"Come Back Real Soon, You Hear?"

Was surely said by some Jazz fans to the disappointed Lakers players and fans after Game 4. Unfortunately, the Lakers will be returning to Utah soon, for a Game 6 few could have expected. After dominating the first two games in Los Angeles, many thought the Lakers would be able to sweep this series. The Lakers were supposed to leave Salt Lake after two easy wins, and return to L.A. with a week to rest before facing the winner of the San Antonio vs. New Orleans series. As it happened, the Lakers return to L.A. with 2 days to prepare for the biggest game of their season so far, a huge Game 5 against the Jazz, with the series firmly knotted at 2 to 2.

The Lakers now have to get back on the plane and regroup after what was a very disappointing long weekend. Throughout the whole season we have heard that Energy Solutions Arena is the hardest venue for opposing players in the NBA. It was proven this weekend. The Lakers are the better team, but Utah was bolstered by their rowdy fans and was able to play two nearly perfect games.

I wrote the Game 3 defeat off as Utah's emotional response to their crowd and being down 2-0. I still expected the Lakers to come out and essentially wrap up the series today, before returning to Staples Center to finish it in 5 games, as I predicted in the preceding post. It would seem that I underestimated the influence of Utah's crowd, and perhaps their team as a whole.

The Lakers came out flat in the first half, but were able to tighten up and send the game into the half tied. Unfortunately they completely fell apart in the third, and early fourth, periods. I didn't see anyway back for the Lakers, down 12 with three minutes to go, playing as badly as they were and with a gimpy MVP. Miraculously they were able to come back and send the game into overtime. Winning, however, was asking too much. For one reason or another, the Lakers continued to force the ball to Kobe who was injured and ice cold. Instead of feeding Lamar, who had been on fire in the end of regulation, or Pau or Fisher, both of whom had solid games, the Lakers were content to watch Kobe isolate for jumpers... and miss.

The Jazz deserved both wins, and now we have a series again. I still think the Lakers are the better team, and it is evidenced by the fact that were thoroughly outplayed in both games, and yet barely lost in both. Both games featured a perfect display by Utah, and a perfect storm suffered by the Lakers, and yet neither was over until the very end.

Prediction
The length of layoffs between games during the post season is sometimes annoying, for both players and fans, but the Lakers will be thrilled with the extra day off before Game 5. Kobe seemed to tweak his back early in the first quarter tonight, and will need all the time possible to fully recover. We'll have to see if the NBA suspends Ronny Turiaf after his ejection for a questionable "flagrant 2" foul, but that shouldn't have too much effect on Game 5 regardless.

I really cannot see the Lakers losing at home in a huge game 5, and I expect them to come out fired up and ready. Kobe, if fully healed, will be eager to prove he is better than he showed in Game 4. I fully expect the Lakers to win Game 5, and take a 3-2 lead. That said, it will be very difficult for the Lakers to go back to Utah and win against a Jazz team that will be backed into a corner. The Lakers won't need much to win it, but will need more than they got this weekend. I can't really see this series ending in anything less than 7 games. If it does go the distance, there is no way this Laker team loses a Game 7 at home to the Jazz.

Lakers in 7.