4/14/09 Game Thread Utah @ Los Angeles (Lakers) -- Well.. this is it.. If we don't want Utah to play us, then the Lakers have to beat them here. The way I see it though, it's most likely to happen. Utah is on a back to back, PLUS, this is in LA so they will have to travel over night and fly to LA. I just don't see Utah beating LA on the road, go Lakers!
I think the Lakers is going to rest Fisher/Kobe/Gasol or limit their minutes. The Lakers have nothing to play for. So, it's a very winnable game for the Jazz.
This isn't true but a Lakers win would guarantee we don't play the Jazz. The Jazz could win and depending on the outcomes of Wednesday's games, we could still end up with a different opponent.
The Jazz will win because the Lakers have absolutely nothing to play for. All PJ wants is for this game to get over with quickly without anyone important getting injured. The Jazz might set a record for largest winning margin against the Lakers in LA.
the lakers will play their main players to keep them sharp. too many days off isn't a good thing. however, their minutes will surely be limited, and they have nothing to play for. looks good for utah, except... if the lakers win they know they are playing the jazz in the first round. that means extra time to prepare for the series. maybe the lakers want to play utah in the first round.
Team season record LA 3, Dallas 0 LA 3, New Orleans 1 LA 1, Utah 1 LA basically gets a chance to re-roll their first round fodder. However, Phil J. already has a playbook for Utah last season. So they will probably stick with swatting away the pest early. Teams try to avoid LA in the first round. But what if LA wants you?
The lakers will win. This game is their last game of the season, and their 1st playoff game should be on sunday. There is enough time to rest their stars. Bynum just came back, they need to play together more to build team chemisty. And, if they beat the jazz tomorrow, the jazz will be lock to the 8th. That means they know who they will play against in the 1st round, and they can make team plans from now. Why should they wait till wednesday night?! The lakers play for championship. They will send a message to all playoff teams through tomorrow game.
Last game of the regular season. I would think the Lakers will play at full strength so as to send a message to the rest of the league. Tanking this game would be a stupid move for LA.
Don't forget Utah also in free fall (they lose to GS at home). I guess Rockets is the only one (or not) doesn't want to face them in the first round. Lakers should pick them instead of the surging Dallas and dangerous CP3 + Tyson.
Lakers are shooting for the championship.. I don't think they want to leave any doubt or asterisk like they tanked 1 game because they were afraid to meet an opponent in the playoffs..
A lakers win WOULD guarentee we don't play them (they would have 34 losses), but it is true if Jazz win then anything can happen.
I'm guessing it's because we got whooped by them twice in a row over the past few weeks. Not to mention the games played out eerily similar to the playoff losses of the past two seasons.
