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Lakers Take 3-2 Series Lead with Win over Jazz By Regnard Raquedan
05.15.2008 - Updated on 05.15.2008
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The Los Angeles Lakers are one win away from going to the Western Conference Finals after beating the Utah Jazz in Game 5, 111-104.
Kobe Bryant did score the most points for the Lakers but four other Lakers took more shots than him. Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Sasha Vujacic, and Vladimir Radmanovic all took more than Kobe’s ten field goal attempts. Kobe did make 13 out of 17 free throws to lead all players in the game.
What the Lakers did right for Game 5 departed from their two losses in Game 3 and Game 4. First, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom carried most of the offensive load when the Jazz defenders focused on Bryant and they did it with much success. Second, Vladimir Radmanovic decided to show up, hitting three 3-pointers and helping the Lakers have better spacing in the floor.
While the Lakers did take the win, there were still some issued they have to contend with in order to close the series in Game 6 in Salt Lake City. The most crucial is still the disappearance of the "Bench Mob," the Lakers’ second unit. Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton, Ronnie Turiaf and Vujacic have played very poorly in this series. Among the four, they contributed 13 points, 6 rebounds, zero assists and 3 of 17 shooting. Another issue is the over-reliance on the jum shots. Recall what went right in Game 1— good looks from crisp passing and good execution.
The Lakers also have to stop the Utah Jazz. Deron Williams is the new point guard to terrorize the Lakers in the playoffs, following the footsteps of Allen Iverson, Mike Bibby and Tony Parker. It also seems the Utah Jazz are wearing the Lakers from their physical play and firm screens from pick and rolls.
A Laker win in Game 6 would mean a step closer to the NBA’s Dream Final— The Los Angeles Lakers versus the Boston Celtics.
Read more of Regnard Raquedan’s posts at Big Lakers Fan.
[image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaguelyartistic/] |
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Posted by
Brooklyn Tony
on 05.17.2008 | they did draft a great point guard and then traded him to memphis for pau, nice trade though So the lakers won this series and there is no story, Oly get you act together. . | Posted by
ruben
on 05.16.2008 | tony is right they wiil have a relly hard time with deron but i think kobe can keep up with cris paul but they need to draft a point bad . | Posted by
Brooklyn Tony
on 05.15.2008 | I’m a huge laker’s fan, but if they do manage to get by Utah, there’s another point guard who makes all the dudes you mentioned look like Stanley Roberts. I hate the Spurs as much as the next guy, but I’m rooting for them like crazy—I’m just not sure the Lakers have an answer for Chris Paul. If Deron Williams is given them trouble... . |
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