Comments about ‘Utah Jazz: Lakers hold off Jazz to take Game 1 of conference semifinals’

Fesenko leaves the game, the Jazz are down by 3. Now they're trailing by nine in the half. The Jazz WILL NOT win this game with Fesenko on the bench. They may not win it anyway, but Gasol, Odom and Bynum will wear down Booz and Millsap, and Utah's only hope is to get some size in there to put up some kind of fight.

You need to stop relying on Fesenko. Any team that relies on a player who shoots 40% from the free throw line is doomed to failure.

Until Fes learns to hit free throws, give some minutes to Koufos.

How many years have the Lakers beat the Jazz in the playoffs with THEIR LENGTH!!! GET A BIG MAN!!! Now I am not a big deal GM like Kevin O but even I get it.

the Jazz did not lose this game. The refs so obviously GAVE this game to the fakers. if you are a real jazz fan, there is no other reason the jazz lost. we all saw it.

Maybe the Jazz should check with Memphis to see if they'll give us Marc Gasol. Where is this big man the Jazz are supposed to get?

Better yet, why can't we find somebody who wants to rebound when the game is on the line?

That said, the crappy first quarter was the difference. The Lakers always beat the Jazz in the first quarter.

Was it just me, or did the officials cook this game? I hate to blame officials for a loss, it sounds like such a cliche, but how many times can a team go hard to the basket and come up with nothing. Ain't no defense that clean.


How bout Price! Price for MVP!

Please! Don't blame the refs. Anyone who has ever watched these two teams play knows that the Lakers are just a better team. They are long, they have clutch shooters, they are very athletic. The Jazz are a good team but they are just good. LA is a very talented team team and in a different class. I would love to see the Jazz win and I always love to see the Lakers lose but there is no doubt which team is more talented. SO don't blame the refs.

to freewaymaster..
you're an embarrassment to jazz fans...don't blame the refs...

we put up a good fight..should have gotten blown out early but the boys hung in there...

I think the jazz should shoot more 3's when they are available...alittle tough inside with the bigs so if the 3's are there take it...even if its abit earlier in the shot clock...I can live with that..

my only critical comment would be Kyle Korver...very damaging decisions on the defensive end..I hope they let him go wherever he wants at seasons end..he isn't "hot enough" on the offensive end to warrent having him in the game if you ask me...

Fesenko and Koufos are going to have to play more minutes to give Utah at least a little more length and size against the Lakers. Gasol killed Utah, mainly by shooting over Boozer. And the Jazz just served up shot after shot for him to swat. There's no question the Jazz will continue to need Boozer, Williams, Millsap and Matthews to play at a high level. But the Jazz give up way too much size for Fesenko and Koufos not to play. I actually liked the minutes that 2K played in the fourth quarter. But Fesenko needs to be in at least 20 minutes to make things a little harder for L.A. inside.

Peace out from the Jazz Oracle!

Yes. Let's resort to the loser's lament and blame the refs. The Lakers didn't win because they had a higher shooting percentage, more rebounds, and fewer turnovers. And, even though the Lakers shot only 6 more freethrows (4 of which were due to intentional fouls at the end of the game), the game was rigged! Nice job freewaymaster for outing this conspiracy!

Stop blaming the refs, and stop blaming Fesenko. Fesenko is far from the solution, and whining about officiating just makes all Jazz fans look pathetic. The Jazz played a great game but fell apart at the end. Let's move on to game 2.

And I thought Professional Wrestling was rigged. After Kobe charged into Miles with 5 mins. remaining and the Jazz holding the lead, the NBA officials took control of the games outcome. The Jazz can't say it, but I will..."THE NBA IS RIGGED"
My brother once worked for NBC Sports and he told me the reason the Jazz will never win a Championship is because we don't have enough TV sets here in Utah. That was years ago when we played Chicago and it seems to remain in effect today.

The refs were far from perfect in this game. Lets talk specific calls instead of making broad indictments. Lets say that CJ flopped on his attempt to guard Kobe with the Jazz up three. Kobe makes the shot but CJ is falling backwards and then they whistle a non-existent foul.

The next call was Odom clearly over Boozer's back. Boozer on the replay is pushed in the opposite direction. The ref choked on that whistle.

Why does Kobe get to create contact for separation before initiating his drives? He did that twice. Tell me any other player gets to do that!?

If CJ's open three in the final minutes goes down it is a different game. If Boozer goes to the floor after the loose ball it changes the game.

I give credit to the subs who started the fourth quarter and Price. They gave energy and that is the intangible that gives the Jazz any hope.

Why do I have to say to my 10 year old son when he asks how Kobe didn't get touched but is shooting free throws. I say the Jazz guy breathed on him too hard.

Chuck Nunn

Fes and Koufos are not the answers. They lack offensive skills and look constantly uncomfortable on the court. With 166 total minutes, ow many blocks do the two have combined for the playoffs? ...3. 7' Bigs need to do more than that.

I know Fes is good at stuffing the paint and fouling hard, but that is only worth 15 minutes a game in my book.

The injury riddled Jazz were there at the end of the game, give them credit. Today they played like men.

Adjusting Fes or Koufos minutes will not help the Jazz, as their designated 3 baller Korver is lost in some mental funk he found in the bottom of AK's locker. When Fes steps on the court and gives us 2 swats he replaces Millsap and his 10 rebounds and 15 points. Until the Jazz can come up with many more points to offset Millsap or even Boozer at 20 and 10 the tall boys are not viable alternatives.

Sloan will make adjustments, wait for the Korver to appear, perhaps even AK will show up and assist in defending Kobe.

The Jazz were right there at the finish and the Lakers did not like it.

Carlos Boozer is to blame. His last two shoots were pathetic. The guy has no heart. Turning baseline into another defender and then a weak drive into the lane. Please! Trade him.

I may be mistaken, but I don't remember Boozer drawing a single foul and shooting freethrows.

Wow.. there are some good Jazz fans here. My hat is off to you who are shutting down the Ref-blamers.

Your team has a legit shot this year, IMO. I bleed Purple and Gold so it's hard for me even to admit that.

If they can play this tough in LA, they will win all the home games and we'll go 7

Down by one....Kobe misses, Lamar gets offensive rebound and scores. Jazz down by three. Dwill and Boozer have turnover.

One offensive rebound when all the Jazz had to do was box out. That is how the game was lost. Not by the refs or some other play in the game. Under a minute, you play defense and box out. The game is simple.

I thought we should have kept the line up the same with Price in the 4th when we went on the run. There's no good reason to disrupt momentum and change the line up. Even if our best players are on the bench.