Lakers win behind Kobe

This is the no-surprise series. Same old stuff, no hidden wrinkles from either side, just a matter of who will execute better.
It doesn't matter that the Lakers and Jazz haven't faced each other in a playoff series for 10 years, that only Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher are still on the Lakers from that 1998 squad and only one Utah player from back then is still in the league (Jacque Vaughn, now in San Antonio). This is the third time Phil Jackson's coaching staff has faced Jerry Sloan's coaching staff in the playoffs and there haven't been any dramatic reinventions on either end since they faced each other in back-to-back NBA Finals during Jackson's Chicago days.
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"We're not going to change a lot of stuff, and I doubt the Lakers are going to change a great deal," Sloan said.
"It's the same stuff," Bryant said "You know it's coming, but the execution is so precise, there's a lot of times you feel one step behind."
It was the Lakers who stayed in character longer Sunday, who remembered that they're at their best when they move the ball and get it in to Pau Gasol. And when that doesn't work, Bryant can always take his man one-on-one.
The most effective play of the Lakers' 109-98 victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals was Bryant getting fouled, stepping to the line and making free throws, something he did 21 times in 23 attempts (both playoff career highs).
The Jazz were physical on defense and aggressive on the boards, as expected, but they couldn't maintain their offensive focus in the second quarter, when the game got away from them. That's when the Utah shot 28 percent, coughed up seven turnovers and fell behind by 17. Even though they climbed back in the game, cutting the Lakers' lead to four points in the second half.
The Jazz scored 20 of their 24 first-quarter points in the paint. But in the second quarter they started settling for jump shots.
"When they started putting pressure on us, we started moving farther out on the floor to take shots and when we do that, we can't defend the other end of the floor," Sloan said.
Midway through the third quarter, the shot chart showed the Jazz had made only 1 of 20 jumpers outside the paint. The only thing that kept them in the game was an incredible rebounding effort that resulted in 25 offensive rebounds and a 58-41 edge on the boards overall.
The Lakes did exploit Utah's commitment to rebounding to escape for transition layups at times, outscoring Utah 17-6 in fast-break points.
And now the Lakers players have had a game to absorb the grind of facing the Jazz, and maybe gained a greater appreciation for what the coaching staff told them to expect.
"Until they experience it," Jackson said, "and you get into that kind of a scrum match that you're going to have out there, it's hard for them to be told that they have to just 'get in there and get the ball,' and that type of thing."
The Jazz used 33 personal fouls (Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko both fouled out), and those are just the ones that were called. Lakers trainer Gary Vitti expects the training room to be full and will have to stock up on ice after this one.
The five-day vacation they earned from sweeping the Nuggets is over.
"It's definitely different than Denver," said Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic, speaking of the Lakers' first-round opponent that offered the path of least resistance in the playoffs so far.
But the Jazz discovered that Bryant has a lot more weapons around him than Tracy McGrady and their first-round foe, Houston.
(Poor T-Mac. It's time for his annual playoff obit. You know who he reminds me of? Remember Special Delivery Jones from the Saturday morning wrestling shows in the '80s? That's T-Mac. SD Jones would beat the no-name opponents, but whenever he'd go against one of the villains like the Iron Sheik or Sgt. Slaughter, Jones would always lose. He'd put up a good fight and get your hopes up, then go down every time. That's McGrady.)
While the Jazz should shoot better than 38 percent as they recover from going from Game 6 to Game 1 in two days, the Lakers should win the series because they have more weapons.
Besides Bryant's 38, the Lakers got 18 from Gasol, 16 from Odom and 15 from Vujacic off the bench.
Mehmet Okur got loose for 21 points, but otherwise the Lakers effectively contained Deron Williams by jumping screens and jamming him away from the ball, and Boozer, often double-teamed in the low post, was limited to 15 points.
And now the Lakers have a lot of history on their side. Jackson has never lost a series after winning the opening game. And the Lakers have won five straight games to open the playoffs. Of the previous nine times the Lakers started off so well, they reached the NBA Finals eight times, winning six championships.
From the history to the familiarity to the style of play, Bryant is into it.
"It's a chance to bang, and that's what basketball's all about," Bryant said. "If you're an '80s fan or a basketball aficionado, you kind of like that stuff."
And for a second straight series, the Lakers overcame a shaky first half to roll to an easy Game 1 win.