28 Dec 10 Is the Lakers-Jazz Series Already Won? Phil Jackson's History Says It Is

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images45-0. That's a remarkable number regardless of how you look at it, but considering it is Los Angeles Lakers' coach Phil Jackson' playoff record after winning the first game of a series is nearly inconceivable.Take a second and let the significance of that number and accomplishment permeate through the depths of your mind, and even then, it would still be hard to grasp the true meaning of the achievement.This phenomenon has played out 24 times while Jackson was coach of the Chicago Bulls where he won six NBA titles, and another 21 while he has been head coach in Los Angeles, where he is currently seeking his fifth championship.I'm not sure if Jackson will win his 11th NBA championship, but for the Utah Jazz, the chances of New York Jets jersey
winning this current Western Conference Semifinal series against the Lakers was slim to begin with.The Jazz were decided underdogs before the series began, and after letting a four point lead in the fourth quarter of Game Oneslip away, they are now at the mercy of the worst type of playoff history imaginable.The odds don't just say the Jazz's task of dethroning the Lakers will be difficult, history says Utah is facing an impossible journey.The Jazz have already lost their last 15 games at Staples Center including the playoffs, and the Lakers have eliminated them from the postseason the past two years.The Lakers have advantages in the paint against the Jazz, and they have Kobe Bryant, who scored 11 points in a four minute span of the fourth quarter, and seven straight to erase what had been a four point Utah lead.This was a game Utah dearly needed to win. This fact was evident on each player's face as the realization they were headed to yet another defeat in Los Angeles began to settle in.I wouldn't say the Utah players were Oakland Raiders jersey
demoralized, but they were cognizant of the long odds they had to overcome in order to pull off a Laker upset. The road will only get more difficult from here.Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum combined for 33 points and 22 rebounds in the post which was comparable to the Utah duo of Paul Milsap and Carlos Boozer. Bryant, however, was the trump card.Bryant is the type of player who has helped Jackson's sterling record persevere through the years, because he is well versed in the art of finishing off opponents in close games.Much like another of Jackson's players in Chicago, Bryant has the ability to take over a game, and his instinct in those situations are much like Michael Jordan, who always went for the kill when he smelled blood in the water.Utah point guard Deron Williams is a marvelous player, and his skills alone are enough to ensure the Jazz will win at least a couple of games during the course of the series.But Bryant is the player who has the ability to win a close game or close out a tough series, and with the spector of Jackson's record aiding him, it'shard to picture Utah defying history.After all, the Lakers have lost the first game of a playoff series and won the series, but they have NEVER won the first game of a series, and subsequently lost, so who are thePhiladelphia Eagles jersey
Jazz to tempt that type of legacy?Utah will likely give a valiant effort in their endeavour and their journey will end in the same manner it has for the last 45 teams who have been unfortunate enough to lose the opening game of a series against Jackson.I know some will say I'm biased in my prediction, but this isn't just a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers talking, it's history as well.