Editor's Note: Just Move On

The Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Semi-Finals, but you can hardly hear anyone cheering. The Lakers lost another big lead, but managed to hang on and win. Unfortunately, that's becoming a recurring theme, and it falls squarely on the bench. Without Luke Walton, Lamar Odom, and Trevor Ariza, the bench loses a lot of the pop it once had. Andrew Bynum struggled against a much smaller Jazz team, piling up fouls but not points. Sasha Vujacic is no longer the machine he once was, and Jordan Farmar has fallen into Phil Jackson's doghouse. Farmar has a problem with his foot, keeping him out. DJ Mbenga, Josh Powell, and Adam Morrison will never touch the hardwood unless it's garbage time, leaving Shannon Brown (above) to pick up the slack. Brown, however, cannot carry this bench when he plays at guard, where Kobe and Derek Fisher control the time. The bench will ultimately become the Lakers' deciding factor, but the problem needs to be addressed now.

Game 5: Lakers Clinch Second-Round Berth

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz , winning the series 4 games to one and advancing to the Western Conference Semi-Finals. LA will face either Houston or Portland in the next round. The Lakers held Utah to .402 shooting, and shot 45% themselves, as well as 9-for-21 from behind the arc. The Lakers entered the fourth quarter leading by 19, but the lead fell down to six before they bounced back and held on. Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 31 points and 4 steals, and Lamar Odom added 26 points and 15 rebounds. Pau Gasol had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Trevor Ariza had a solid game despite a sore ankle, scoring 12 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Deron Williams scored 14 points for Utah, and Paul Millsap had 16 points and 6 rebounds off the bench.

Editor's Note: They Woke the Sleeping Giant

They teased him. They said he was soft. They said he lost his spark. They questioned his skills and his mettle. Little did the Jazz know that they were waking the sleeping giant. You don't make Kobe angry. You won't like him when he's angry. Utah learned that the hard way. After quite possibly his worst playoff performance, Kobe Bryant showed the world that he's a machine, and like all machines, he's got an "on" switch. Turn him on, and the Jazz go off. Utah invariably sealed their doom with Thursday's game. After all, the Lakers had the visiting-team disadvantage, which in Salt Lake City translates into certain death. On top of that, Kobe had wasn't even Kobe, missing 19 of his 24 shots. But the Purple and Gold stayed in the game, and only lost by two points. If their was ever a loss that could inspire confidence, it was Game 3. Then Mehmet Okur returned, and the Jazz thought their prayers were answered. As it turned out, Okur was just an unnecessary body taking up space on the court, playing 13 minutes with just 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and no points. Kobe and the Lakers proved their worth in Saturday's game. Not only that, they proved that they have the killer-instinct. They just need the proper motivation.

Game 3: Return of the Kobe

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz 108-94, giving them a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Lakers shot .519 from the field, as well as 8-for-19 from 3-point range, and out-rebounded the Jazz 46-39. LA used a 40-point second-quarter to overpower Utah, and never looked back after halftime. The Jazz were just 22-for-32 from the stripe, and finished the game shooting .442 from the field. Kobe Bryant delivered a blow of amnesia to anyone who questioned him after Game 3, scoring 38 points on 16-for-24 shooting. Lamar Odom had his first start of the playoffs, relegating Andrew Bynum to the bench, putting up 10 points, 15 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. The Laker bench did its part, out-scoring Utah 30-24, as Shannon Brown continues to stun opponents off the bench with 9 easy points. Deron Williams had 23 points and 13 assists for the Jazz, and Carlos Boozer also added 23 points and 16 rebounds.

Editor's Note: Resiliency is Key

Thursday's loss was a tough game. Many things went wrong: Andrew Bynum picked up three fouls before 18 minutes went by, the Lakers could not score more than 20 points in three of the four quarters, Kobe was a miserable 5-for-24, and the late-game defense completely collapsed. But there is some good: the Jazz were held to just 88 points at home, Lamar Odom proved himself to be a force on the court, and the Lakers know how to contain Deron Williams. But new information needs to be taken, and new lessons need to be instructed. First, the Lakers need to know how to cover Carlos Boozer (above). Boozer has been the most consistent player for Utah over the last three games. Second, Bynum needs to cut down on the foul trouble. That plays into the "cover Boozer" idea well if Bynum and Pau Gasol can stay on the court together. Third, take advantage of the 3-point opportunities. The Jazz don't run a very effective perimeter defense, and guys like Shannon Brown and Sasha Vujacic need to exploit it when they can. The series is still in the Lakers hands. They just need to know what to do with it.

Game 3: Lakers Go Cold in Loss

The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Utah Jazz 88-86, putting the series at 2-1 with the Lakers still leading. The Lakers had only one good quarter, scoring 33 in the third, while finishing with 53 in the other three. It was a game of streaks, as the Lakers entered the second half trailing just by four, then used a 25-8 run to put LA up by 14. However, the Lakers could only eek out 18 points in the fourth quarter, while allowing 28 points to the Jazz. LA shot just .368 from the field, and went 16-for-26 from the charity stripe. Utah snatched 55 rebounds compared to the Purple and Gold's 40, but the Jazz's 15 turnovers let the Lakers stay in the game. Lamar Odom led LA with 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Kobe Bryant added 18 points despite shooting just 5-for-24. Pau Gasol put up 20 points and 9 rebounds, and no other Laker scored in double-figures. Deron Williams hit a jumper with just 2.2 seconds left to put the Jazz up, and finished with 13 points and 9 assists. Carlos Boozer had 23 points and 22 rebounds, a Utah playoff record, and the Jazz bench out-scored LA's bench 31-28, and without Odom's points, 31-7.

Editor's Note: Eh, More or Less

The Lakers victory over the Jazz was a hollow one at best, though one can still take solice in the fact that LA has defeated Utah three straight times already. Poor defense marred an otherwise stellar offense, raising many questions of whether or not this Laker team can handle the Jazz in Salt Lake City. While Utah has an unbelievable offense, this is the same team that gives up way too many points to the opposition. The Lakers need to take advantage of clear areas, like the absence of Mehmet Okur in the Jazz lineup. Los Angeles needs to contain Deron Williams by any means, even if it leaves open other shooters. Right now, Williams is the hot hand, and he can burn LA even when covered by Derek Fisher or Shannon Brown. The bench needs to step up. Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic have been lackluster, letting Brown and Lamar Odom (above) do most of the heavy lifting. One place the Lakers have discovered the Jazz are vulnerable in is beyond the arc, and those two need to take advantage of that. There are many ways the Lakers can hold off a team like Utah. It all comes down to using those ways.

Game 2: Escape from LA

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz 119-109 in Game 2 of the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. Los Angeles leads the series 2-0. The Lakers used a mega 41-29 first-quarter to hold the lead throughout the game. LA shot 60% from the field, including 11-for-20 from three-point range, while Utah used 29 free-throw opportunities to keep the game close. The Jazz shot a shade under .500 and grabbed 13 steals, ultimately forcing 21 Laker turnovers. LA out-assisted Utah 33-25, and the Lakers' bench defeated the Jazz's 37-28. Kobe Bryant had 26 points and 9 assists, and Pau Gasol put up 22 points. Lamar Odom scored 19 off the bench, and Trevor Ariza had 13, 9 assists, and was a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc. The entire Laker starting five scored in double-figures, and Shannon Brown added 12 points off the bench. Deron Williams had a monster game, leading all scorers with 35 points and 9 assists but also 7 turnovers for Utah, and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Editor's Note: Game 1 is Perfectly Fine

A lot of people, including coach Phil Jackson, are disappointed in the Lakers' performance in Game 1 against Utah. Their specific gripe is with the second-half defense. But unlike with those people, the game worked for me. The Lakers had that killer-instinct they lacked for most of the season. Realistically, no one will be able to maintain a 22-point lead over Utah for a full 24 minutes. The Jazz are too quick, too sharp, and too good to fall into a deep hole similar to Detroit's loss to Cleveland. The Jazz are capable of strong runs in any given situation. But to defeat Utah, the Lakers need to properly contain them. And that's exactly what they did. Each time the Jazz cut the lead to single-digits, LA responded with stifling defense and clutch shots to keep the lead respectable. But everyone will look back at a poor effort after the incredible first half. But the Lakers did more than cruise past Utah in the first half. The Lakers set the tone for the entire series with, letting Utah know that this is a team that can destroy them at any time, even if they don't.

An Editor's Note piece will follow each Laker playoff game.

Game 1: Ariza, Lakers Dominate Jazz

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz 113-100 in Game 1 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Lakers kept a deep Utah offense in check for most of the game, entering the second half with a 22-point lead. LA finished with a .556 shooting percentage and 9 blocks, while the Jazz shot just .391 from the field. Utah remained in the game though, using 20 offensive rebounds to stay close. Kobe Bryant led LA with 24 points and 8 assists, and Trevor Ariza scored 21 points on 8-for-10 shooting, the most points Ariza has scored in the playoffs. Pau Gasol added 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. Lamar Odom had 13 points and 8 rebounds off the bench, and Shannon Brown had 9 points on 3-for-3 shooting from 3-point range. Carlos Boozer led all scorers with 27 points for Utah, and Deron Williams added 16 points and 17 assists.

Finale is Just the Beginning for Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz 125-112, their final game of the regular season. The Lakers' final record of 65-17 gives them the second best record in the NBA, the best record in the Western Conference, and will now face Utah in the first round of the playoffs. LA shot .558 from the field, including going 8-for-13 from 3-point range. The Lakers out-assisted the Jazz 39-27, while Utah took 47 free-throws. Andrew Bynum had 22 points and 3 blocked shots, and Pau Gasol added 20 points and 9 rebounds. Kobe Bryant added 16 points, and Lamar Odom scored 16 as well. Sasha Vujacic had 15 points off the bench. Deron Williams led the Jazz with 25 points and 13 assists, and Andrei Kirilenko added 20 points off the bench. Carlos Boozer chipped in 16 points and 9 rebounds.

Clips Go Cold during Quest for 20 Wins

The Los Angeles Clippers fell to the Utah Jazz 106-85, dropping their record to 19-62. The Clips could not out-score Utah in each quarter, and were out-rebounded 50-36. Utah took 39 free-throws as they forced 26 Clipper fouls. Marcus Camby led LA with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Eric Gordon added 16 points. DeAndre Jordan had 16 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. Carlos Boozer led the Jazz with 20 points, and Paul Millsap scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Deron Williams added 17 points and 9 assists.

Lakers Face Cold Snap

The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Utah Jazz 113-109, snapping their 7-game losing streak. The Lakers could not contain Utah, allowing the Jazz to amass a .586 shooting percentage. The Lakers could only score 22 points in the third quarter, and were just 5-for-19 from three-point range. LA could not take advantage of Utah's 9-for-18 shooting at the charity stripe in the fourth quarter, as Mehmet Okur and Paul Millsap each made three-point plays with less than two minutes left to give the Jazz the lead for good. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 37 points, and Lamar Odom continues to sizzle with 19 points and 19 rebounds. Pau Gasol scored 16 points and former-Jazz Derek Fisher added 13. For Utah, Deron Williams led with 31 points and 11 assists, and Okur scored 22 points and and grabbed 8 rebounds.

Lakers Celebrate New Year with Win

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz 113-100, improving to 26-5. The Lakers and Jazz went back and forth, with LA's lead going from 20 to 3 points at one time. LA had a .459 shooting percentage and 10 steals, and both teams combined to go 5-31 for 3-pointers. Kobe Bryant led the game with 40 points to go along with 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Pau Gasol became just the fourth European to have 10,000 career points after scoring 21 in addition to 11 rebounds. Lamar Odom came off the bench with 14 points and 7 rebounds, and Trevor Ariza had 12 points, 9 rebounds and 5 steals. Carlos Boozer was out for Utah, and Ronnie Brewer scored 20 points for the Jazz.

Clippers Fall Into 0-4 Hole

The Los Angeles Clippers failed to get their first win of the season again, losing to the Utah Jazz 89-73. For the first time, both Baron Davis and Marcus Camby played on the court. Camby had 5 points, while Chris Kaman was the star with 19 points and 10 rebounds. For the Jazz, Paul Millsap scored 24 points while Carlos Boozer had 13 with 8 rebounds. The Clips look to achieve their first win against the LA Lakers tomorrow, but don't expect to see a 1-4 record in the standings on Thursday.

Weekend Roundup

LAKERS - LA defeated the Nuggets in Denver 104-97. The game was a lot closer than the previous two. Kobe scored 33, while Bynum ejoyed his new extension with 8 rebounds.

CLIPPERS - The Clips lost to Utah 101-79. The Jazz commited only 5 turnovers, while Carlos Boozer had 26 points. Cuttino Mobley had 20 points with 3 rebounds for LA.

USC - The Trojans defeated the Washington Huskies 56-0, their third shutout in 4 games. However, their huge victory earned them a negative 2 in the rankings. They dropped from 5 to 7 in the BCS rankings. USC goes up against the #21 Cal Bears on Saturday.

KINGS - LA lost to the Clagary Flames 3-2. Calgary goalie Miika Kiprusoff had 36 saves, and King skater Oscar Moller made two goals.

Denver Clips LA's Hopes in Overtime

Baron and the Clippers couldn't pull out any magic going into the fifth quarter, losing to the Denver Nuggets 113-103. Not only did the OT loss sting, it also led to team captain Baron Davis being injured. LA had a 72-55 lead late in the third, but lost most of it to a Denver 13-3 run. The Clips had a two point lead with 10 seconds left in regulation, which disappeared in a flash with two Linus Kleiza free-throws. Marcus Camby still is waiting for his debut, hoping it can be Monday's game against the Utah Jazz.