Utah Jazz notebook: Shooting woes irk Jazz's Williams

LOS ANGELES — Deron Williams readily accepted personal responsibility for his 5-of-18 field shooting Sunday in the Jazz's Game 1 NBA Western Conference semifinal series to the Los Angeles Lakers.

But he wasn't real specific about what went wrong.

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was.

"They were really after him on the pick-and-rolls," Sloan said, "and made it difficult for him to get exactly what he wanted.

"But I thought he played," Sloan added, "and as time went on he got a little better."

The defense on Williams went just as planned, ex-Jazz guard and current Laker starting point Derek Fisher suggested.

"I think probably what confused him was because of how old I am," the 34-year-old said. "I am so slow, when he fakes I don't go for it because I don't react so fast, so I still end up in front of him."

But seriously ...

Fisher, who had a personal postseason high six steals, said that for him it was all about thinking defense first.

"I just really tried to make contributions where I could," said Fisher, who was the Jazz's starting shooting guard as well as Williams' backup at the point last season — and who dealt with him often during practices. "There weren't a lot of offensive opportunities for me, but I think the key for us is going to be on the defensive end, so I tried to play a role on that end."

QUICK TURNAROUND: The Jazz had about 38 hours after Friday night's Game 6 first round-ending win over Houston and before Sunday's afternoon tip.

They did not want to use it as an excuse but did address its reality.

"It doesn't matter how you feel — no energy, you have energy. No. You need to play," forward Andrei Kirilenko said. "That's a playoff-intensity game, so you're supposed to match it."

"I'm not gonna make excuses that we just played 40 hours ago," Williams said. "It's the playoffs. You have to get up for every game like it's your last."

But, Williams added, the break before Wednesday's Game 2 "should definitely give us time to make some more adjustments, watch some more film on them, get familiar with them a little better."

By Wednesday, the Jazz hope to have a better handle on 38-point scorer Kobe Bryant — and especially his side pick-and-roll with big man Pau Gasol.