Lakers hope to win at least one on the road
The scene now shifts to Salt Lake City for two Western Conference playoff games.
For the Lakers, the goal now is to win at least one of the two semifinal games in Utah against the Jazz.
The Lakers won the first two games at Staples Center, and if they win Game 3 Saturday night, they would put the Jazz in a 0-3 hole that no team has ever climbed out of to win a best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Monday night in Utah.
“We’re like any other team going on the road; we just want to win one,” Lakers assistant coach Frank Hamblen said. “We want it to be the first one. We know it’s going to be a tough task.”
Hamblen, who is in charge of putting the game plan together against Utah, said it will be daunting.
EnergySolutions Arena has provided the Jazz with a home-court advantage because its fans are notorious for their support, the noise they bring and the vicious attitude they display toward opponents.
The Jazz was 32-9 at home during the regular season, tied for the third-best home record in the NBA.
“They are one of the more successful teams at home,” Hamblen said. “It’s a tremendous home-court crowd, one of the most vocal crowds in the league. They play with great confidence there.”
Here are three keys for the Lakers to be successful:
Keep crowd subdued
The Jazz feeds off its raucous crowd, and opponents can wilt from all the noise. The Lakers hope to get a lead and keep it so the crowd doesn’t get riled up.
Win trench game
The Lakers outrebounded the Jazz in the first two games, 101-78. Pau Gasol (13.5), Andrew Bynum (12.0) and Lamar Odom (13.5) are all averaging double figures in rebounds. Odom has nine offensive rebounds; Gasol eight.
“We still want to win the trench game, the rebounds and points-in-the-paint game,” Hamblen said.
Don’t settle for three-pointers
The Lakers are shooting 31.1% from three-point range in the eight playoff games, a horrendous 20.7% (six for 29) in the Jazz series. Ron Artest has thrown up the most three-pointers of any Laker in the playoffs and he has been the worst. He’s making 16.7% (seven for 42) of his threes in the playoffs, 10% (one for 10) in the Jazz series.
“You don’t make threes as well on the road normally,” Hamblen said. “We haven’t shot them well at home. We certainly have to reduce the number we throw up there, and I do mean the word throw.”
Hamblen said the Jazz will:
Look to attack
Deron Williams will push the ball harder at the Lakers on the fastbreak and in their half-court flow offense.
“I thought they tried to attack us a little more last game off the dribble individually,” Hamblen said.
Use crowd
The Jazz wants the crowd to get involved in the game early. The Jazz wants to feed off the energy the crowd can give it in Game 3.
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