LAKERS vs JAZZ: GAME 1(POST-GAME REPORT)

LAKERS 113 - JAZZ 100

Game one of the first round for the Los Angeles, Lakers was just... OK. It was a bit weird for me. I woke up mid-way through the first quarter, mildly cheering while still laying down. And eventually I got more and more hyped as the game went on getting louder and louder. Same "WOO's" and "AHH's" and "WHAT?!? Where was the foul?" You know the same ol' stuff. But this is a Playoff game, and I couldn't help but just treat it as a regular season game.

It didn't feel right. Other than the Playoff decal they stuck on the hardwood, it just didn't have that playoff atmosphere. Not only were the fans just giving it an average effort to cheer on our beloved Lakers, but the Lakers themselves played like it was just another game. Don't get me wrong, the first half was beautiful, but the second half was mediocre as if this were another game played somewhere between late October and early April. Anyway back to the Review.

Kobe started off dishing the ball to his team, gaining assist before he started giving out facials to the Jazz. And although Kobe Led the team with 24pts and 8asts, it was Ariza and Brown's energy that lifted them. Ariza finished behind Kobe with 21pts while Shannon Brown added 9pts on 3-4 shooting. Pau nearly had himself a double-double with 20pts and 9rebs. Lamar had himself a good game with 13pts and 8rebs off the bench on 5-8 shooting. He needs more attempts if you ask me. Early fouls put Bynum in trouble who only had 7pts, and 3rebs.

D-Will had himself more assist than he had points with 17asts and 16pts. Struggling from the field, he then started getting in the paint creating shots for his team or got fouled in the act. Boozer, I don't know how but managed to put up 27pts and 9rebs. Millsap chipped in 15pts and 8rebs on a limited 25mins. The rest of the team was a bit irrelevant. There were moments when Kirilenko had great defensive plays but ruined them with turnovers.

If the Lakers would have continued the way they played in the first half, it would have been an easy blow-out. Their lacking on the defensive end. Jazz absolutely killed us on the boards, dominating on the offensive rebounds 20-7. The rest need to follow what Ariza and Brown are doing.