Jazz at Lakers
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Lakers conclude a rigorous stretch of
three games in three nights when they host Utah in the Jazz's season
opener Tuesday. The Lakers will be looking for their first victory after
falling at Sacramento 100-91 on Monday. The Jazz endured turmoil last
season and saw Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan suddenly resign Feb. 10
and All-Star guard Deron Williams traded to New Jersey for Devin Harris
on Feb. 23. Utah has one of the youngest teams in the league, but also
gave veterans Josh Howard and Jamaal Tinsley (non-guaranteed contract) a
chance to resurrect their careers and traded often-injured center
Mehmet Okur to New Jersey just before the start of this season. “We have
guys who can post up. We’ve got guys who can shoot,” Harris said. “So,
are we an inside team? Are we an outside team?” They begin to find out
Tuesday.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE JAZZ (0-0): The Jazz were 39-43 last season, missing the
playoffs for the first time in five years. Former NBA player Tyrone
Corbin took over after Sloan retired, and was 8-20. Still, some expect
Utah to be one of the surprise teams in the Western Conference. “The
first thing we want to find out is: Who are we? Get an identity, find
out what we want to do, get organized and get the guys on the same page
as soon as we can,” Corbin said.
ABOUT THE LAKERS (0-2): The bad news for the Lakers is that they are
winless and have to play a third game in three nights. The good news is
this is the only time in a truncated season the Lakers will have to
play back-to-back-to-back. The Lakers can perhaps cling to this stat
from last season: They were 14-2 in home/road back-to-back games. It
certainly doesn’t help that the Lakers are without suspended Andrew
Bynum for the first four games.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Utah is 4-19 against the Lakers at Staples Center.
2. Utah is 2-12 all-time when opening the season on the road.
3. Kobe Bryant has been the leading scorer in 16 of the last 19 games against Utah.