Lakers-Jazz -- Prediction

The Jazz -- with their precision cutting and screening on offense, and their aggression and relentlessness on defense -- will give the Lakers more resistance in one quarter than the Nuggets did the entire first round.

That said, they'll need to. Los Angeles is dialed on offense and has numerous matchup advantages, most notably Kobe Bryant over anybody. Utah's biggest problem, however, is the occasional (and sometimes lengthy) droughts at the offensive end, especially against an outmanned Houston team.

If the Lakers are organized on defense and give maximum effort, that firepower edge will be significant.

Lakers in 5