Lakers vs. Jazz: Game 3

Energy Solutions Arena smelled like the Delta Center last night. Stockton was in the stands, fresh off his induction into the basketball HOF. Malone was too busy hauling a stand of conifers across country to make the game, but he was present in spirit, summoned by Charlie Boozer before the game and manifest in the man's 20-20. '90s Jazz stalwart Ty Corbin - who's now an asst coach on the team - whispered words of encouragement into the ears of CJ Miles and Ronnie Brewer Jr. whose combined defensive efforts forced Kobe into shooting an abominable 5-24.

Did the Jazz beat the Lakers last night or did the Lakers beat themselves? The Lake Show scuttled its overwhelming height advantage when Bynum got himself fouled out in the 3rd (Or at least Marv, Reggie and I thought he fouled out, the box score says otherwise). In any case, he played only 8 minutes in a game where his interior D was needed to thwart the pick-n-roll. Kobe did his best frustrated toddler impression last night, hoisting up more contested fallaways than Dejuan Wagner in a game of 1-on-1 with Loren Woods. Ronnie Brewer Sr. might have been correct when he said the difference between Kobe and Jordan is consistency. Is that what he said? I don't remember. I just know he looked cool in that Kangol and he played on that post-Walton Blazers team documented by Halberstam in Breaks of the Game.

Fact is, Kobe's gotta pass. Every time he drove and dumped down low to Pau, good things happened. The Jazz don't have the size to contain our bigs. They've got a couple very good defenders on the wings, and unless we're moving the ball and forcing double teams, Kobe isn't gonna find too many open looks. D-Will is gonna get his, and the altitude is gonna give the Lakers some wind problems, but as I see it, those are the only givens when it comes to this Jazz team. Boozer should be contained on every play except a few of those pick-n-rolls when help D on D-Will will be necessary. No more open elbow shots, and no more 22 rebound games.

Game 4 will be different. The Lakers won't shoot 37% from the field and 62% from the line. At least not unless the Jazz can figure out some way to get Tyrone Corbin on the floor.