Jazz-Lakers: Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer Play Like All-Stars

Another second-round playoff game, another victory for the home team; this one — a 104-99 Jazz victory over the Lakers in Game Three — was a definite season-saver.

Lakers Offense-Jazz Defense

The Lakers started out moving the ball crisply, generating open looks, and knocking down open shots — four of their first five field goals to be exact. But then Derek Fisher picked up his second foul and went to the bench. Jordan Farmar couldn’t execute the offense and the triangle stagnated.

To generate offense, Los Angeles posted Kobe against Ronnie Brewer with mixed success. While Kobe was only 1-for-4 for the first half for eight points, he constantly drew double teams and found cutters to the tune of three assists.

In the second half, Jackson positioned Kobe on the wing, where he would be in better position to attack and score. Since nobody on the Jazz could stop him off the dribble, Kobe erupted for 26 second half points.

Those points came on drives into traffic, iso jumpers, free throws, and an incredible 12-foot, step-through, pass off the backboard to himself resulting in a slam  usually reserved for All-Star games and dunk contests.

Still, with the triangle dissolved early, most of the Lakers offense came on generic isolations and clearouts. These failed to produce the plethora of open jumpers and layups Los Angles had feasted on over their first six playoff games.

What else?

Pau Gasol was unprepared for Utah’s rough stuff. To combat his lengthy drives and mid-range shooting, the Jazz crowded him and swiped hard at his dribble from the blind side. As a result, Gasol (6-10 FG, 12 PTS, 5 TO) was discombobulated throughout.

Lamar Odom (3-3 FG, 13 PTS, 12 REB, 1 AST, 3 TO) was effective but wasn’t involved much in the offense.

Jordan Farmar (0-6 FG, 0-3 3FG, 1 AST, 3 TO, 0 PTS) and Sasha Vujacic (0-3 FG, 0-2 3FG, 1 AST, 1 TO, 0 PTS) were total failures.

Ronnie Turiaf was active and smart — 4-5 FG, 1 AST, 8 PTS.

Vladimir Radmanovic made tons of defensive mistakes, and his shooting (3-7 FG, 2-6 3FG) couldn’t make up for it.

Farmar couldn’t handle the intensity of making correct decisions under pressure in a hostile environment. Many of his mistakes — too-early three-balls, leaping in the air to pass, etc. — were self-induced.

The Lakers missed a total of six layups, including three by Farmar, one by Fisher, one by Gasol, and one by Luke Walton.

The Lakers three-point shooting (5-23 22%) was dreadful.

Deron Williams locked up all three of Los Angeles’ point guards, while Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur swallowed up Gasol.

The only person to successfully defend Kobe in the post was Matt Harpring, who frustrated Kobe into an elbow to the face. Still, Kobe dominated Harpring when he faced up, inducing two fouls, including a plus-one jumper.

Ronnie Brewer and Andrei Kirilenko had the best defense against Kobe: sag off and hope for him to miss (0-6 3FG).

The best thing the Lakers can hang their hat on is the fact that despite 5-of-23 three-point shooting, six missed layups, 18 turnovers, a scattered offense, numerous self-inflicted wounds, few players playing at or above their expected levels, and three crucial missed free throws down the stretch, Los Angles shot 49 percent and were only down three late in the ball game.

Jazz Offense-Lakers Defense

With Fisher out early, Deron Williams was able to get into a groove. Even when Fisher returned later on, Williams was able to do what he wanted, when he wanted no matter what the defense did.

Williams had tremendous success driving baseline, sucking defenders, and kicking the ball back out for cutters and spot-up shooters. Because the Lakers often overreacted to Williams’ drives, Mehmet Okur was wide open all game long from the outside.

In Game One, the Jazz had some success using weak-side baseline brush screens to get point-blank shots at the basket.

However, the Lakers did an excellent job in Game Two of either showing down or jamming the cutters, forcing them back around elbow screens where Kyle Korver, Andre Kirilenko, and Matt Harpring would miss the shot.

In Game Three, the Jazz didn’t cut to initiate their offense, but instead waited for Deron Williams to drive baseline, collapse the defense, and then charge to the hoop for easy layups.

Instead of trying to shoot over Lamar Odom’s and Pau Gasol’s length, Carlos Boozer took the ball right into Gasol’s chest and muscled Gasol out of defensive position.

When Boozer was left to shoot jump shots, he was more comfortable with his release, and with the home backdrop. This newfound attitude adjustment on the part of Boozer resulted in a critical 12-of-21 shooting for 27 huge points.

The major difference in Utah’s Game Three success wasn’t any particular play call or strategy. The Jazz simply made their jumpers. After bricking so many open looks in Los Angeles, the Jazz shot 20-of-45 in Game 3, including 8-of-10 from Okur, 5-of-10 from Boozer, and 3-of-8 from Williams.

The Jazz surprised the Lakers by running Mehmet Okur around a double curl late in the fourth, resulting in a drive and a foul. Since Okur has to be followed through the screens because of his jump shooting prowess, open diving lanes will be there if the Lakers don’t adjust.

Kobe Bryant played terrific weak-side defense, sticking with Kyle Korver around elbow curls, deflecting cross-court passes, and sticking with Matt Harpring in the post to block his shot.

Luke Walton likewise had a solid defensive game for the Lakers, inducing several Jazz turnovers.

After several turnovers by the Jazz allowed the Lakers to cut the lead to three, the Jazz ran three successive pick-and-rolls from Williams to Boozer resulting in a tough hook, and two game-clinching jumpers.

Credit Williams’ passing and Utah’s jump shooting for the Jazz’ 21 assists. Blame Derek Fisher’s foul trouble (and Jackson’s decision to sit him for such an extended period) for the Lakers’ lack of offensive harmony (14 assists on 32 made baskets).

So what can we expect for Game Four and beyond?

Like the Jazz, the Lakers (besides Kobe) are incredibly young and inexperienced in the postseason, so shooting woes on the road are to be expected.

The Lakers need to keep Derek Fisher in the game if he picks up early foul trouble. He’s the only chance the Lakers have of defending Deron Williams.

The Lakers need to cut off the baseline and overplay Deron Williams middle, though with Williams’ crossover, this is incredibly hard to do. If Williams is sent middle, there will be more opportunities for Gasol, Turiaf, and Odom to challenge Williams at the rim without Williams finding unimpeded three-point shooters.

The Lakers should run more give-and-goes with Gasol to take advantage of Gasol’s passwork, and Utah’s propensity to pick at his dribbles.

Lamar Odom needs to have more plays run for him (which will happen if Fisher is directing the offense).

Sasha Vujacic needs to pretend that Energy Solutions Arena is really the Staples Center painted Blue.

Luke Walton should be given the majority of the minutes over Vladimir Radmonovic.

The Lakers should continue on defense to funnel the ball to Ronnie Brewer on the perimeter.

The Lakers should continue to vary their looks with Kobe, putting him in isolations more, while continuing to post him in early offense. The Jazz simply don’t have an answer for him.

For the Jazz, they simply have to keep on doing what they’ve been doing, with the added impetus of making their open jump shots. Without the jumpers falling, the Lakers absolutely have the firepower of stealing a road win, even while playing at a substandard level.