For the third consecutive year the Lakers dismiss the Jazz this time in convincing fashion with a four game sweep. I can't help but feel bad for the hard working Jazz organization who unfortunately were fighting injuries and faced a healthier Laker Team. Lakers still would have won the series, but with Memo and AK47 healthy is hard to believe they would have been swept. Game 1 had the Lakers give up a double digit lead and trail by 4 before Mamba took over scoring 7 straight points to secure the win. The three headed big man monster of the Lakers all got 10+ rebounds and the bench while giving up the lead did score 22 pts to Utah's 25 led by Milsap's 16. Utah had 5 players in double figures but the 1-2 punch of Kobe and Pau were too much Gasol had 25 pts, 12 rbs, 5 blks, and 4 dimes. In game 2 Lakers continued to exploit their height advantage and destroyed the Jazz frontline with a combined 50 pts 44 rebs and 9 blks shots between the 3 of them. The Jazz played well, but were no match to LA's size and were swatted away 13 times. Milsap continued his stellar bench play and led the Jazz with 26 pts. Booze had another double double and rookie Wesley Matthews swiped the ball again 3 times and chipped in 14 valuable points, they still went down 111-103. Game 3 switched over to Salt Lake where the Jazz were superb shooting better from the floor and downtown than the Laker, going to the line 12 more times, out rebounding and out assisting them and their bench clobbering the Lakers by 24 points and at the end the Lakes did just enough to take a commanding 3-0 lead. Kobe was his usual self with 35 points and two cold hearted 3's in the 4th while dishing out 7 dimes, Artest and Fisher came up strong with 20 a piece, Ron ron goin g4/5 from downtown, the dominating front line was average that game with Paul having his lowest point total, Bynum laying an egg and Odom contributing only 8 and 8. Pau did have 17 boards including the most important one at the end of the game stealing the game from the Jazz. Game 4 is how good teams close out a series, even though they had a let down in the 3rd, the Lakers responded and took command of the game eliminating any chance of late surge. The Jazz again had 5 players in double figures but only got 10 pts from Booze in their biggest game of the season. The All-Star duo of Gasol and Bryant both scored over 30 pts and got some much needed bench scoring from Shannon brown with a dozen and Odom with 10. Pau would average 23.5 pts, 14.5 rbs, and 2.8 blks for the series. For Utah Deron Williams average 22 pts with 8.8 assists, but needed more from Carlos Boozer whose 15.5 pts and 13 rbs is not bad but was not enough to be their #2 scorer, Milsap averaged 19 pts for the series.
Now the Lakers take a LONG break which absolutely ridiculous before they face off against division rival Phoenix Suns.
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