I wrote a few days ago about how the Hornets’ speed is killing the Spurs, and while speed and quickness is also playing a role in the Lakers’ 2-0 start against the Jazz, their length has been a bigger factor.
Specifically, I’m referring to Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. Their considerable wingspans are really causing problems for the relatively short-armed and undersized Carlos Boozer, who has shot a woeful 9-24 (38%) from the field in the first two games. His 12.5-point average in the series is well below his 21.1-point regular season average. Simply stated, if he posts his usual stats, the Jazz probably win one of those games in L.A.
As it stands, they head back to Utah where they hold the best home record (37-4) in the league. However, one of those four losses came against a Pau Gasol-less Laker squad back in late March. This certainly doesn’t bode well for the Jazz, who really didn’t play all that great at home against the Rockets in the first round.
The key for the Jazz is to get off to a good start. They outscored the Lakers in the second half of each of the first two games, but a crappy second quarter in Game 1 and an even crappier first quarter in Game 2 put them behind the eight ball.
As with any team heading home down 0-2, this is a must-win for the Jazz, who can get right back into the series with a win. For that to happen, the Lakers’ 89-46 free throw advantage will have to even out a bit. I think part of that is home court advantage, and part of it is that the Jazz just aren’t quick enough to handle the Lakers’ perimeter players. Only time will tell which is the dominating factor.
