LOS ANGELES — It wasn't the dominating performance they hoped. Rather, it was on the disappointing side for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Their 104-99 Game 1 Western Conference semifinal win over the Jazz drew a coolish reaction from the defending champs.
"We played defense at times," said forward Lamar Odom. "Every time I think about this team I know we can play so much better."
Said forward Luke Walton, "I think we did a poor job tonight of really taking advantage of opportunities. As poor as (Utah) shot the ball (9-for-22 in the fourth quarter; 38 of 85 for the game), we should have been up way more than that. And then obviously at the start of the fourth (quarter), we had a meltdown out there."
The Lakers experienced a great start to the game but a slow finish. Still, they had Kobe Bryant at the end, which was enough. The NBA's 2008 Most Valuable Player totaled 13 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers held off the Jazz rally.
Despite shooting just 6-for-19 in the final 12 minutes, they couldn't feel bad about their overall shooting. They finished the game 41-for-77, 53 percent. That's nearly 10 percent better than they shot in their first round series with Oklahoma City.
Their 104-99 Game 1 Western Conference semifinal win over the Jazz drew a coolish reaction from the defending champs.
"We played defense at times," said forward Lamar Odom. "Every time I think about this team I know we can play so much better."
Said forward Luke Walton, "I think we did a poor job tonight of really taking advantage of opportunities. As poor as (Utah) shot the ball (9-for-22 in the fourth quarter; 38 of 85 for the game), we should have been up way more than that. And then obviously at the start of the fourth (quarter), we had a meltdown out there."
The Lakers experienced a great start to the game but a slow finish. Still, they had Kobe Bryant at the end, which was enough. The NBA's 2008 Most Valuable Player totaled 13 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers held off the Jazz rally.
Despite shooting just 6-for-19 in the final 12 minutes, they couldn't feel bad about their overall shooting. They finished the game 41-for-77, 53 percent. That's nearly 10 percent better than they shot in their first round series with Oklahoma City.
The Lakers made 15 of 19 shots in the first quarter (79 percent) and were shooting an impressive 60 percent through three quarters.
Having gone through a tough six-game series with Oklahoma City — ending on a last-second shot by Pau Gasol — it looks like it will be a challenging playoff run if the Lakers expect to repeat as champions.
But don't expect them to say things are harder this time around. Last year they beat Utah 4-1, but took seven games to eliminate Houston and then ground through a tough six-game series against Denver.
"I don't think things are any different this year," said Walton. "It's the Western Conference, so it's very competitive. Every team that makes the playoffs the last two, three years wins 50 games, everyone knows everyone so well.
"Last year was a tough Utah series, Houston took us to seven games and Denver six, so the West is extremely tough. I don't think it's any tougher — when you talk of other teams attacking us harder this year."
Having gone through a tough six-game series with Oklahoma City — ending on a last-second shot by Pau Gasol — it looks like it will be a challenging playoff run if the Lakers expect to repeat as champions.
But don't expect them to say things are harder this time around. Last year they beat Utah 4-1, but took seven games to eliminate Houston and then ground through a tough six-game series against Denver.
"I don't think things are any different this year," said Walton. "It's the Western Conference, so it's very competitive. Every team that makes the playoffs the last two, three years wins 50 games, everyone knows everyone so well.
"Last year was a tough Utah series, Houston took us to seven games and Denver six, so the West is extremely tough. I don't think it's any tougher — when you talk of other teams attacking us harder this year."
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