LAKERS VS Utah (PRE-SEASON) 7:00 KCAL!

[Slava]

honestly disappointed in the level of dialogue and arrogance in this thread from Laker posters. I'll tell you right now learn the difference between bouncing trolls and making this a group-think board full of hostile gloating hyenas.

one jazz fan posts trollish bs the other comes to talk, you treat both the same? I expect better no matter how many on the outside rag on us out of jealousy or outside perceptions of our culture and people.

I want to add to this.

Some of you guys have already been suspended and/or warned multiple times before and the only reason we haven't given any warnings in this thread is because it will automatically call for a permanent ban.

I hope you guys know what your previous infractions are and try to act more congenial and accepting of fans from other boards. I really did not see anything posted in this thread that would cause the commotion and backlash that it did.

Keep your frustrations with the general board over there and don't let that carry over here.

[Anklebreaker702]

I don't want it to sound like i'm making 2 wrongs to be a right, but i stopped posting on the Jazz & Rockets board a couple of years ago. It is unbelievable how most of the posters there are. I won't go into logistics, but all i can say is I understand why.

[erudite23]

Just wanted to make a key note here. Andrew Bynum has been essentially a non-factor in each of the last three playoff matchups we've had. In fact, he didn't even play in 07-08. And, even though Kobe has been a handful for us and we haven't had a perimeter defender to limit his damage, its not even THAT which has given us, the Jazz, the most fits. No, the biggest issue has been Lamar Odom. We haven't been able to matchup with Lamar and he has killed us. Check out his monster line from 07-08:

42.8mpg 18.2/11.7/2.0 on 58.7% FGs with 2bpg 1.5 spg and 8 FTA a game.

That would be an impressive series from Pau, let alone from Lamar. He played like a full fledged, bona fined superstar. The next two seasons weren't that impressive, but he's killed us every time we've played. Why? Because Boozer was completely and utterly unable to guard him, and yet we couldn't really take Boozer out now, could we? So what? Move Boozer to the 5? That wouldn't work, either, as he would get mangled by Pau as well and Pau gave him even more trouble defensively than Lamar did.

Now, however, Al's ability to play the 5 effectively on defense AND offense allows us to bring AK down to the 4 and neutralize Lamar OR play Millsap more minutes (Millsap is significantly better versus Lamar than Boozer, though Lamar does still give him problems at times. For evidence look at Lamar's numbers last year: 2 good games at home and then two quiet games at Utah, with Millsap his primary matchup throughout). If LA wants to go big, Utah can now counter with Al and a healthy Mehmet Okur. Okur's shooting ability will force either Pau or Bynum out of the paint and allow Al the luxury to work one-on-one versus whoever LA chooses to task with the matchup (there are problems in either scenario, but more likely Bynum). Even a defender as good as Andrew Bynum is going to have problems with Al Jefferson one-on-one. If you choose to double, now you're leaving Okur or Raja Bell open for 3...and that doesn't even count our best player, Deron.

All told, the Jazz--if healthy--should be able to counter whatever lineup the Lakers choose to throw at them. As I said on the Jazz board, there is still the little problem of you being better in general than us....so, there's that. However, I thought I would throw this out there as a little heads up for our matchups during the regular season, to watch how it develops. As hard as its been for us to contain Kobe, the frontcourt matchups have been what's doomed us in each of the last three seasons. We just couldn't match up. Period. This year I don't think that will be the case. It may not ultimately matter, but now if we lose it should be simply the fact that you're better than us in general.

Thanks for the time and stay classy.

[DEEP3CL]

I don't know if you've seen any games before Al got to you guys, but Drew had no problem with him what so ever when they went head to head. You make good points, but it's all in vain. Truth is if you guys are stuck on LO, thinking he was a problem last playoffs.......then you still haven't uncovered the problem.

LO didn't start performing decently in the 2010 playoffs until we faced the Suns, his 09 playoffs were 1,000 times better than 2010.

Al and Okur are nice but neither pose that dominating presence to me, Okur is strictly a perimeter big and Gasol would check him anyway. Al has a decent post game but he to relies on face up jumpers. That isn't going to beat the Lakers in a 7 game series period.

[Anklebreaker702]

I don't know if you've seen any games before Al got to you guys, but Drew had no problem with him what so ever when they went head to head. You make good points, but it's all in vain. Truth is if you guys are stuck on LO, thinking he was a problem last playoffs.......then you still haven't uncovered the problem.

LO didn't start performing decently in the 2010 playoffs until we faced the Suns, his 09 playoffs were 1,000 times better than 2010.

Al and Okur are nice but neither pose that dominating presence to me, Okur is strictly a perimeter big and Gasol would check him anyway. Al has a decent post game but he to relies on face up jumpers. That isn't going to beat the Lakers in a 7 game series period.

To add to this point, Utah did not have a back to the basket center so he was taken out in favor of Lamar often because of the up tempo speed of the game. If they continue to play that style they won't have Jeff for long. Plus you're correct DEEP, Drew has never had any trouble with him in the past.