Utah Jazz are running out of time

By Brad Rock
Deseret News
Published: Thursday, May 8, 2008 12:24 a.m. MDT
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LOS ANGELES — In the recent film "The Bucket List," Jack Nicholson — same guy who sits rakishly on the sidelines at Lakers games — plays the part of a terminally ill cancer patient. He and hospital roommate Morgan Freeman develop a list of things they want to do before they "kick the bucket."

They want to travel the world, heal old grudges, climb mountains, ford rivers, see the pyramids.

It makes for decent movie going.

And isn't that what playing the Lakers is all about — one big screenplay?

Maybe the Jazz should have their own Bucket List. Things to do before they die: Hold Kobe Bryant to under 25 points, discover whatever happened to Carlos Boozer's touch, and shoot well in a playoff game.

Wednesday night at the Staples Center, the Jazz fell to 0-2 in their playoff series with the L.A. Lakers. Which means they haven't scratched many of items off their list. The series moves to Salt Lake on Friday, where their chances get a little better. Still, time is short.

With their 120-110 win, the Lakers and are cruising the Coast Highway with the top down.

Who needs a silly to-do list?

They have their own one-item agenda: win another championship.

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Now that they've won six straight playoff games, talk is rising that the Lakers are the team to beat for the NBA title. Has it really been six years since the Kobe-Shaq combo was completing a three-peat? For most franchises, six years ago is recent history. In fact, it doesn't even seem all that long since the Jazz were playing in the NBA Finals. Yet that has been 10 years.

But for L.A., a few years is an eternity.

Just take a look in Lakers' owner Jerry Buss' window at the team practice facility. There on the ledge are eight, count 'em, eight championship trophies.

Patience isn't a virtue in L.A.

Hence, when introductions are made prior to games, the club unveils a ceiling-to-floor circular silkscreen that says, "THE HEART OF THE CITY BEATS AGAIN" and follows with dramatic images of Laker players.

On Wednesday, they also took time to honor MVP Kobe Bryant, who told fans, "I love you guys so much!"

It's impressive stuff.

Hollywood quality, in fact.

Then there are the Jazz, working on a little production of their own.

Would one win before the season's over be too much to ask?

That the Jazz would be in this predicament isn't surprising. They made it this far by struggling past an injury-depleted Houston team that took them to six games. That's because the Jazz have been playing without the normal services of top scorer Carlos Boozer. He's still MIA.

Whether it's a rumored injured back, or something in his head, Boozer just can't seem to get back to the dominating scorer he was a year ago. He has not hit his regular-season scoring average once in the playoffs and has scored 20 points just once. Wednesday night, he finished with 10.

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Recent comments

LA is the best team in the NBA this year. Utah is a good NBA team...

LA the better team | May 8, 2008 at 11:59 a.m.

The Jazz are indeed running out of time and Brad Rock is running...

Time | May 8, 2008 at 7:17 a.m.

When are we going to get some swagger and play like the money we...

NCJazzFan | May 8, 2008 at 12:47 a.m.