Lakers GDT

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

With 2 tough games coming up next against Utah, I think we can agree this is a big game. With James out, the Lakers are 5-9 and not a very good team, but we are only favored by 1 so the oddsmakers see this as a toss up. The Wolves are not good at defending the perimeter, so we're lucky that LA is one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the league...it's pretty telling when 3 guys who are not very good 3-point shooters (James, Rondo and Stephenson) are their most accurate 3-point shooters this season. Here are some other keys I see.

1) KAT has been incredible recently and put up 28-18 with 4 blocks the last time we faced LA. But he was not very good in the last game in LA (although James did play in that game). Obviously KAT needs to stay out of foul trouble and be the dominant player he has been.
2) Teague is listed as questionable. It would be nice if he could play, but if not, it's good to have a rested Rose. In addition, we need Bayless to be effective, and that doesn't mean taking 16 shots again. However, he's an above average 3-point shooter, so he needs to take the open three if it is available. He showed a nice 2-man game with KAT against the Suns which gave him a few open looks...let's hope he hits them again.
3) Wig showed a pulse against the Suns. It would be helpful if he could show up again.

Gotta get this one tonight.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Yeah, they need to win this one. I watched the Jazz last night and they are really good. We need to hope that both the Lakers and Clippers fall off because it won't be any of the other teams above them. I still think it's a long shot, despite what happens tonight.

The Lakers are also without Ball, who had been playing pretty good recently.

[AbeVigodaLive]

The Jazz rise up the Western standings has begun in earnest... again.

Is this the 3rd straight season?

[Monster]

It's not quite a must win but it's pretty damn close if you want this team to have a shot at the playoffs. I think many here would be happy with a split against the Jazz and that might even be a tad bit optimistic. Rondo might be available for this Lakers game.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

The Jazz rise up the Western standings has begun in earnest... again.

Is this the 3rd straight season?

A lot of it is schedule. They start the year with a really tough schedule, which makes them seem worse than they really are, and then their schedule gets easier. That being said, Mitchell did start off the year kinda shaky and he's been coming on strong of late, so that certainly helps too.

I thought Chauncey Billups made an interesting observation about the Jazz starting 5. They are probably one of the more "traditional" starting units in the NBA.

Gobert - Traditional shot blocker and paint scorer with very little range
Favors - Big dude, does most of his work from the mid-range on in like the PFs of yesteryear.
Ingles - Can shoot, defend, handle, and pass
Mitchell - Team's best scorer, can shoot, defend, handle, and pass. Can play PG too.
Rubio - Pass first point guard, ball hawk

As a team, they have set plays and don't just do incessant high pick and rolls and isolation sets. Lots of off ball screens and pin downs being set.

[kekgeek]

If we win this game we also hold the tiebreaker against the lakers so that could be huge

[thedoper]

The Jazz have been playing well. We always seem to have good games against them as I think it's a good matchup for us position by position. It would be nice to go into that first Jazz game back at .500.

This Lakers game is the one you'd almost guarantee the Wolves would blow in the past. I will actually be quite impressed if they can take care of business tonight without major struggle. I was happy how they came back stong in game 2 against Phoenix. Hope they're prepared tonight.

[Monster]

The Jazz rise up the Western standings has begun in earnest... again.

Is this the 3rd straight season?

A lot of it is schedule. They start the year with a really tough schedule, which makes them seem worse than they really are, and then their schedule gets easier. That being said, Mitchell did start off the year kinda shaky and he's been coming on strong of late, so that certainly helps too.

I thought Chauncey Billups made an interesting observation about the Jazz starting 5. They are probably one of the more "traditional" starting units in the NBA.

Gobert - Traditional shot blocker and paint scorer with very little range
Favors - Big dude, does most of his work from the mid-range on in like the PFs of yesteryear.
Ingles - Can shoot, defend, handle, and pass
Mitchell - Team's best scorer, can shoot, defend, handle, and pass. Can play PG too.
Rubio - Pass first point guard, ball hawk

As a team, they have set plays and don't just do incessant high pick and rolls and isolation sets. Lots of off ball screens and pin downs being set.

It will be interesting to see how things go. I don't want to make too much out of it but they went on a 6 game winning streak without Rubio and some of those games they had no other traditional PG either. Mitchell got to have the ball a lot I would guess. I'm not suggesting Rubio was hurting them before but it is something I am watching to see how it plays out. Adding Korver (even with his Shaq'n the fool moment which was hilarious) I think has been an important addition for them this year.

I just looked back at the teams they played on that 6 game winning streak. Let's just say it was not the cream of the crop. Still a win against Denver the last game ain't nothing.

[AbeVigodaLive]

The Jazz rise up the Western standings has begun in earnest... again.

Is this the 3rd straight season?

A lot of it is schedule. They start the year with a really tough schedule, which makes them seem worse than they really are, and then their schedule gets easier. That being said, Mitchell did start off the year kinda shaky and he's been coming on strong of late, so that certainly helps too.

I thought Chauncey Billups made an interesting observation about the Jazz starting 5. They are probably one of the more "traditional" starting units in the NBA.

Gobert - Traditional shot blocker and paint scorer with very little range
Favors - Big dude, does most of his work from the mid-range on in like the PFs of yesteryear.
Ingles - Can shoot, defend, handle, and pass
Mitchell - Team's best scorer, can shoot, defend, handle, and pass. Can play PG too.
Rubio - Pass first point guard, ball hawk

As a team, they have set plays and don't just do incessant high pick and rolls and isolation sets. Lots of off ball screens and pin downs being set.

Here's the rub... and you might not like it...

A lot of Mitchell's resurgence (28/4/5/43% on threes) this month has come after Rubio and Exum got hurt and Mitchell took over the bulk of the ball-handling duties.

They've won 7 out of 8 with Rubio + Exum playing 37 total minutes.




[Note: Damni it, Monster!]

[Monster]

Also Teague didn't practice and is out.