L.A. Times - Lakers

Lakers' Derek Fisher continues his journey

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

It's been a year since the point guard endured one of the most dramatic days in his life -- playing for Utah in a playoff game hours after his daughter underwent cancer surgery.

SALT LAKE CITY -- A year ago, Derek Fisher's life changed, or would have if it ever did, which it never really has.

Lakers will work on crowd control

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

A quick lead is the best formula for playing in Utah, where the fans get extra loud.

So how do you prepare a team to play in EnergySolutions Arena, where the Utah Jazz was 37-4 in the regular season?

It's all Kobe Bryant, all the time

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The mere mortals in Los Angeles are used to living alongside some high-powered stars, but the hero worship lavished upon the Lakers star, the newly minted NBA MVP, transcends all.

It has been two days now since his coronation, and we remain a city in a twitter.

Jerry Sloan keeps it rolling for 20 years as Utah coach

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

As the longest tenured coach in all of the major professional sports, he sticks to the bread-and-butter pick-and-roll system that has been so effective. He guides team against Lakers again tonight.

SALT LAKE CITY -- The league shifted toward fun-to-watch, hard-to-guard, run-and-gun teams, sprinkled -- as has long been the NBA's case -- with a couple of dominant centers.

In Game 3 vs. Lakers, Jazz in a familiar place: in Utah, down 0-2

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Being winless in a best-of-seven playoff series historically has not boded well for NBA teams. But Utah has worked its way out of that hole before.

SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Jazz has unwillingly been in this situation before, survived and lived to tell about it.

Lakers fans are in the driver's seat

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Text messages from press row . . .

Lakers flags are flying again from Southland cars. . . .

Lakers vs. Utah

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Times staff writer Mike Bresnahan ties up some loose ends before Lakers playoff games.

Q&A of the day

A Lakers team Chick Hearn would've loved

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Marge Hearn says her late husband would have enjoyed how the Lakers have played so far in the postseason.

Chick Hearn has been gone since Aug. 5, 2002, but he certainly isn't forgotten. He was honored by the Lakers on Wednesday night right before Kobe Bryant got his MVP trophy. And Marge Hearn, a spry 90, was there to present the game ball to the referees.

Utah's Jerry Sloan wants a repeat of history

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

His Jazz team is down 2-0 in series to Lakers, but he can hark back to being in a similar situation as a player with Chicago in 1971.

The Lakers may have looked unbeatable in taking a 2-0 lead over Utah, but the best-of-seven series is far from over based on NBA playoff history. Just ask Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan or Las Vegas oddsmakers.

Referees will do anything to make David Stern smile

Thu, 8 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

With the NBA commissioner in town and probably hoping for a Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals, the referees get whistle-happy against Utah.

A review of Laker playoff game No. 6 -- 10 wins to go.