Scouting Report / Lakers (61-21, 7-2) vs. Utah Jazz (62-20, 7-3) : Mark Heisler’s Look at the Series
* Season series: Lakers, 3-1.
* Story line: The Lakers didn’t come out of the first round looking like monsters, but the second round was something else. Eddie Jones busted loose for 101 points in the last four games against Seattle, startling the SuperSonic defenders, who loosened up on Shaquille O’Neal. He then scored 26 points, 30, 39 and 31. The Lakers averaged 108 points in those four, flattening the SuperSonics with a clap heard around the league.
If the SuperSonics didn’t test them, the Jazz will. They’re hard-nosed, as opposed to the finesse SuperSonics, far more willing to slow the game to a minuet, making it a half-court exercise in execution, at which they’re the experts.
Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan has three centers to foul O’Neal. Del Harris will have to find help for slender Robert Horry--Elden Campbell? Corie Blount? any volunteers?--who is overmatched by the 260-pound Karl Malone.
* Prediction: If Jones keeps rolling, the Jazz could live forever and still wouldn’t have enough experience. Lakers, 4-2.
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