Lakers-Jazz Preview and Gameday Open Thread
by Kevin Sawyer on May 2, 2010 12:44 PM EDT
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PrintQuick prediction: Hawks win.
Lengthier prediction: See below
1. Lakers (57-25) vs. 5. Jazz (53-29)
Game 1 Tips: 3:30 EST on ABC
The Jazz prevailed over a tough Nuggets team in round one despite a passel of injuries. While Wesley Matthews, CJ Miles and Kyrylo Fesenko don't sound like 3/5ths of a lineup that can challenge the defending champions, they flummoxed one of maybe five teams that had a shot at winning it all.
The new look Jazz will almost certainly flummox the Lakers to some degree. In fact, the change of pace might be a good thing. The Lakers destroyed the Jazz this year, going +45 in four games. You could argue that a more stripped down offense might be just what the doctor ordered for the Jazz. Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams played brilliant basketball during the first round series.
In a long series, though, operating from a short bench will take it's toll. And it isn't as though the Lakers don't have solutions for Boozer and Williams. Also, the Lakers have some unheralded offense weaponry of their own, or so I am told.
Player to watch: Matthews. If Kobe locks down Deron Williams, Matthews is going to need to produce on the level he did in game 6 against Denver. He can hit threes and get to the basket, so he should be able to take advantage of what the Lakers give him.
Prediction: Lakers in 6. If Utah were at full strength, this might be something of a toss-up. But Deron Williams suffered a minor elbow injury, adding insult to, um, injury. The Jazz have a narrow window here, and any diminution of his performance is going to have a major impact. That said, I can see Jazz holding home court through game 4, simply because they have such a large advantage there.
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Stuart Scott has never said anything insightful in his entire career
That would be fine if he was likable or funny, like Rich Eisen and Dan Patrick. Instead, he is grating and unfunny, which makes him even more unbearable. I honestly like Stephen A. Smith better, and I hate “The Notorious S.A.S.”
"Ford! You're turning into a Penguin! Stop it!"
-Arthur Dent
Agreed on Scott
He defines schtick. He’s also a dirtbag chauvinistic sleaze off camera. He brings nothing of merit to what he does.
"We’re going to be in bed with each other. It’s like a marriage." - Stephon Marbury, on his relationship with Jamal Crawford.
he leaves his glass eye in the womans restroom with a note that says “stuart scott is always watching you”
by dandresden on May 2, 2010 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
He's douchey to women, thinks that "hoe" is an affectionate way to refer to them
..and continually attempts to use his lame status as ESPN talkinghead to gain favor with the young ladies despite having young children- and a wife who helped get through his cancer scare.
Sorry to rail, I just think the dude has no class whatsoever.
"We’re going to be in bed with each other. It’s like a marriage." - Stephon Marbury, on his relationship with Jamal Crawford.
He is a jerk + so is his eye lol
I unfortunately encountered this a few years ago in B’ham before the ECF while I was out for drinks.
Kicking (_)_) before bedtime.
He's affirmative action for the googily eyed impaired
Seriously…if it weren’t for the fact that he has not 1 but 2 googily eyes, I think ESPN would have replaced him long ago. But cutting him with 2 googily eyes is just asking for a lawsuit.
Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.
I love this Utah team
So many likable players. Millsap is like Boozer with more defense. Wes Matthews is really solid on both ends, and should’ve made the all-rookie team over either Thornton or Johnny Flynn (who sucks, and didn’t deserve ANY vote — especially over guys like Matthews, Rodrigue Beaubois, Ty Lawson, and Jrue Holiday). Deron Williams is an absolute monster, and will destroy whoever guards him in this series, be it Fisher or Kobe. Boozer is very good, and pretty much ate Pau Gasol’s lunch money last year. Fesenko is massive and awkward, which is always entertaining — and he’s a pretty solid post defender. Plus, Kirilenko finally put it back together again this year, and his quest for a haircut that suits him (which remains unfruitful) is always entertaining. I really hope he can come back and be effective for this series. Plus, Jerry Sloan! Do not fuck with him. He is made out of rusty nails and the tears of orphans.
Perfect juxtaposition with a Lakers team that reeks of douchiness. I like Gasol, Mbenga, and Shannon Brown, and that’s about it. Kobe, Artest, Fisher, Vujacic, and Farmar are all intensely unlikable. I’m pretty neutral on Odom and Bynum, mainly because I have no idea what to make of Odom personally, and the fact that I like both of their games.
I think this got brought up the Free Darko/Disciples of Clyde podcast, but wouldn’t the Lakers be a lot better if they hadn’t sold their 1st round pick and taken Toney Douglas, as was their original plan? They have really shitty point guards. Douglas can shoot AND defend better than Fisher (who can’t guard anyone) and Farmar (who has always sucked). They have to regret that, right? Douglas was quietly really good for a crappy Knicks team.
Anyway, this series is going to be really fun. Hopefully Utah gets past the mental block they’ve had with LA in the past and destroys them (which they are totally capable of). I’d say Jazz in 6.
"Ford! You're turning into a Penguin! Stop it!"
-Arthur Dent
by Thom_not_Tom on May 2, 2010 1:08 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
I'm on board with this entire comment
including the prediction. not because I see it happening, necessarily, but a lot more so because I want it to happen. Jazz FTW.
"Gee'drah write a rhyme in the time he hollow out a flask - crack a Guinness stout with his teeth one time, swallowed the glass"
We got the Jazz
"We’re going to be in bed with each other. It’s like a marriage." - Stephon Marbury, on his relationship with Jamal Crawford.
by Skylar on May 2, 2010 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
"...Ate Gasol's Lunch Money"
Damn. I always, always miss a typo.
"Ford! You're turning into a Penguin! Stop it!"
-Arthur Dent
It's perfect that way.
The only thing worse than running dude’s pockets for his lunch loot is eating.. his lunch loot. Foul.
"We’re going to be in bed with each other. It’s like a marriage." - Stephon Marbury, on his relationship with Jamal Crawford.
I don't think I trust anyone on this Hawks team outside of Horford
Maybe Josh Smith. Somebody is going to regret paying for Joe Johnson next summer. Mike Bibby sucks and can’t play defense. Marvin Williams is pretty average. Crawford is bi-polar, basetball-wise. I guess I kind of like Pachulia, but their bench is really unremarkable. If they win this game, they’re going to get their asses handed to them by Orlando.
"Ford! You're turning into a Penguin! Stop it!"
-Arthur Dent
there have been a few articles in the last couple of weeks about how the people in atlanta dont really go for the hawks. despite them being a respectable team the fans dont come out.
Especially in contrast to OKC. That arena was rockin’.
by garrettelliott on May 2, 2010 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Fuck OKC
Fans would be just as great in Seattle for that team.
Give any small market city a team that is stacked with talent, loads of fun to watch, and in the playoffs in under 3 years and I’ll give you a fanbase like OKC currently has.
When that team starts putting up the suck (assuming KD leaves in the future for another market), I’ll give you the same fan support that Sonics fans gave their team during the waning years.
Oh and fuck David Stern for still selling Sonics gear at the NBA flagship store in NYC.
Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.
yeah fuck David Stern
You beady eyed little prick, have you no shame
"We’re going to be in bed with each other. It’s like a marriage." - Stephon Marbury, on his relationship with Jamal Crawford.
lol
FYI: On the first Thursday of every month LeBron pays Morgan Freeman to follow him around and narrate his day…
If only LeBron were as cool
As the personification of his elbow. Although I would pay good money to see, “Cool LeBronnings: A One Man Show.”
"Ford! You're turning into a Penguin! Stop it!"
-Arthur Dent
One Night Only!
"Ford! You're turning into a Penguin! Stop it!"
-Arthur Dent
by Thom_not_Tom on May 2, 2010 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
that's quality humor
i hope frank caliendo is behind it.
by Roll The Dyess on May 2, 2010 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I know the Bucks like Delfino
But I still think trading Amir for him was kind of dumb. Delfino’s productive, so it’s not too stupid, but they have plenty of decent SG/SF and lacked frontcourt depth, even before Bogut went down. Mbah Moute is more of a 3 than a 4 (same with Ilyasova), and Salmons makes more sense at Small Forward than at the 2. Plus, Amir is a better player than Carlos, even without positional context.
"Ford! You're turning into a Penguin! Stop it!"
-Arthur Dent
Primoz Brezec is still in the league?
No way. That box score has to be lying to me.
"Ford! You're turning into a Penguin! Stop it!"
-Arthur Dent
I don't know if I care about this series
I don’t really want to see the Lakers win another series (even though I don’t despise them), bu I find the Jazz hard to root for because Boozer seems to be a douchebag.
Sloan's a nasty dried up old homophobe
But a great coach, and needs a title I’d say. I am kinda rooting for them, just because they’re clear underdogs and there’s lots to like about their roster.
"We’re going to be in bed with each other. It’s like a marriage." - Stephon Marbury, on his relationship with Jamal Crawford.
in other words sloan is the perfect coach for a team based in salt lake city.
by dandresden on May 2, 2010 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Rec'd
Utah is as Utah does
"We’re going to be in bed with each other. It’s like a marriage." - Stephon Marbury, on his relationship with Jamal Crawford.
And Utah does all the wives.
Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.
I continually marvel at the dunkery and blockage Smith perpetrates in the name of ATL
"We’re going to be in bed with each other. It’s like a marriage." - Stephon Marbury, on his relationship with Jamal Crawford.
Is there anybody who doesn't like Josh Smith?
I gotta ask.
by Biz Markie Moon on May 2, 2010 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Mike Woodson, secretly so
"We’re going to be in bed with each other. It’s like a marriage." - Stephon Marbury, on his relationship with Jamal Crawford.
by Skylar on May 2, 2010 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Let's trade
"We’re going to be in bed with each other. It’s like a marriage." - Stephon Marbury, on his relationship with Jamal Crawford.
No comments on the Lakers-Jazz game?
Surprising. CJ Miles has some grapes on him. He’s taken some serious punishment.
"Ford! You're turning into a Penguin! Stop it!"
-Arthur Dent
He was chasing down an errant pass from 'Melo a couple games back, I think
And got body-checked by Billups, laid that skinny kid out. He has heart, that Miles.
"We’re going to be in bed with each other. It’s like a marriage." - Stephon Marbury, on his relationship with Jamal Crawford.
Yeah, hurrah!
http://pics.livejournal.com/sauce1977/pic/000wed5q
Good. Bad. I'm the guy with the gun.
gloating after a game 1 loss?
"Gee'drah write a rhyme in the time he hollow out a flask - crack a Guinness stout with his teeth one time, swallowed the glass"
Sir Charles tells CP3 to his face that he’d go with Deron first because he’s bigger and stronger! Zing!
Charles can say that, because he's bigger and fatter
"We’re going to be in bed with each other. It’s like a marriage." - Stephon Marbury, on his relationship with Jamal Crawford.
by Skylar on May 4, 2010 1:50 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Rondo is on his way to breaking the playoff assist record
He has 19 with more than a quarter to go, and the record is 24— tied by Stockton and Magic.
"Gee'drah write a rhyme in the time he hollow out a flask - crack a Guinness stout with his teeth one time, swallowed the glass"
puh puh puh puh power
"We’re going to be in bed with each other. It’s like a marriage." - Stephon Marbury, on his relationship with Jamal Crawford.
by Skylar on May 4, 2010 1:50 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Haha, I just took a screen shot from the YouTube video. Those commercials are so funny!
by garrettelliott on May 4, 2010 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions
just reading the notes from the cavs-celts. rondo is the man. i have decided that i would rather see the celtics win than the cavs.
I, too, arrived at this conclusion earlier.
Rivers and Brown are equally worthless and undeserving coaches, but.. Celtics got crazy Nate and Sheed, I love those nutsos… I despise the entire Cavs roster I think. Fuck ’em all.
"We’re going to be in bed with each other. It’s like a marriage." - Stephon Marbury, on his relationship with Jamal Crawford.
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