Lakers-Jazz Game 1: Where Standing Around Happens

Today in Los Angeles, the Lakers took the early lead in a playoff series that, I am afraid, is going to be decided by the men in striped shirts. That's a series, by the way, that the Jazz can not win, and that won't be at all pretty to watch.

No one on the Jazz roster can guard Kobe Bryant at all. They are, of course, going to try... so while Bryant didn't really play that well, he still wound up with 38 points, with 19 FT makes. (Today's final tally on free throw attempts between the two teams: 77. Which is a big win for the Laker fans, because when it's over 70, everyone in attendance gets a free sleep mask.)

Several Lakers -- Derek Fisher, Vladamir Radmanovic -- can't defend on the dribble. So it's going to make things a stop and stop some more game on both sides. (In anything less than 30 FT attempts per game, take the over.)

So while the Jazz can feel good, if they want to, about coming back from down 19 to make it a 4-point game before the Lake Show exerted its will... and sure, they will have games where they get more out of Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, and they always play better at home... well, I'm not seeing them win a game in LA in this series. Or winning all of their home games when Bryant can count on 20+ free throw attempts a game.

However, it was nice to see both team's designated scapegoats -- Mehmet Okur and Lamar Odom -- come through with reasonable games. The Jazz do rebound the ball, and have the bigs to compete with the Lakers.

That will get them a game or two. But it won't get them four, because they don't have Kobe, or anyone who can guard him. Simple game, really.