The Lakers are set to complete their 82-game regular season schedule with a home tip against Utah Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.
The game has interesting implications, because if the Lakers win, they’ll face the Jazz in the first round of the playoffs - set to start this coming weekend - and if Utah wins, it’s still possible that L.A. could face Dallas or New Orleans in Round 1. As such, what kind of game will the Lakers play tonight? How many minutes will the starters play?
In short, L.A.’s going to play like it always plays, though the starters may play fewer minutes, which assistant coach Frank Hamblen - who was charged with assembling the team’s Jazz scouting report - explained after shootaround in Q&A format.
Q: On the fact that L.A. could see Utah in the first round of the playoffs days after the regular season finale:
Hamblen: It sure could be. We’ve had a lot of battles over the years; Jerry Sloan’s been at Utah for 21 years and has done a tremendous job. His assistant coach Phil Johnson also does a terrific job. However it ends, somewhere along the line we’ll probably have to play against them and it’s going to be a hard series.
Q: On how the Lakers approach this game:
Hamblen: We’re going to play the same way we always play. Our guys may not play 40 minutes for the night, but everyone’s going to play and the starters will get the bulk of the minutes and we’ll go after it like it’s another game we have to win. Our coaching staff feels that’s the only way to play the game.
Q: On not underestimating the Jazz due to their lack of road success this season:
Hamblen: You can’t take that team lightly anywhere. Two years ago, they were in the Western Conference Finals. They were younger than but are more experienced now. They’re a very deep team, they’re very well coached and they execute so well and they lead the league in layups in the paint, so it’s going to be a challenge.
Q: On Utah’s highly-successful pick and roll:
Hamblen: No question it’s really tough to stop, and was almost impossible with John Stockton and Karl Malone the way they ran it, and almost impossible the way they run it now. You just have to try a lot of different scenarios, trying plans, A, B, C, and D.
Q: On containing Deron Williams:
Hamblen: He’s really tough. He’s a heck of an attacker, he’s a retaliatory (player) who likes to go back at you, he’s pushing balls and getting in the paint. You have to try and contain him not only in transition but also in the half court.
