After losing game one of the 2nd Round of the NBA Playoff series, Utah has lost 15 straight to the Lakers at Staples Center , including 7 playoff games. That should be of comfort to Lakers
fans who hope the trend continues for Game 2 in LA. Unfortunately the Jazz aren't the biggest opponent the Lakers face. Rather a familiar foe called apathy could hurt the LA's championship run.
In Game 1 the Staples Center handed out white t-shirts to the fans in attempt to support their team in a sea of white to match the Lakers white uniforms. We have seen this in Oklahoma and other arenas inflict enthusiasm for the home team. But the LA crowd was too cool to wear them. For 90% of the game the crowd sounded as if they were at a book reading rather than a playoff game. Enthusiasm in the crowd and on the court was absent for most of the game Sunday.
Great teams all have talent, depth and experience. Champions, however, have the killer instinct. And that was notably absent yesterday. LA led by as many as 14 points in the first period. But Utah would outscore LA by 1 point over the final three quarters. Starting the 4th quarter Utah would even build a four point lead with their star Deron Williams on the bench. There was no sense of urgency for LA until 7:30 to play, when Coach Jackson reinserted Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Derek Fisher into the game.
Most sports reporters will jest that LA showed in game one the talent to cruise past Utah in this second round, perhaps giving up one win in Utah , but certainly winning the series handedly. But what many people might forget is that apathy has a friend named injury. Added minutes lead to longer games, leading to longer series, leading to less fuel in the tank when the NBA Finals arrive. Already there is talk of Andrew Bynum needing knee surgery and sitting out for two weeks. And we are already aware of Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest's assortment of injuries. Apathy and injury might invite upset to the party. LA doesn't want to give the underdog Utah Jazz any opportunity to win this series. They must close out games.
In Game 1 the Lakers failed to shut down Utah 's co-stars Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, who combined for 42 points on 16 of 32 (50%) shooting.
Free-throw shooting has been dismal for LA in these playoffs. Game 1 Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant were 100% 7 of 7 each. But the rest of the team missed seven free-throws.
(Team FT totals: 20 of 27 74%)
Every time Ron Artest has the ball above the three-point line I cringe in anxiety and hear myself repeat the words, "Please Ron don't shoot it." But he does. Zero for 3 from down town Sunday he is now 6 of 35 in the playoffs. Lakers were just 2 of 12 (16%) from 3-point range Sunday. That has to improve for game 2. I would rather see Andrew Bynum shoot a 3-pointer than Ron Artest.
Lakers are most effective when the Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, and Pau Gasol are on the floor together. The triangle offense is at its best with these three at each point.
Likewise the twin towers Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum are an unstoppable force if both are healthy and in the game together. Pau Gasol's interior passing would make Lakers legend Magic Johnson proud. The inside game or the triangle offense need to be deployed at all times. The end of 1st quarters and start of 3rd quarters Phil Jackson has elected to utilize his bench instead. These are times of vulnerability for the Lakers that better teams will take advantage of in later rounds of the Playoffs.
So far in these playoffs Kobe has exploded for pockets of points in spurts. The Lakers need Kobe 's 32 points to be distributed more balanced throughout the four quarters (perhaps 8 points each quarter). Kobe needs to dominate from start to finish. If he is offensively productive from the start, he may aid the Lakers in an early blow out. Since the Lakers have 4 days off until game 3, I expect Kobe to have his foot on the throttle for game 2 in LA and play extended minutes.
Hopefully the Lakers will learn from letting Utah back into game one, and maybe the LA fans will wake up for Game two as well.
