OH MY GOSH...and from Magic Johnson to boot. I was very grateful that I was sitting down when I read this article!!!!!!!

GO JAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Magic gets it, but Laker fans and Phil Jackson don't. Excuses seem to be their middle name. And excuses are like you know, everyone has one and they stink. GO JAZZ!

Jazz are great at home, the true test is winning in a hostile environment, away from your fans. Jazz seem to break down mentally on the road. Win tonight's game and they can wrap it up at home. If no, Lakers will move on.

Did Magic Johnson say, referring to the Jazz, that "they're mean" or "their mean"?

As a life-long Laker fan, I agree with Magic (we're talking pre-Wilt!). The Jazz play a good brand of basketball: they're unselfish, they hustle, they've not forgotten the basics, and now they have the most talent they have ever had. And much of the credit should go to Sloan. Magic was right on. But Go Lakers!

It's over. The Jazz can get ready for summer vacation.

Magic is a lot smarter than all the dopes in LA

I am so tired of hearing Lakers homer Hubie Brown make excuses for them. It is refreshing to see that at least someone in the media can see what is really happening on the court...and I'm not even a Jazz fan...

That is a nervous comment and you know it. This series can go either way. First you Laker fans said it would be a sweep then you said Oh the Jazz won 1 game big deal. Now you say Lakers in 6, what will you say next Lakers in 7, or after game 7 will you say we will win next year? I respect Kobe as the best player in the game. He is the best player since Jordan. But I am not sure the rest of the Lakers are up to the task. Walton, Radmonavich, Vujacic, Farmar, Turiaf I'll even throw Gasol and Odom in there. None of these guys have ever been favored to win a series deep in the playoffs or been mentioned to win a championship. If these guys do not step up L.A. will lose. Utah has to find a way to win on the road. Forget the regular season, it means nothing, look at Boston. Utah is mentally tough enough to do it, so before you think you are off to the next round, think again. Utah is for real and very capable of winning this series. Should be very interesting. GO JAZZ!

I'm glad to read Magic's objective point of view and that he gives the Jazz some well deserved love. He's not our biggest cheerleader at TNT--that job has been claimed by Charles Barkley.

But both Magic and Sir Charles see something that I did not dare dream a week ago: the Jazz have a great chance to win this series. Of course the Lakers do too. We'll see tonight, which will be one of the biggest franchise games so far in my opinion. With the Celtics not as invincible as everyone thought, the smart money to win the championship will likely be on tonight's winner.

GO JAZZ!

Good luck to the Jazz! They play with all their heart. Go Jazzzzz!!!!

LOL, did you miss games 3 and 4 or something?

Yes you are a Jazz fan. Why did you say you are not. Why would you even waste you time. You are right though Hubie Brown is annoying.

This is our year! Go Jazz!!

I'm tired of hearing Jazz fans complain that the media doesn't recognize the Jazz's success or talent. Honestly, who cares??? In fact, I think it's that "underdog", "under the radar" mind set that motivates this team to be successful and prove everyone wrong. Although it would be interesting to see how this young team would react to more publicity, glory, recognition, like some of the big market teams get. Would it go to their head or would they continue to work hard and play with "something to prove"???

I am a die hard jazz fan, but I am realistic unlike most fans. The jazz are the only reason I watch the nba and I am from l.a. HOwever, this does not mean they are going to win this series. They have a chance if they can just stop panicking on the road. But other than that they are a sound team with great leadership and it is refreshing to watch even though they may never have the most talent.

To Mean: Theirs no getting around it your one smart dude.

Tonight's game will be a battle. I hope the jazz can pull it off, but it will be very difficult. As much as I hate the lakers, they are very good (you can't deny it). But the Jazz are very good too!!! Thank you for the compliments Magic. Good luck to both teams, and may the jazz come out victorious.

Jazz v Hornets
That's all I've got to say

Utah can prove the doubters wrong if they can win tonight.

I wonder if these guys realize that this game is probably the most important in the history of the Jazz franchise, because of the potential to climb to
the top of the mountain....I hope they seize the moment and not squander this golden opportunity.

However winning 2 close games at home and losing by more than 10 in both LA games does not inspire a lot of confidence.

We do have momentum and Kobe's back may be a factor. If Kobe is healthy it is almost impossible to beat them in LA with him getting every touch call.

I hope the Jazz win but you still have to give the edge to Jack Nicolson's team.

Magic has always been a class act. I feel if the Jazz win tonite they will win the series, they need to get off to a good start and not dig themselves a deep hole they cannot get out of. Go Jazz.

Magic has always been a no excuses and no compromise type of guy. No wonder he was such an awesome player and likes Jerry Sloan. He's a big part of the reason why people are Laker's fans in the first place.

The Jazz could win the series. They have set themselves up to do it. But Kobe and the Lakers are not going to roll over and give it to them. I bet it will come down to the wire on game 7.

I'm not a Jazz or Lakers fans, but I'm calling my shot right now: Whoever wins tonight's game will win the NBA championship.

I'm pulling for the Jazz because I can't stand the Lakers.

Unfortunately I think the Lakers win this game by 20+ with Kobe making a "heroic" comeback from his devastating back injury that's making him grimace whenever the camera is on him.

look, Kobe is good, but he still doesn't have the supporting cast. Farmar, odom, turiaf, walton and gasol have no deep playoff experience, and it will indefinately cost them this series. Basketball is a team game, and the jazz have a true team game going for them. It takes 5 to win. The lakers only have kobe and fisher. These are the facts, and they are undeniably true.

I am enjoying every additional game the Jazz are able to play. I would say they have about a 30% chance of winning this series. The Jazz will have to learn that it is very difficult to win a championship if you do not have home court advantage for 4 straight rounds.

typo

You jazz nuts better hope Kobe's back is in worse shape then it was in game 4 because that's your only hope. Your team dosen't win when their away from "the nut house". You guys would boo and throw stuff at a 4yr. old in a wheel chair if he was wearing a Laker shirt. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO spazz fans, you're an embarrassment to the sport.

This is all fine and dandy Jazz fans talkin' smack ( I am the biggest Jazz fan, well I like to think so :) anyway) but it will all be settled in the court. Talk is cheap. GO JAZZ!

Magic is just trying to trick the Jazz players into an over confidence mode before tonight's game 5. If there has ever been a time for the Lakers to be caught sleeping it is tonight. Most of the press have already handed game five over to the Lakers and even Kobe and crew are believing it is true.

Why are Jazz fans an embarrassment? Just cause the arena is not full of celebrities or fans that are so quiet you can hear a pin drop in there. I have been to the Staples Center and the Forum and the noise does not even compare. At least Jazz fans do not beat up oppossing fans. I was at a Laker game one time when I lived in L.A. they were playing the Kings. A Kings fan got beat to a pulp in the bathroom by 3 Laker fans. The worste I have seen at the "nut house" are fans throwing beer and booing when they were upset at the officials after a Kings game one time. Do not even talk about out of line fans. The Jazz fans are rowdy and love their team. Laker fans have some good fans, but many Thugs and Celebrities. Jazz fans are rowdy and we love that. We like to make it difficult to win in our house. I could keep going on. Lived in L.A. for 17 years, held season tickets. Enough with the back injury excuses too. GO JAZZ!

It is easy to spot a Jazz fan. They're still crying over the "no call" on Jordan's push off several years ago that led to his winning shot. They forgot what happened in game 1 when Byron Russell "tripped" Jordan while driving for the game winning basket. That also was a "no call" that Jazz fans forget to mention. Let's hope this series lives up to all the hype and whomever the best team is, wins and goes on to the NBA Championship.

Milic unknowingly made a good point. The KobeLakers are all about Kobe and so is he. By saying his back hurts he wins because if the Lakers lose the media will blame the loss on Kobe's back. If the Laker's win they will say what a hero he was for playing hurt and getting the win for the Lakers. You go to a Jazz game and everyone is wearing a Kobe jersey. Jazz fans have all kinds of different jerseys from different players, which only says one thing, win or lose, the Jazz are team players, the Lakers need Kobe to win.

Milic Blakok you lakers fans do the same thing. and you have no supporting cast for kobe, or should i say klobe. you lakers are like the yankees of basketball, always stealing the best players because of who you are. your lucky the grizzlies were looking to rebuild.

Difficult maybe, impossible no. Remember back in 95 when Houston was playing as the # 6 seed they were basically opening every round on the road yet they were able to find a way to win. Or how about the Knicks in 99, as the #8 seed they went all the way to the finals, sure they lost in 5 to San Antonio but still an impressive feat, my point is that the GREAT TEAMS can win anywhere regardless of home court or not. Whether Utah has it or not remains to be seen.

Can't be a bigger embarassament than Kobe is to the NBA, and the "team" concept of basketball around the world.

Course the biggest embarassament still has to be wwalton getting swatted by PRICE, then just laying there on the floor.

Anything to shut up poppa Bill, and the announcers spouting about how lil' walton's perfect fundamentals. Jazz in 6, healthy Ko-meee or not.
Oh, if a Zazzman gets hurt, they play Mad Max style, hurt, and produce. Besided they built the team around the team, not just one guy.

The Jazz roster is too full of inexperienced and weak players to get past the Lakers this year. If the Jazz can dump Memo, Kerilinko, and Boozer for some players who are worth the cash than maybe, just maybe, will they have a chance at a championship in future years.

Lakers will win the series even if it takes 7 games. Which is all the Jazz can really hope for.

wow pal, obviously you dont watch the jazz. that same lineup you mentioned was playing in the western conference finals last year. so i think they have the experience. your most likely another lakers fan from utah that wasnt a lakers fan for the last couple of years. ak, booz, and memo should not be going anywhere. if anything its your lakers minus kobe bryant and fisher who have no experience in the playoffs. get real guy.

I am a huge jazz fan, but before we get ahead of ourselves... We do remember how badly we lost in LA right? Fortunately the Jazz have been blessed with a miracle... Kobe is hurt and the Jazz play physical. If the Jazz lose tonight I still think we win in game 7 just because of how much our physical play will factor into this. A lot of people don't realize it, but 82 games of play then 4 games, and then a physical 6 games definitely wears on a body. These guys are in great shape, but Kobe and Odom play so many minutes that eventually they will wear down b/c of the Jazz physical play

It will all be over soon Jazzfan and you can spend all summer crying (again)

Lakers close this one out on your home floor and win the NBA title even without Andrew Bynum.

I respect Sloan and Deron Williams, but guys like Matt Flopping need to calm down some and stop fouling on literally every defensive possession.

I don't like this playoff format: 2-2-2-1 where it should have been 2-2-1-1-1 where they'll have a fair chance for a home-fan advantage because there's a drawn-in energy from the sixth man to even the series!

Kudos to Magic for an insightful perspective... let's replace Hubie with him!!

huh ??!!