Turnovers definately hurt the Jazz but I think that was just the result of being a step too slow. . . which also contributed to 33 foul calls.

Everyone wants to complain about the number of fouls the Jazz were called for but look at the facts. Utah led the league in fouls in the regular season with 24 FPG. So, it's not a surprise that they were called for a high number of fouls - especially since teams get more physical in the playoffs. Then when you take away the 7 late game fouls committed to stop the clock and send the Lakers to the FT line you're back to 26 fouls. . . 2 above their average.

Why is that a huge shock to everyone? The reason Kobe shot 23 free throws wasn't because the refs are in his fan club - it's because Kobe drove on almost every play and forced the contact. When he shot jumpers he pump faked and got Kirilenko and Brewer in the air. Jazz need to be more aggresive, stop shooting jumpers and they'll also get the calls.

These boneheads have learned ABSOLUTELY NOTHING from the regular season. Still the same mistakes, still the same ineptitude by the regular chokers (Ogre and Bruiser namely). AK-47 was the ONLY bright spot in the game on Sunday.

I will determine how Utah's near future will progress by watching game two on Wednesday night. What I see there, will clue me in on Utah's future. Will D-Will become a premier PG that CP3 has already become? Will Bruiser be worthy of his large contract? Is Memo Ogre a valid center for this club, or should he be traded? What about Ronald Brewer? As I said in another post, I do not want to see Ronald Brewer and his ugly shot take anymore jumpers in these playoffs. He's good for around the basket maneuvers, and that's it.

If the questions I pose above result in positive answers, and Utah still cannot produce at least a WC championship within the next two seasons. then Jerry Sloan should retire or Larry Miller should fire him. We've had the talent for two decades, but have yet to produce a championship. Who else is left to blame but the coach?

Everything rides on Game Two tomorrow.

just because kobe is a star player, doesn't mean you have to treat him like a star and call every single foul when somewhen even nicks him

Totally agree - never said he deserved the treatment. I'm just saying, set your kobe hate and Jazz support aside for one sec.

look at Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Karl Malone etc. If you think about how they play it's very aggressive and physical. These players drive and look for contact, when they shoot - they pump fake - no one did that better than Malone. These guys are stars for a lot of reasons and one of them is their ability to get to the FT line- they're smart about getting easy scoring opportunities. Kobe did the same thing in GM1 and got to the line.

The whole "star treatment" comes when refs so routinely are used to star players playing aggressive that they assume contact results in a foul by the other team. So, refs aren't perfect but it's a simple matter of being more aggressive. If the Jazz were as aggressive on scoring as they were on rebounding then they'll be fine.

Everyone needs to stop whining and blaming the refs and blaming kobe for a call the ref calls. Kobe doesn't make the calls. Man up and be aggressive.

Moo Goo you got to stop sniffing paint or something.
This team is still very young, but more talented than
the Stockton to Malone era. There are valid reasons
for their sunday demise. I have confidence in this
team...Just think if we could pull out a surprise series win over the Lakers, as they are the softest
team the Jazz will face, they have a shot at getting
to the FINALS...I have no doubt. Especially if the
Spurs are dumped by the Hornets. I would love
to see Williams and CP3 go head to head again.
You have to give Kirilenko alot of credit...and
Okur...Okur is playing great! Millsap and Brewer
are fun to watch. Tell me if anyone has ever
seen these two guys quit or stop hustling..It does
not happen. If only Brewer had a more deadly shot,
the series would be over.
Sloan has been calling better time outs and actually
staying positive in the locker room talks I have seen.

Memo played his butt off in game 1. And you want to blow him up because we lost? Brewer has a goofy looking outside shot, but he has been hitting them very consistantly throughout the playoffs.

Calling your team a bunch of boneheads because they lost a game they were supposed to lose is a pretty stupid thing to do.

Williams just needs some time to get his legs back and booz needs to go inside more and we'll be fine. The good news is that the Jazz played like crap, the Lakers played really well, and the Jazz still had a chance to win that game. This series will go 6 or 7 games and the Jazz will have a great chance of winning it. When you don't have the home court, that's all you can ask for.

I wish I was as confident as you, fellow poster above me. Alas, I am not. Utah is through. Once they start winning on the road and start destroying teams they should destroy (Miami and Minnesota, for example), that's when I'll have confidence in them. Until that moment though, this hapless bunch is just this: PRETENDERS.

I'm so glad CP3 and the Hornets are killing the Spurs. Once Utah goes down, and they doubtless will, I will be rooting for New Orleans with every fiber of my being.

They have beaten good teams on the road, but that
indicates youth and inexperience...It took the Spurs
and the Pistons awhile to figure that one out...If
the Lakers win a road game against the Jazz, I will
coronate them, but not yet...

Like when the Lakers ended the Jazz home winning streak this season?

Why do you assume the Jazz can't be beaten at home by the #1 seed who beat them at home during the regular season and won the regular season series against them?

Not arguing - just wondering what your logic is. . . I get that you're a fan but at least be realistic about your scouting assessment.

funny how williams doesn't think the lakers did anything to effect his shooting. Williams drove inside and Turiaf and Odom only blocked his shot into Arizona. then again, williams isn't a good shooter to begin with.

WILLIAMS ISNT A GOOD SHOT SO i GUESS A 50+% SHOOTER FOR THE SEASON ISNT A GOOD SHOOTER.