Despite loss, Jazz still confident about their chances vs. Lakers in 2009 NBA Playoffs

April 19, 7:38 PMUtah Sports ExaminerBrian Shaw

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Think the Jazz aren’t confident about their chances in the 2009 NBA Playoffs against the team they just lost to 113-100, the vaunted Lakers?

Then you didn’t catch their post-game press conference, which, surprisingly, was filled with optimism and is about as sunny as the weather back in Salt Lake City.

We’ll start with Carlos Boozer, who by some reports is already thinking about where he will play next season. Oh yeah? After you read this quote, you may not be so certain, because now I think he might stay. He certainly doesn’t sound like somebody who wants to crawl into a ball and die, that’s for sure, and his 27-point outing would attest to that.

On the confidence level going into the next game:
“We have a good concept of the game. We played a lot better in the second half and whenever we can do better job defensively then we will do a better job defensively; make them take some more jump shots and take away layups we will have a much better chance for victory.”

And you knew Deron Williams wasn’t giving the Lakers much credit. Probably had something to do with the fact that the Laker fans were merciless toward he and his teammates. Well, he gave something back.

On what encouragement they take from this game:
“We played much better in the second half, a better effort. Any time you let a team shoot 65% at the half it is tough to come out with some positive. We have to do a better job. And we weren’t hitting shots. The second half was a lot better. We played a little bit more effectively, we executed better and that is something that we have to take away from the second half.”
On his performance in tonight’s game:
“I didn’t shoot the ball too well. I thought I did a good job getting in the lane and distributing the basketball I just couldn’t finish so I have to do a better job with that. As a team, we didn’t shoot well either so we just have to make shots; get some more stops and make shots.”
On the team’s confidence in the playoffs:
“I think we definitely have it but I don’t think we have showcased it this year. We have been the same team confidence-wise that we have in the past. Pretty much we have the same group of guys that we had in the last three years that have advanced in the playoffs and in the Western Conference finals. It is just a mentality that we have and we haven’t brought it out and we do have to get if we want to win the series.”

And I found it unbelievable that Kobe would actually mention Harpring as being a thug, but he more or less implied such. Does that mean Harpring is gonna back down? You read the quotes and decide.

On his team’s chances on beating the Lakers:
“We feel that we have a shot. We felt that way coming in today. A lot of people are writing us off right now but we defiantly feel that we can beat this team.”

And finally, we have Paul Millsap, who despite his lack of size, outmuscled the bigger Laker defenders all night long. And like the other Jazzmen, he isn’t going away anytime soon. Sounds like we have ourselves a series.

On the importance of defense:
“We have to be physical as a team, put the pressures on the refs and be strong while we’re down there. I felt good about the second half. The second half was great. You’re seeing guys down there banging, working, and helping each other out on defense. It starts on the defensive end. We can’t give up 65 points like we did in the first half and expect to win a game on the road. If we can get that down pat and play solid defense the first two quarters and the last two quarters we’ll be all right.”

And are the Lakers ready, even though they won Game 1? Not according to their coach. Here’s Phil Jackson on his team and the war they‘re about to have.

On the Lakers second half performance:
“I just don’t think they are ready for the onslaught. You know that energy that Utah brings they play with a lot of determination and they want to bring the ball as deep as you let them bring it in they are in the lane almost at the basket. That’s their game you have to try and eliminate some of that and Pau had 4 blocked shots we know that size affects them on the interior part of the game. But many of those were fouls on Drew and fouls on Pau they couldn’t get blocks and couldn’t stop those shots.”