Apparently, size does matter.
The Lakers absolutely dominated play down in the low block from start to finish during Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Tuesday night. In fact, they put on a clinic on how to get things done in the paint against the Jazz.
Simply put, it was way too much Andrew Bynum. Way too much Pau Gasol. Way too much Lamar Odom. The trio combined for 50 points, 44 rebounds and nine blocks and the Lakers ended up winning with relative ease, 111-103, at Staples Center.
“We’d try to get in the lane, and there were two or three guys there,” said a visibly frustrated Deron Williams afterward. He finished with 15 points, on 4-16 shooting from the field, to go along with nine assists. “Their length bothered us tonight.”
The effort shouldn’t come as much of a surprise either, not when you considering how well Bynum, Gasol and Odom played in Game 1. They tallied 42 points, 34 rebounds and seven blocks in a 104-99 victory in the series opener against Utah.
Anyone know how to get a hold of Mark Eaton?
If so, the Jazz could really use the big man.
Bynum had been bombarded with questions about his meniscus injury over the past couple of days. However, he silenced all the skepticism on Tuesday with a solid all-around effort that included 17 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocks.
Gasol finished with 22 points, 15 rebounds and 2 blocks. And Odom was too bad either. He ended up with 11 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks.
You can count Kobe Bryant as a fan of the big three.
“They played extremely, extremely well,” said Bryant, who had 30 points. “Pau and Andrew, their work on the boards tonight was sensational. Lamar coming off the bench with 15 rebounds was just incredible. We really did a great job, and aside from scoring, the big fellas, obviously rebounding and controlling the paint.”
Utah figured to have trouble with the Lakers, an everyone else for that matter, once Mehmet Okur went down with an ruptured Achilles.
Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap have attempted to pick up the slack And give the tandem some credit, they did their best to keep Utah close.
Boozer finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds against Los Angeles. Millsap came off the bench, as always, and had 26 points and 11 rebounds.
It appears as if help might be on the way though.
Andrei Kirilenko, who has been nursing a calf injury for quite a while now, could be back in the lineup sooner, rather than later for Utah. And his presence would most certainly help against the likes of the long and lengthy Lakers.
In the meantime, Kyrylo Fesenko is starting for the Jazz in the middle. And that’s a serious problem, one Utah needs to address.
Bottom line: If the Jazz don’t figure out a way to slow down Bynum, Gasol and Odom, this series will be over quick. Real quick.
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