swinging Door" Boozer guarding him. And let's be honest, Boozer makes quite a bit of players look like all-stars. Odom might be the most versatile player in the league when his head isn't in the clouds. Andrei Kirilenko would be the best choice to guard him, the only problem is Kirilenko is dragging his leg around like Tom Sizemore in "Saving Private Ryan." (Note: Saving Private Ryan might be the best war movie of all-time, if you haven't seen it, you are doing yourself a disservice)
Onto the Black Mamba - - read my previous post as to what the hell a "Black Mamba is." Kobe Bryant, the man who gets more calls in this league other than Lebron James and Keving Durant. Well, that's according to his tree-hugging-hippie-liberal coach Phil Jackson, who has now gone down in history as the biggest hypocrite of all-time. Normally we would have no answer for Kobe Bryant, which we don't, no one does. I am interested in seeing how Wesley Matthews does on him, I thought Matthews was unreal defending Carmelo Anthony, but let's face it, Melo isn't Kobe. Just like Khloe Kardashian isn't Kim Kardashian. Kobe will get his points, but it's all about keeping other players in check.
3. The Lakers
It seems the Jazz urinate on themselves when they see on their schedule "Los Angeles Lakers." I don't know why, the Oklahoma City Thunder weren't scared of them, the San Antonio Spurs aren't scared of them. The Jazz have the talent to beat the Lakers, it's all mental. Boozer disappears quicker than a bottle of Vodka with Kristin Cavallari against the Lakers. (Come on, you knew a Hills reference was coming) Does Phil Jackson intimidate Jerry Sloan? Maybe, but I'm taking Sloan over Jackson in a bar fight anyday of the week. (Can you imagine Sloan in a bar fight? He's one of those guys that will break a beer bottle over your head and call you a dirty expletive while you're on the ground.) The Lakers in a whole terrify the Jazz, and this is their chance to show we can compete against them. I received a text message from a friend last night named Preston Truman saying "the Lakers are beatable." It does seem the Lakers are beatable, they did stumble down the stretch quicker than Kirstie Alley down the food pyramid to fatty foods.
All in all, I think the Jazz put up a good fight against the Lakers, but I think they ultimately lose to them. Homecourt advantage will play a big role in this series. The wildcard might be if we get a healthy Kirilenko back and if Fes can stay out of foul trouble and not poop himself when tip off comes tomorrow afternoon. I'm cheering for the Jazz, I hope I am wrong about my prediction, but they just don't have the horses, especially when they are going up against the human camel (Gasol)
Lakers win this series 4-2
Fes is just what the Jazz needed. Someone that isn't allergic to the low block and who allows Boozer to roam around and feast on his 15 foot jump shot.
ReplyDeletethe jazz do not have the talent to beat the LAKERS. other than dwill they have nothing but mediocre players, at best. i will be shocked if the LAKERS dont sweep this series
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