Kobe Bryant vs Utah Jazz V LA Lakers game 5 2009 NBA Playoffs

LOS ANGELES(AP) The Los Angeles Lakers letting the Utah Jazz shave a 22-point lead all the way down to six wasn't quite as cool.

Bryant and the Lakers are moving on in the NBA playoffs - as if that was really in doubt. It's just that even as they ran away from the Jazz 107-96 on Monday night, they still left some questions about their defense.

With Bryant scoring 31 points and Lamar Odom adding 26 points and 15 rebounds, the Lakers finished the opening-round series in five games to earn a few days rest.

They move on to play the winner of the Portland-Houston series.

The partying fans at Staples Arena - and the Lakers - were slapped back to reality as the Jazz came back in the closing minutes, cutting the lead to 93-86 with 4:37 left. Bryant hit a turnaround jumper and Odom finished a fast break with a slam dunk to fend off Utah's late run.

"We've got to give a better effort defensively when our second unit comes in there, getting back on defense, not giving up easy baskets, stuff like that,'' Bryant said. "We've got a week here before the next series to have a spirited conversation with the group and see if we can't correct that for the next series.''

The Lakers didn't want to have to go back to Salt Lake City, the site of their Game 3 collapse - when they blew a 13-point, third-quarter lead - and their Game 4 bounceback.

Bryant doesn't care who the Lakers play next.

"I'm just ready for the next series, whoever it is,'' he said. "We have to kind of go over it and evaluate it and see what areas we can exploit offensively and defensively. It's different than playing in the regular season.''

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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[staqs21]

Lebron James thats why he is MVP not kobe. And teams change they get better or worse so just cause cavs dont have any titles now doesnt mean they cant get any.

[jimmychuang]

western confrence is way more challenging? You mean 2001 or 2002?

The NBA has changed for many years! Weak up man! Western is not more challenging than eastern for years. Especially Spurs became weak. Eastern has Celtics, Cavs, Magic, western has only Lakers and maybe Nuggets.

Lakers plays sucks in 2 round, it doesn't make Rockets a great team, it only shows Lakers can not play well under pressure, Kobe can't, either. Otherwise, they wouln't lose that bad last year, they desn't change

[Aboufawaz]

Lebron James is not human! He has twice the talent level as Kobe and not even going to talk about his Physical Attributes because thats not even fair! Kobe was the best but the torch has been passed and if it werent for SHAQ DIESEL Kobe would have never won a title because we all know the Lebron is going to absolutley shit on Kobe. Seriously people, stop comparring Kobe to the greatest ever, its not even close. Lebron is KING and we are all peasants even KOBE take 80 shots a game Bryant! Im Out!

[nomooon]

lol think again :D

[auh12]

Lebron is way better than kobe.. stats wise and skill wise, kobe is over rated..

[shnchikun]

i think kobe missed way too many shots in this game.

to lakers24: are you fckn gay or what????

[jerrylanderos]

Why did you make the video 4:3 instead of 16:9? Anyways thanks for the upload.

[nahm02]

Yeah reporter gets a hairstyle by Kobe! Awesome! :D

[crazyasianskills]

I was worried too, luckily the Rockets advanced.

[Lakers24pwnz]

i dont wanna vs the blazers! rockets will be easier for us