Sunday was a domestic business day for me – do laundry, pay bills, retrieve groceries, run errands – not the most exciting or enjoyable time, but necessary to my continued survival. The Lakers 109-98 victory over the Utah Jazz was a similar endeavor as The Purple and Gold handled their respective chores and got the Game 1 win.

Kobe Bryant's 38 points, seven assists and six rebounds in the Lakers' 109-98 game one win over the Jazz were actually only slightly above his playoff averages in those departments, an indication of just how high of a standard he has set for himself.

Some assorted thoughts from Game One, we’ll break down the details in the coming days: • I enjoyed that game because I enjoy watching two teams that know how to pass. That was smart hoops. • I also said this series was about defense — ...

The Lakers were able to overcome a week’s absence from playing and take game one from the Jazz but it was certainly not an easy win. Had the Lakers not benefited from the presence of Kobe Bryant they might not have that victory put away.  ...

Clearly I'm not going out on a limb when I say tonight's Game 2 is absolutely massive for Utah. Good as they are at home should they fall behind 2-0 to the Lakers, the idea that they could rip off four of the next five seems a little far-fetched. ...

The Lakers entered Wednesday night's Game 2 against Utah having never lost on a night where Kobe Bryant was presented with an MVP trophy. For that matter, the Lakers had yet to suffer a blemish during their playoff run, going a perfect 5-0. Both ...

The Lakers head to Utah with a 2-0 lead in their best of seven series. So far the Lakers are undefeated in the play-offs, and are playing with that swagger that borders on over confidence. Other then a decided rebounding edge, Utah didn’t play their best ball in LA and are looking to get it back at home. Home is where they are 37-4, so the Lakers have their work cut out for them.

Los Angeles Lakers at Utah Jazz, Game 3   The idea that Derek Fisher might be booed in his playoff return to Salt Lake City tonight has been bandied about for so long that Jazz fans, likely enervated, just won't be up for it. Or, they were embarrassed by their shocking turn earlier this year in Fisher's presence, and learned from it. You can probably tell which way I'm leaning. But ...

Y E S T E R D A Y … With 324 combined games, shockingly the Dodgers and the Angels had a day off. With an MVP award in the overhead compartment, the Lakers Traveled to Utah for game 3. T O D A Y… Lakers at Jazz (6:00 pm PST): The Lakers have officially started the party, according [...]

The Los Angeles Lakers lead the Utah Jazz 0-2 in the second round of the Western playoffs. The Utah Jazz are hoping that by playing at home they can come off and win Game 3. The Jazz host tonights game and they went 37-4 at home during the regular season. The Lakers were one of [...]

The Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz will both be gunning for a victory on Friday when they meet at EnergySolutions Arena. NewBodog oddsmakers currently have the Jazz listed as 4-point favorites versus the Lakers, while the game's total has not yet been posted. Kobe Bryant continued his playoff prowess with a game-high 34 points to lead the Lakers in a 120-110 win over the Jazz ...

Away on a small trip for the next day and a half, but just thought I’d leave you with the post game notes/interviews after game 2 of the Utah/Lakers series (hopefully Brad’ll post his weekly NRL bit…). See ya soon…

Los Angeles Lakers 120, Utah 110 Utah outscored the Lakers by five over the final three quarters of this game, and I'll probably look like a fool once the Jazz take both games in Utah (though playing at home on Sunday might feel odd), but it almost feels as if the Jazz have some sort of mental block when it comes to playing Los Angeles. Actually, it felt as if they had a block. A block ...

The Jazz have one hope in their series versus the Lakers. Hold serve at home, and try to steal game 5 or 7 in Los Angeles.

The question is whether the Lakers will lose before reaching the conference finals (they will; Utah is too good a team at home not to take one game) and why the Jazz came out so flat looking early, after Kobe got his MVP statue. There were a lot of fouls called really early — most of them on Utah, as happens often — and when it puts Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur out for long ...

The Lakers took Game 1 of thier Western Conference Semi-Final series Sunday at Staples in relatively fine fashion, building a big lead in the second quarter and playing well enough to hold off a game Utah squad down the stretch. Not much about the game was artistic, as the entire second half was thrown out of rhythm [...]

The Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers will both be trying to pick up a playoff win on Wednesday when they battle at STAPLES Center. NewBodog oddsmakers currently have the Lakers listed as 7-point favorites versus the Jazz, while the game's total has not yet been posted. The Lakers defeated Utah 109-98 as an 8.5-point favorite in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal ...

The Lakers pulled out a game one win versus the Utah Jazz. The Lakers were killed in the rebounding department, beaten up but not beaten.

The Los Angeles Lakers knocked out the Denver Nuggets in a 4 game sweep, now their focus swifts to the Utah Jazz. Game 1 was no contest as the Lakers, they won that game and now look to Game 2 which will be played Wednesday night. The Utah Jazz are suppose to be much tougher than [...]

I'm sure there were a few Lakers fans out there that thought that Kobe Bryant and company had it a little too easy in the first round against the Denver Nuggets (me included) and maybe Utah Jazz would give the Lakers a harsh wake up call in game 1, but the Lakers proved that the first round sweep was no fluke and that they are the real deal! This game was just Kobe, Kobe, Kobe! This season's ...

So what did we learn this weekend? The Hornets have no plans of making it easy on the Spurs. Yesterday, the Lakers just kind of skated by Utah, who was coming off their series clincher against Houston; a game played on Friday night. Utah is probably really happy that Kobe shot a lot of free throws (21-23), which was only seven less than the entire Jazz team (22-30). To the MVP goes ...

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball. Kobe about to be fouled Image details: Utah Jazz v Los Angeles Lakers, Game 1 served by picapp.com Kobe is expected to be presented with the NBA MVP award, but he got in a hurry and put on an MVP performance for the LA crowd in defeating the Utah Jazz. Los Angeles 109 Utah 98 Kobe set a foul shooting ...

The Lakers continued their great play with their fifth straight playoff victory. The Lakers beat the Jazz in game 1, 109-98, despite giving up 58 rebounds, including 25 offensive. The difference in the game turned out to be shooting as the Lakers held Utah to only 38% from the field and 4-19 from three. The Lakers answered every Utah run today. The Lakers were led by Kobe with 38, but ...

Utah Jazz 98, LA Lakers 109 : The Jazz have a very impressive home record, and they’ll need every game at home if they plan on beating the Lakers. The soon-t0-be-announced MVP Kobe Bryant had 38 points for the Lakers, 24 of which came in the first half. Just about every time the guy touched the ball the fans started chanting MVP, and it was often that he was touching it. Carlos ...

The LA Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 109-98 to take a 1-0 series lead. Utah was ready to get blown out in the first half, but played a nice second half. The reason this game got away from them was Kobe getting to the line. He made 21 free throws, something that gets his shot going and provides almost automatic offense. Utah let them run in the first half, they need a half court game. Kobe only ...

The Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz played one another four times during the 2007-2008 regular season with the Lakers taking the season series 3-1. The Lakers won both contests at home and one the last game of the series at Energy Solutions Arena, ending the Jazz’s 19-game home winning streak. The Lakers own the homecourt in this series and that should be enough for them to advance ...

The Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz played one another four times during the 2007-2008 regular season with the Lakers taking the season series 3-1. The Lakers won both contests at home and one the last game of the series at Energy Solutions Arena, ending the Jazz’s 19-game home winning streak. The Lakers own the homecourt in this series and that should be enough for them to ...