Utah Jazz notebook: Shooting woes irk Jazz's Williams
But he wasn't real specific about what went wrong.
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was.
"They were really after him on the pick-and-rolls," Sloan said, "and made it difficult for him to get exactly what he wanted.
"But I thought he played," Sloan added, "and as time went on he got a little better."
The defense on Williams went just as planned, ex-Jazz guard and current Laker starting point Derek Fisher suggested.
"I think probably what confused him was because of how old I am," the 34-year-old said. "I am so slow, when he fakes I don't go for it because I don't react so fast, so I still end up in front of him."
But seriously ...
Fisher, who had a personal postseason high six steals, said that for him it was all about thinking defense first.
"I just really tried to make contributions where I could," said Fisher, who was the Jazz's starting shooting guard as well as Williams' backup at the point last season — and who dealt with him often during practices. "There weren't a lot of offensive opportunities for me, but I think the key for us is going to be on the defensive end, so I tried to play a role on that end."
They did not want to use it as an excuse but did address its reality.
"It doesn't matter how you feel — no energy, you have energy. No. You need to play," forward Andrei Kirilenko said. "That's a playoff-intensity game, so you're supposed to match it."
"I'm not gonna make excuses that we just played 40 hours ago," Williams said. "It's the playoffs. You have to get up for every game like it's your last."
But, Williams added, the break before Wednesday's Game 2 "should definitely give us time to make some more adjustments, watch some more film on them, get familiar with them a little better."
By Wednesday, the Jazz hope to have a better handle on 38-point scorer Kobe Bryant — and especially his side pick-and-roll with big man Pau Gasol.
"Definitely we can play (with them)," Kirilenko said. "We didn't have much time to really, like, scout them before the game."
"With the short period of time we had to get ready," shooting guard Kyle Korver said, "I think next game we'll probably be better prepared for that."
BACK-AND-FORTH: After Bryant went to the line for 23 free-throw attempts, making 21, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said, "I know Utah's not going to be happy with it. We'll probably see about half that in the next game, if not less."
Sloan's response, after Jackson's comment was relayed to him: "I think that's fine. I don't have a problem with that. ... He (Bryant) shot them, they called them. ... I can't do anything about that."
E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com
Recent comments
And to Dave...Yes, I can see why Coach Phil Jackson is so easy to...
Makuka | May 7, 2008 at 2:56 p.m.
Alright runelord. Finally, someone who makes sense and tells it...
Makuka | May 7, 2008 at 2:34 p.m.
the very fact that you people have that audacity to accuse Derek...
runelord | May 7, 2008 at 12:48 p.m.
