Jazz lost.

The Jazz cannot win at Staples for the same reason that teams can't win in Utah. It is tough on the road. Staples is caverenous and not as noisy as the Forum was, where the noise reverberated, but they have always had supportive fans, every game is a sellout, and the stars do make a difference. Young players get intimidated, and more so, the young Laker players are energized by the Laker fans at home, and on the road, have no confidence, especially in a hostile envirnonment like Utah. It really is that simple. Alan Iverson said playing in LA was like playing in Utah or Sacramento, I don't believe that, but lets face it, they're tough to beat in LA, for those who remember 1988 when we lost in 7, looks like this year might be a repeat.

hey utanians i'm back i told u guys we were going to win in six now it's just a matter of time till u guys go fishing on friday. goodbye good luck watching ur team lose tommorow again.

Personally, it is a mystery as to why the Jazz can't win on the road in general, but playing the Lakers in LA is like playing the Bulls in United Center. Both play in large cavernous arenas where unlike Energy Solutions, the noise gets flattened, but, because of Jordan/Bryant, the home team gets the calls, and more importantly, the bench guys are inspired. Vujacic and Farmer seem to be popular with the LA fans and obviously play much better before a supportive crowd than in Utah, that is the difference, the fact LA gets support at home helps their bench guys just like we help ours in Salt Lake.

there is so much parity in the league now that home court is the difference in the playoffs. There is no "gorilla" in the league that beats everybody else up - just a bunch of pretty good teams that are all about the same talent wise. In anybody is able to break through with a road win it is the Lakers. I doubt the Jazz can beat LA three times in a row at home. Colby will be the big difference and Fisher hitting 3's. The Jazz REALLY need a monster game from Boozer to win this next game otherwise it is summer vacation for the Jazz.

I missed your posts this past weekend when you were losing??? Will we see you again should the Lakers lose on Friday?

Wow, "we can't beat them in staples" the stars "really help them"

Sounds like the Jazz players need to grow some cajones.

Home court advantage has become the biggest joke, and makes the NBA lame. I'm not talking about the location of the game, I'm talking about the blatant favoritism by the refs for the home team. Home teams are 20-1 in the conference semis. Anyone who watched the Jazz Lakers game last night had to have seen it. Lamar Odom blows by Carlos Boozer, Boozer is standing at the free throw line with his pants down, and somehow fouls Odom who is dunking it. Or how about Gasol's two rebounds in the final minute immediately preceded by a two hand shiver to the back of Okur. No call there though. Or the last 10 drives by Williams, where three Lakers hit both arms and Gasol got as much body contact as he could, and Williams looks up from his back, only to see the ref signaling to 'play on'. It was an absolute joke. The NBA is compromising the game. Why can they 'make sure' the home team wins and get away with it, and then if anything is ever said they make their own employees (Donaghy) the scapegoat. I'm just about done with the NBA.

My favorites were the time that Vujacic dribbled the ball off his leg and they called a foul on the Jazz, but it wasn't the ref standing right there that called it, but the ref on the other side of the court; and the time Odom drove to the basket and dunked it and they called a foul when no one even came close to touching him. In fact, no one even attempted to get the ball from him or guard him, and they still called the foul.

Mmmmmm what's that yummy smell?.....could it be home cookin! Lets face it, the NBA wants the Lakers-Celtics match up. It's best for ratings. C'mon if you think a small TV market like SLC has a chance, no way the refs (NBA) won't let it happen. Look how the protect Kobe and send him to the line 200 times a game. Don't believe me look what happened to the Mavs against D-Wade. Watch a reply of that in game 7, Kobe will get at least 25 free throw attempts. As long as we do not have a superstar (D-will is on his way) then no way do we get out of the West. I will predict that LA will eek past SA or NO in the next round. There will be something controversial that will go there way to insure they are in the finals. That makes Phil Jackson a genius.

Amen on the refs. I say boycott Game 6. Sloan should take one for the teams and call out the farce that the Playoffs are. Lakers-Celtics here we go!! Must be the money!!

To - Homecourt: I watched the game did you? Boozer pushed Lamar in the back as he went by for the dunk and Okur acted like he was pushed in the back by Gasol. Okur is injured and he played like it last night. But for his good shooting from outside, Okur is a liability on defenses because his tendon is painful. The Jazz will play well at home on Friday and will most likely win. Unfortunately, the Jazz play out of tune in Los Angeles and the Lakers earned HOME COURT!

the nba is rigged. and after this series i dont know if i'll even continue watching it. the jazz deserve to win so bad but its impossible no matter how good they are because the nba already made celtics-lakers tickets before the playoffs even started. its all ridiculous and i'm sick of it

I think Phil Jackson is a JOKE how he takes credit for all his rings.....what couch wouldn't win if they all had the players he has had. I am with "home court", I am sick and tired of the refs and there inability to call a game as it should be called. Lets get rid of all of the current refs and put in guys that will call the game based on fouls not based on who you are... A FOUL IS A FOUL!!! The game is no longer fun to watch because of all the special treatment the "superstars" get...Basketball is basketball, fouls are fouls, and the BEST TEAM SHOULD WIN instead of who the NBA wants to win!!!

I did not even watch the game except for the first minute. When I saw that Javie and Delaney along with Washington were the refs the outcome was already determined. The NBA does not want Utah to eliminate their TV ratings.

I don't know if there is a "fix" in the officiating for the the Lakers to win. I doubt it. But I do think the referees need to be more careful and look at each play separately instead of treating them all the same.

Case in point: the Odom dunk where absolutely no contact was made, yet a foul was called. It's almost like the refs are used to the shooter getting fouled in that situation, so in their minds they assumed Odom must have been fouled. Fair enough, if they were too busy checking their BlackBerries or something.

Same story with Vujacic fumbling away the ball with no one near him. The refs must have been checking e-mail, then one of them glanced at the game for a moment, saw the ball on the floor near a Laker Euro-flopper flailing his arms, and figured he wouldn't fumble and flail without a foul.

Were there enough bad calls to "steal" the game? No. But it could have been a closer game, and then it's 1998 and Jordan's shove all over again.

The Jazz need to make some adjustments. It's no surprise that some of the superstar players are going to get the call esp. going hard to the basket. If there is a high probability of getting called for the foul, then the Jazz players need to start putting a body on these guys. No more 2 and 1, let them try to get their 2 from the line. But make them know that they are in a dog fight and no freebies.

Not to mention the obvious offensive fouls that weren't called! What a joke!

Isn't San Antonio a small market???? They seem to win championships!!

@BBallLaker

I thought Memo did and excellent job on Gasol. He really is an under rated post defender. Whether he was pushed or not by Gasol (and he was, big time, twice in a row) he needed to man up, hold his ground, and get those boards no excuses.

As far as the fouls go, I suggest you go out and read so commentary from unbiased observers. The consensus is fairly unanimous that home cooking had alot to do with that victory and the Lakers previous home victories.

Try the TrueHoop blog on ESPN or the Game blogs on HoopsWorld.

Here's some interesting facts for you.

The Jazz again scored more baskets than the Lakers, had more points in the paint, more second chance points and outrebounded them by a wide margin. The diffrerence in the game was foul shots just as it has been in every game the Lakers have won.

The Lakers can't beat the Jazz in a game that is called evenly, they simply can't, unfortunately for the Jazz they won't ever have to.

Boozer needs to step up. He is only averaging around 15 points a game in the playoffs...DOWN from 22 in the regular season. D-Will can't do it all himself. Go to the hole Boozer and get it done!!!
The REFS are terrible...they are giving Farmar, Vujacic and Walton calls BEFORE they give Williams and Boozer calls. It is a joke. Everytime Matt Harpring or Millsap was within 2 feet of anyone, a foul was called.
Call a Fair GAME!!!!

How can a "professional" basketball player blame too many movie stars for losing? Jack Nicholson is inspiring the crowd, which in turns, what, makes the Jazz afraid? This kind of dumb comment is why we can't win in LA (or anywhere else except home). And the other players think it is "cool" to see Denzel and co, how nice. Next they will blame the Laker girls as a distraction. Never a good sign when a team makes excuses...how about tuning out the crowd and just making plays for a change.

I agree with so many of the comments that mentioned the biased officiating. The surprising truth is that pro basketball is becoming more and more like professional wrestling, which is mostly show with very little substance.

What amazes me is that everyone seems to go along with the obvious favoritism given to a particular team or "star". The coaches seem to almost always go along with it; the players and even the guys calling the game go along with the charade.

Improper call after call, the announcers said nothing about it. Even after Gasol pushed Okur in the back on the missed shot rebound, the announcer supported the "no call" by saying that it didn't happen.

If we all could see the difference in the money created by a Boston-LA final series compared to a Utah-whatever series, I think we would all understand why the games are called the way they are. It is sickening!

I do not think any officiating is fixed. The problem is that officials are more ready to blow the whistle for home teams and super stars and if a ref is good ref, then he is not presuaded by superstars, rookies, or home teams.

The refs Stink!! However if I where the GM of the Jazz I would be looking to trade Boozer get some help from that trade. Milsap, Brewer, and Willams are the future of this team. Do everything you can to lock them up to long contracts. Give Sloan time to develop Milsap's offense, then you would have the whole package as a PF. Didnt we have another PF from Louisana Tech that worked out in our favor!!

GO JAZZ!!!!!

Goodbye and good luck, your not cut out for basketball: If you haven't figured it out yet the very nature of basketball unlike football or baseball is it's a game of constant foul call's good or bad. If you want to blame anyone blame the game. There is no other sport where so many fouls are called that can change the course of games. Even in football you can change a bad call. It's the nature of basketball that makes it hard to watch for the losing team. If you can't handle it stick to another sport other than basketball.

You people on here hate the Lakers so bad it's a joke. If any other team in the NBA were in this series with he exact same results we would not here near the whining. Lets face it your jealous of the team dowm South that actually wins NBA titles and actually has tradition and a real legacy. We all know it's a Laker thing, it's not about basketball it's about envy.

How embarassing for Kobe Bryant. The league that voted him MVP doesn't trust him to get the job done himself. They have to send in refs with bad calls to help him out. If I were Kobe, I would be ashamed that the league had so little faith in me or my team. LA is good, but if they are "all that and a bag of chips", then why the home cooking?

Biggest reason for this series Home advantage. Yes refs!

Boozer is treated like a God by the refs in Utah. Then doesn't get calls in LA and becomes very average. He had wide open looks and shanked the 12 to 15 ft shots every time.

He's not a clutch player a real wannabe and needs a lot of help from great passes and refs.

And what's Wrong with Sloan? Keep the ball in Williams hands and just let Boozer rebound. More looks for Williams and he will go off for 40 or so every game ...He is simply awsome. The Lakers do not have an answer for Williams.

What!

Kirlenko took a one hand swipe across Vulicheck as he was going down the court.

Swinging down on the ball and body position from the side while running is totally out of position. It is a textbook Hack and a textbook Call. Even if he was lucky and didn't hit him the Refs always call that.

When I watched the game last night, I was so upset with the officiating. After watching the game again, the Jazz had plenty of opportunities to pull ahead and win the game. Mistakes, turnovers, guys not really wanting the win and doing whatever it takes to get the win. DWill is our All-Star. Hopefully Boozer can step up and prove he DESERVES to be labeled an All-Star. Go Jazz, let's take game six and steal game seven!

Say what you will about the officiating. There may have been some bad calls, but inspite of the fact that the Jazz played this game much tougher this time around than the first two, they still had plenty of opportunities at the end and couldn't get it done. I see a parallel though between this series and the one last year against the rockets. We got closer to beating them on the road each time and then finally pulled it off in game 7. I believe the same thing can happen this series too. The more looks Utah has at Staples Center, the better their chances will be of winning. Don't give up Jazz fans!! We're not eliminated yet!! BEAT LA!!!

With all the complaining about how Jazz got hosed by the refs, no one seems to remember towards the end of the game when a frustraded Boozer just bowls over Gasol and was granted free throws. Yes, I understand you're fans but don't be one sided about your views. I agree with you about the and-1 that Odom undeservedly got, the Sasha fall untouched-foul, the usual call that wasn't when Okur had position. But what about the other handful of times when Gasol was being pushed throughout the game with the same result - no call? Or how about when Korver shoved Sasha to the floor prior to Sasha being called for a T? Frankly, I see the Jazz as a more than physical team, hence leading the league in fouls. In regards to that comment about the Lakers not being able to win a game that is called evenly against the Jazz, I beg to differ. The Jazz can't win a series against a "properly called series" against the Lakers. I'm frustrated. Call the games like they should be and let the best team win!

Boozer Kills your team. He misses 12 to 15 ft shots with regularity. Only with home court cooking and ref interference does he thrive. I thought the refs saw Jordan pout there with the calls he got in Game 3.

Williams is your best and should get more looks and maybe Utah would win. The Lakers have no Answer for him.

Yes it is tough to win in Staples--because the Lakers are good and there is something to be said for 19K fans cheering you on. Plain and simple. Star power? Why would that matter? Home Cooking with the calls? Sure, if a game is decided by a few points a call either way can affect the game. I don't have a problem with the home team winning most of the games in general--it reconfirms the meaning of the 82 game season.
Go Jazz! If you are in ESA on Friday please yell for me!

lets just say the nba wants a classic Boston vs. LA finish

Why are you guys blaming the refs? Why are you guys talking about conspiracy? Why are you guys talking about SLC being a small market? The refs have missed calls or made bad calls for both teams. San Antonio is a small market and wins championship. San Antonio's finals series get very low TV ratings and they win championships. You guys need to accept that the best team wins no matter what. If the Jazz is so much better than LA, then a few bad calls should not stop the Jazz from wining the series.

I think most NBA fans can agree on one thing: their hatred for the Lakers and in particular Kobe Bryant. Unless you a Kobe sycophant media type (a.k.a. employee of ESPN, TNT or FSN).

All this whining is just sad. The home team has been allowed more physical play in every game. The lakers' win wasn't the product of some scam by the nba. They home team just gets a few more calls... always. ESA is incredibly difficult to play in because the jazz have always gotten an inordinate amount of favorable calls. That doesn't happen on the road. You want home cookin? Throw out a key laker for causing a jazz player to fall awkwardly after committing a hard, but clean, foul. wait... that happened. Stop with the conspiracy theories guys. The lakers are just a better team. At home, with favorable calls and an injured kobe the jazz were pushed to OT. The lakers ARE the better TEAM. It just happens they're in a bigger market and possess the best player on the planet.

I can't wait till you Utah fans cry about fixed games when we close you guys out at home.

Get over it.

Laker Fans = celebrating our 9 championships

Jazz Fans = spending a lifetime crying about the refs

Yeah The NBA wants LA to win. Thats why the Ref's didnt call the goal tend on Gasol's missed dunk in SL.

Fans are Fans for a reason I guess.

Face it.

Some teams know how to get the right players and the right coaches and win championships.

And other teams, like the jazz, just settle for wahtever they can get, and wish and hope.

The results speak for themselves.