Beating the Lakers: A How to Guide

Posted by Stanton Huntington on April 19, 2009

Let’s just pretend that as you read that headline you were laughing with me.

I know, I know, you expected to click on this title and see an empty page, but not so fast, dear Jazz fan, not so fast.

Surprisingly, there are three recurring themes in the 10 L.A. losses (again, only looking at those in which Bynum played).

(1) Let Kobe try to do too much. The Lakers are 3-7 when Kobe attempts 24 or more field goals. I only reveal how petty I am when I say that I really enjoy this stat. It’s the classic critique of Kobe’s game: that he’s only in this for one guy and that one guy ain’t Sasha “Paul Mitchell” Vujacic. Of course, he tried to lay that guy to rest by switching jersey numbers, but ol’ #8 still rears his ugly head once in a while and when he does, his team suffers. Oh, okay, we all know the real reason he changed to #24…because LeBron came into the League and Kobe’s inferiority complex required that he one up him…or maybe it was because Kobe’s painfully aware of this little stat and needs a not-so-subtle reminder.

(2) Get to the free throw line…a lot. In the 10 losses, Lakers opponents attempted an average of 29.7 free throws. For a little perspective, the League average for free throw attempts in a game is 24.7, so you have to achieve a pretty high level to do this. The positive externality of getting to the free throw line is the increased likelihood that Gasol or Bynum are the ones that got you there. Indeed, when the Jazz attacked the hoop and shot over 20 free throws in the first half of last week’s loss they kept the game close.

(3) Point guard must have eye-opening stat line. When L.A. loses, opposing point guards go off. From the likes of Chris Paul’s 32 point, 15 assist game to Deron Williams’ 31 point, 11 assist show and on down to Jameer Nelson’s and Raymond Felton’s near triple-doubles, to beat the Lakers the opposite point guard must exploit the weakest part of L.A.’s lineup and put up the type of numbers that make the stat guys tired.

And one final number, 4 of the 10 losses were in the Staples Center. So there you go, the Golden Boys are not exactly infallible at home and a Jazz win in L.A. is not out of the question, especially if Utah can muster the three elements of a Lakers beating.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to run while I still have a straight face.

6 Comments

Ricky Cheney on April 19, 2009 said:

You could have just said pray.

J R Stewart on April 19, 2009 said:

can we have a moment of silence?

Jazzaholic

Boondock Saint on April 20, 2009 said:

…… (thats my moment of silence)

Stanton Huntington on April 20, 2009 said:

Ricky Cheney – Interesting thought but I’m of the belief that God is a Lakers fan. How else can you explain the Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol trade?

Jazzaholic – I think that moment of silence was beautiful…until it was interrupted by the clang of another Ronnie Brewer jumper.

Let’s see how we did in game 1:

Point #1 – Sadly, Kobe was extrememly unselfish in the first half and turned in the exact type of line the Lakers need to win. As a Jazz fan, I love the 6 TO’s and would have really loved the AK steal in open court while Kobe was trying to get on SportsCenter…until AK made that Jr. Jazz pass into the fourth row.

Point #2 – 35 FTA’s. Not bad. Both L.A. big men were in foul trouble too, with Pau fouling out, albeit late.

Point #3 – D-Will was good, but the poor FG percentage prevented him from having the monster game we need. I’ll take a 17:3 assist to turnover ratio for the rest of the series, though.

Austin on April 22, 2009 said:

the jazz can defanitly win in the Staples Center. has anybody notice that the jazz are the best small market team against the Lakers? any way the jazz could win the serries if the win one game on the road and win all the home games.

Austin on April 22, 2009 said:

trade boozer!!!!! he has seriously hurt the jazz since his return. trade him to Phoenix for somebody.

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