Western Conference Playoffs Preview: It's hard to envision the Lakers succumbing to a team they have turned into their own personal punching bag, especially the way the Jazz have devolved into a poor road team with no defensive backbone. Column
Momentum Tracker
CBSSports.com tracks which team has the edge after each game.
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, center, reaches for a loose ball in front of Utah Jazz's Paul Millsap, left, and C.J. Miles during the first half of Game 5. (AP)
Rahmack: I have no arguments that the Lakers deserve this series. BUT the Jazz were coming back on your beloved Lakers...BIG TIME! They had the momentum and the refs took it in their hands to take the momentum away!!! Even the announcers saw it..( the pro-lakers announcers) Don't blame Sloan for backing up his team. The Lakers are the better team but the Refs made sure there would be no game 6. PATHETIC! Lakers win series, beat Jazz in 5
mellafella: The refs basically gift-wrapped 5 points for the Jazz in the final 30 seconds. Deron Williams lowers his shoulder and crashes into Kobe---foul on Kobe. Luke takes out a time-share outside the charge-circle, and Deron Williams crashes into him. Foul on Luke. The NBA has the absolute worst officials of the 4 major sports, and it isn't even close. They want so badly to be cheered by the home fans wherever they are. No doubt the Lakers will get the same gift calls in game 5, as the refs again seek glory and adulation. Lakers crush Jazz in Game 4
Bo$$hogg: This is what hurt the Lakers a little bit. The Lakers are as good as Kobe Bryant's shooting percentage. As long as he has a bad day, any team will have a chance unless he ends up getting 10 assists or more. Don't take it to heart Laker fans, the Spurs lost by 21 to the Mavericks who caught fire at home. Kobe goes 5-24 in Game 3
