Lakers vs Jazz Preview 11-30-06
Lakers vs Jazz Preview 11-30-06
GAME: Utah Jazz (13-3) at L.A. Lakers Lakers (9-5)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, November 30 - 10:30 PM EST
SPREAD: Los Angeles -3.5 TOTAL: 202
After breaking out of their brief two-game skid, the Northwest Division-leading Utah Jazz look to win their second game over the Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Lakers in less than a week when the teams meet at Staples Center on Thursday.
Utah (13-3), which had lost the rebounding battle in consecutive losses to Golden State and Orlando, outrebounded San Antonio Spurs 50-34 in Wednesday's 83-75 victory. The Jazz are averaging a league-high 45.6 boards per game.
"I repeat it every time: We've got to get our boards because that was they key to tonight's game," said forward Andrei Kirilenko, who had nine rebounds and blocked three shots Wednesday. "They missed lots of shots. We didn't let them get the second chances."
Utah also dominated the boards - 45-27 - in its 114-108 victory over the Lakers (9-5) last Friday. The Jazz outscored Los Angeles by 12 points in the fourth quarter to rally for the win.
Carlos Boozer had 31 points and 16 rebounds against the Lakers and performed similarly well against San Antonio, with 23 and 16 rebounds for his 12th double-double in 16 games this season.
Deron Williams finished with 15 points on 4-of-4 shooting from 3-point range and had nine assists against the Spurs, and has emerged as a solid point guard in his second season in the league. Williams is averaging 16.9 points and 9 assists this season, and scored 11 of his 15 points against the Lakers last week in the final quarter.
While Utah's offense made a fourth-quarter run against Los Angeles, its defense shut the Lakers down. Kobe Bryant scored 27 points, but had just two points on free throws in the fourth.
Bryant had 27 again in the Lakers' 109-105 home loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday.
Los Angeles attempted a franchise record 37 3-pointers against the Bucks, but made only 11 of them.
"We just didn't do a good job of executing," said Kobe Bryant, who has made just 15 of 47 field-goal attempts (31.9 percent) in his last two games.
Tuesday's loss snapped a five-game home winning streak. The Lakers have not lost consecutive games at Staples Center since March 6 and 12 of last season.
Los Angeles is 8-2 at home in 2006-07, and has won 18 of its last 21 games there overall.
They have also had recent success against Utah at home, winning nine of their last 11 against the Jazz at the Staples Center.
Kobe Bryant is averaging 24.1 points - 11.3 fewer than a year ago - but is averaging 33.5 points in his last six games against Utah.
While Kobe Bryant has struggled to find his rhythm after having knee surgery in the offseason, Lamar Odom has helped pick up the slack on offense by averaging 19.7 points per game.
Odom had 21 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists on Tuesday. He finished with 26 against Utah last week, and is averaging 22.7 points in his last three meetings with the Jazz.
Purchase Los Angeles Lakers vs Utah Jazz tickets.
Last Lakers vs Jazz game was on 11/24/06.
Lakers Vs Jazz News:
11/04/07Utah 109, L.A. Lakers 119
02/26/07L.A. Lakers 102, Utah 94
11/24/06 Lakers Vs Jazz Preview
11/24/06 L.A. Lakers 132, Jazz 102
11/24/06 Lakers 108 Jazz 114
11-24-06 Los Angeles Lakers vs Utah Jazz Preview
Lakers vs Jazz Preview.
NBA Future:
JAVARIS CRITTENTON
Most highly regarded point guard (rated No. 1 at his position by Rivals.com, seventh-best high school player overall) to enroll at Tech since Stephon Marbury in 1995 ... Muscular point guard with size and explosiveness ... Excellent first step, difficult to guard one-on-one ... Excels at breaking defenders down off the dribble, getting into the lane and to the basket ... Can overpower defenders with his strength ... Excellent competitive drive, always striving to get better ... Excellent student who is described as a gym rat who loves to study tape, much like former Tech star Jarrett Jack, and has an impressive collection of videotape of great point guards.
Five-star prospect from Southwest Atlanta Christian School, making the McDonald's All-America team as well as third-team Parade and EA Sports All-America teams following his senior year ... Rated as high as No. 6 nationally (Hoop Scoop) and was the top-rated point guard in the country according to Rivals, No. 3 by Scout.com ... Final PrepStars.com ranking was No. 20.
Lettered four years at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, where he helped his school to Class A state championships in 2004 and 2006, and runner-up finishes in 2003 and 2005 ... SACA posted a 113-19 record in his four years under head coach Courtney Brooks ... Earned all-state honors three times, and was named Mr. Georgia Basketball in 2006 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Averaged 29 points, seven rebounds and nine assists per game as a senior, when SACA went 28-5 and defeated Whitefield Academy for the state title ... Scored eight points and had three assists in the McDonald's All-American game in San Diego ... Scored 16 points (5-15 FG, 1-9 threes) with seven boards, four assists and three steals at the Derby Festival in Louisville ... Played in the 2006 Nike Junior World Championship in Paris, France.
Earned high honorable mention honors from Street & Smith's following his junior year ... Played with current Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard at SACA and together they won the GHSA class A state championship in 2004 ... Without Howard in 2005, he carried SACA to the state final, averaging 28.4 points, 7.5 assists and 8.2 rebounds and 3.6 steals per game ... Also played in the 2005 USA Youth Developmental Festival, averaging 9.6 points while making 50 percent of his field goal attempts for the White team, which went 5-0 and won the gold medal.
A 3.5 GPA student who was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America and the Senior Beta Club ... Played in the summers with the Atlanta Celtics AAU team.
Full name is Javaris Crittenton ... Born December 31, 1987 in Atlanta ... Son of Sonya Dixon and James Crittenton ... Has one brother, Rashad, and one sister, Shaniya Lee ... Academic interest is Management.
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