Game 3.

 No. I'm not going to do it. Why? Because I don't want to, nor do I have to. Fine. I hate you. 

 I apologize for that. Anyway, if I had friends, they'd all be lynching me as a result of the Lakers not being able to sweep the 8th seeded Utah Jazz. For some reason, people out there believe that the Lakers not pulling off the sweep means something. Actually, it means nothing. The Lakers are still the better team, and the Jazz are still out of the series. However, the Jazz are also supposed to win at home. As sad as they are on the road, they play exceptional in their own building, and their arena is supposedly one of the most difficult to play in. Good for them. Even if they win every game at home, they'll still lose the series. Celtics fans know what I'm talking about (even though I hate each and every one of you). The Lakers will only have a problem in the Finals (and that's only if they face the LeBrons), but that's another story for another day. As of right now, they're still playing the Utah Jazz, the 8th seed in the west, the worst of the best.

 

  What about Kobe Bryant's below average performance? Not an issue. Mr. 81 is not one to make excuses. Kobe didn't play poorly because he hasn't taken a break from basketball in 3 years. It's not because he's at the end of his 13th NBA season. It's not because he's tired from playing every game of the last two seasons, or because he led his team to the '08 Finals and then led Team USA to a Gold medal a few months later. Kobe played poorly because... he's human. And everyone has an off day, or in Kobe's case, a bad game. Magic had bad games, Larry Legend had bad games. Even the immortal Michael Jordan had bad games (blasphemy!). It happens. The thing is, Kobe won't let it happen often, so don't expect to see many games similar to this one.

 The most important thing about Game 3? Kobe shot 5-24 (21%) from the field, and the Lakers only lost by 2 points. With a chance to tie it. That says a lot about Utah and Carlos Boozers' 23 point-22 rebound performance. The Lakers don't need Kobe to go off in order to stay in a game, and can win when he's not at his best. and although Kobe couldn't hit a thing, he grabbed seven rebounds, dished out 6 assists, and made 2 steals. And I'm sure he's not worried about anyone being able to stop him.  Kobe hit half of his shots through the first two games. He knows they can't guard him. And that's bad news for the Jazz.

P.S. - Only two more games, Dirk. Please send the Spurs home (well, if you win Games 4 & 5, they'll already be home).