Kobe Bryant 24 points game 1 round 1 2009 NBA Playoffs vs Utah Jazz

LOS ANGELES (AP) Pardon Phil Jackson's lack of enthusiasm for how the Los Angeles Lakers played in the second half. They piled up 62 points on Utah in the first half, then got outscored over the final 24 minutes.

"It wasn't a coach's delight, that's for sure,'' he said.

But his players sure liked the outcome, a 113-100 victory over the Jazz in the teams' playoff opener Sunday.

Kobe Bryant scored 24 points, Trevor Ariza added 21 and Pau Gasol 20 as the Lakers pretty much had their way against the eighth-seeded Jazz. They led by 22 points at halftime and then answered resoundingly both times Utah got within nine in the second half.

"They kept knocking on the door and we just never let them in,'' Bryant said.

Allowing a Phil Jackson-coached team to win Game 1 of any series doesn't bode well for the opposition. Jackson's teams have never lost a playoff series after winning Game 1, going 41-for-41 with Chicago and the Lakers.

"We had a very difficult time,'' Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "We gave up 62 points in the first half and it's virtually impossible to beat this team giving them an edge.''

Carlos Boozer led the Jazz with 27 points and Deron Williams added 16 points and a career playoff-high 17 assists. Both were in foul trouble, with Boozer getting his third just before halftime when Williams already had two.

"I didn't shoot the ball too well,'' Williams said. "I did a good job getting in the lane and distributing the basketball, I just couldn't finish.''

The Jazz sorely missed Mehmet Okur, who sat out with a mild right hamstring strain. He averages 17 points and 7.5 rebounds and gives Utah a much-needed inside presence against the Lakers' twin 7-footers, Andrew Bynum and Gasol.

Bynum had seven points and three rebounds playing in foul trouble most of the game.

"We were just a step slow,'' Sloan said. "They kicked our butt off the floor.''

He questioned his young team's toughness, a trait Utah has rarely lacked during the Hall of Fame coach's tenure.

"We're not a nasty team,'' Sloan said. "Most of the teams that we've had here have been pretty nasty and they will get after you from daylight to dark. We're just learning how to get after it a little bit more as we go along with younger guys.

"Part of that's my fault. I probably haven't been nasty enough with them.''

Bryant wasn't buying Sloan's assessment.

"I'm a game connoisseur, so I know how nasty Sloan was when he was playing,'' he said. "Pardon my French, but your ass would be kicked out of the league if you played that physical now. I'm sure he's using it as a motivational tool to get those guys to play even harder.''

They'll need to at Staples Center.

tags:
Eastern Conference
Cleveland Cavaliers (cavs) vs. Detroit Pistons
Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls
Orlando Magic vs. Philadelphia 76ers (sixers)
Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat

Western Conference:
Los Angeles Lakers (L.A.) vs Utah Jazz
Denver Nuggets vs. New Orleans Hornets
San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavs (mavericks)
Portland Trailblazers (blazers) vs. Houston Rockets

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[Gsouljahkid19]

basketball so much bettter den football

[KobeBryantROXz]

did he say Fuck off Me at 06:14 ? ;D

[mypc0999]

Kobe Bryant Top 10 plays of 2009-10

watch?v=fxP6CKmnZnM

[bigpapi52495]

@ZonaSuMraka0011 Remember the name-fort minor

[ZonaSuMraka0011]

Whats the background song ??! Can i get name ???

[elamafia]

go 2 BlackMamba.mobi on your cell phones

[ProphetMookie]

NO AND IF YOU WANT THE REAL TRUTH GO HERE watch?v=ijYKh2eTdQc

[oo7s20]

6:15 "Fock off me"

[2pacisthebest90]

kobe is the best so wtf u saying.

[kerokerropi]

Fort minor - Remember the name

[2009ForJesus]

Watch today and Accept Jesus to be saved by him from hell watch?v=yhX7m3rF20c

watch?v=kaIidqTqtjM

watch?v=cSe_QQytorM

watch?v=Lsjk97Q57YU

watch?v=OldhHZT8FKk

watch?v=_d5HbddjrTU

\†/\†/\†/\†/\†/\†/\†/ thank you Jesus

[littleammar24]

the song is remember the name