NBA News | May 10, 2010

What the Lakers have to do to win Game 4

By Broderick.Turner
May 10, 2010


Salt Lake City, UT -- One more victory and the Lakers can rest some of their weary bodies before the next series starts in the Western Conference playoffs.

The Lakers have pushed the Utah Jazz to the playoff edge by opening a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven semifinal series.

If the Lakers win Game 4 Monday at EnergySolutions Arena, the series will be over. If the Lakers can't close out the Jazz, Game 5 would be at Staples Center on Wednesday night.

"Just like all the other games, this is going to be a tough game," Lakers assistant coach Frank Hamblen said after practice Sunday. "They aren't going to give you an inch, and we don't expect to be given an inch by their coaching staff or their players. We'll be ready to play in L.A. if it doesn't happen here."

All season long, the Jazz has been tough to defeat at home.

The Jazz runs one of the toughest offenses to defend, even if it looks simple.

"I think during the regular season this Jazz team scored 20% of their points in the first five seconds of the shot clock," said Hamblen, who is in charge of the game plan against the Jazz. "Also, inside five feet of the basket, they averaged 21 baskets a game. So this is what we're trying to contain."

Here are some keys for the Lakers:

Win trench game

The Jazz made a conscience effort to slow down Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom by bring more double-teams.

Still, the Lakers want to exploit the smaller Jazz by pounding the ball down low.

"We want to get the ball inside and get points in the paint and win the rebound battle," Hamblen said.

Don't settle for three-pointers

The Lakers were 13 for 29 (44.8%) from three-point range in Game 3.

But Hamblen doesn't want the Lakers thinking that will happen every game.

"We hadn't been shooting the ball well, so we were very happy to see those shots go in in Game 3," Hamblen said. "But we can't just throw them up there."

Be efficient on offense

The Lakers are shooting 50.2% from the field in the three games and averaging 20.6 assists per game.

Four Lakers — Kobe Bryant (32), Gasol (20.3), Ron Artest (14.7) and Derek Fisher (11.7) — are averaging double figures in points and another — Odom (9.3) — is close.

Hamblen said the Jazz won't change much.

Attack the Lakers

Utah will look to get ball into the hands of Deron Williams and let him operate the offense. Williams is averaging 22.3 points and 8.7 assists in the series.

"He's going to ignite them," Hamblen said.

Play hard

The Lakers expect the Jazz to play just as hard no matter what. That's what Utah Coach Jerry Sloan teaches and that's how the Jazz always plays.

More fastbreak points

The Jazz had just 10 fastbreak points in Game 3. Hamblen believes the Jazz will try to push the ball more.

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