Jazz to focus on keeping Bryant off line

SALT LAKE CITY – The Jazz returned here for two days of practice before Game 2 on Wednesday night and seemingly the only solution in finding enough distance to separate themselves from Kobe Bryant’s jersey.

Bryant was sent to the free-throw line for a staggering 23 shots and made 21 of them in Sunday’s 109-98 Lakers victory over the Jazz in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals series.

So forgive Jazz forward Carlos Boozer if he sounds a bit confused or tongue tied. He’s just facing a problem that the rest of the league has tried to confront, but so far has yet to find an answer for.

On Bryant’s free throws and stopping him from getting to the line, Boozer said at today’s practice:

“I think we have to send more people at him. Try to make some other people score as opposed to having Kobe shoot the ball. We know he’s a great player. We all know that. But him shooting 23 free throws hurts us.”

OK. And later, on defending Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom:

“We do a good job of defending [them] one on one. But the problem with Lamar and Pau isn’t guarding them one-on-one, it’s helping out with Kobe, that’s when they get all their stuff because he draws so much attention.”

So, the Jazz can either send the house at Bryant and try to stop him and free up space for others. Or let Bryant go to work – from the floor or the free-throw line.

The Denver Nuggets, the Jazz’s predecessors against the Lakers in the playoffs, tried both to no avail.

In Game 1 of that series, they loaded up on Bryant, and Gasol piled up 36 points and 16 rebounds.

Game 2? That was the one in which Bryant erupted for 49 points.

The Nuggets couldn’t find a solution and it earned them a first-round exit. Come Game 2, the Jazz will attempt to find one and avoid the same fate.

 jonathan.abrams@latimes.com