Riding High, But Here’s Another Test: Lakers vs. Utah Jazz

November 4, 2007, 9:30 PM Eastern (6:30 PM Pacific)

Staples Center- Los Angeles, CA

The Los Angeles Lakers (1-1) are coming off a dominating win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night- their first of the young season. They return home on Sunday night to take on the Utah Jazz (2-1), one of the NBA’s most impressive teams in the season’s first week, and a serious contender in the loaded Western Conference. Like the Suns, the Jazz matchup with the Lakers comes as the second half of a back-to-back. On Saturday night in Salt Lake City, the Utah Jazz hosted the Golden State Warriors and, despite falling behind by double figures in the first quarter and a 38 point explosion from Al Harrington, cruised to a 133-110 victory.

Tonight’s matchup at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles is another opportunity for the Lakers to prove their ability to 1) play a well-rounded and balanced team game and 2) test their ability to compete with the Western Conference’s elite.

Lakers’ Notes

In the aftermath of their huge win in Phoenix, the Lakers will try to build up some positive momentum heading into the season’s second week. Again, the Lakers will be without Lamar Odom, who is still recovering from a shoulder injury. While we can reasonably expect Kobe Bryant’s output on offense to exceed 16 points, it will be vital for the Lakers bring the same philosophy into Sunday night’s game that they did to the game against the Suns. With Utah’s front line featuring elite rebounder like Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko, it will be important for the Lakers to put forth an extraordinary effort on the boards. Phil Jackson will also look to get as many players as possible involved in the offense early in the game in an effort to build on the outstanding effort of the supporting cast in Phoenix.

The Lakers’ starting lineup should resemble the unit that took the floor against the Suns- Kobe and Derek Fisher in the backcourt, Luke Walton and Ronnie Turiaf at forward and Kwame Brown in middle.

Jazz Notes

With the possible exceptions of the San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons, the Utah Jazz has been the NBA’s most well-rounded and dangerous team. In their first three games of the young season, the Jazz have blown out the Golden State Warriors twice by an average of 22 points, with a tough loss to the Houston Rockets (behind 47 points from Tracy McGrady) sandwiched in between. On offense, Utah boasts an incredible amount of versatility, with a starting lineup that features one of the NBA’s top frontcourt players in Carlos Boozer, a dealy outside-shooting big man in Mehmet Okur (not much worse than Dirk Nowitzki, just doesn’t get nearly the publicity), one of the league’s top point guards, Deron Williams and talented second year swingman, Ronnie Brewer. There is not a significant drop off for Jerry Sloan when he looks to his bench, as he has a more-than-capable replacement for each of his stars, with Matt Harpring, strong second-year power forward Paul Millsap, Gordon Giricek and point guard Jason Hart.

What should we look for tonight?

Like the Suns, the Jazz have a variety of perimeter weapons to go along with a dominant inside presence, and a talented and intelligent point guard to orchestrate the attack. This is a scenario in which the Lakers cannot afford a let down- it is vital that they communicate on defense, attack the boards and get a number of players involved. If the Lakers maintain the mentality they took into the game against the Suns, this should probably be a very competitive matchup. Expect a more aggressive game from Kobe on the offensive end, as well as an increased role for Andrew Bynum- he playing well enough in Phoenix to warrant a bigger role on this team. Whether the Lakers are able to pull it out will depend on two things- their ability to compete with the Jazz on the glass and the need to limit the number of easy looks Carlos Boozer gets from 15 and in.