LAKERS vs JAZZ: GAME 3(PRE-GAME REPORT)

Well, it was fun winning at home. Now the Lakers carry on to Game 3 in one of the most hostile stadiums in the NBA, the Energy Solutions Arena in Utah, for win number 3. Away, the Jazz are a horrible team. They seem to struggle on the road. But at home, they're a .800 team with a record of 33-8 on their floor. Last year's second round run against Utah, the Lakers gave a game to the Jazz, but eventually won the series in game 5 at home. This time around it feels a bit like deja vu. Winning the first two games and now going back to Utah in hopes to hold on for another win.

Utah has to be one of the most loudest(or THEE loudest) arena in the NBA. When the Jazz go on a run you swear your speakers will pop on your TV from the screaming fans in Utah. And those screams do make a difference. Hypes up their players and brings down the opposing teams. "I think our fans will give us a lift there and give us a little boost, but they can't run the floor for us," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. If the Lakers can keep the crowd out of the game, it'll be a huge plus for us.

The Jazz are still having problems with Kobe. They tried to double him and they end up giving an open look to another player. The let him go one-on-one and he easily scores over them. Only left to try against us is the Zone, and the Lakers are horrible against the zone. Unless of course we hit them with raining threes! And now that they realize Kobe isn't the only one who can hit shots, they have to stay stuck on their man(more notably Ariza and Brown) leaving the paint a little more spacious.

The Lakers still have the D-Will problem. Denying him the ball is damn near impossible. He has to have the ball or their offense is nonexistent. Keeping him from penetrating, doesn't work. Will we try the zone? I'm not sure that's the best idea. They also need to do a better job on the boards. Utah is a much smaller team yet they crash the boards. Our average is down the regular season. Other than that we just need to continue to play how we have been playing and we'll be alright.