Lakers/Jazz Preview: The battle of the efficient

During the regular season, Utah and L.A. were 2/3 in offensive efficiency (after Phoenix), which means that the Jazz and the Lakers were both in the top three in points per possession. This is no surprise considering that these two teams are coached by two of the best in the league, Phil Jackson and Jerry Sloan. Jackson runs the infamous Triangle Offense, while Sloan utilizes UCLA cuts (an upscreen from the post for the point guard) and even the ol' Flex cut in his offensive attack. Both teams are extremely good at hitting the open man as evidenced by their appearance in the top four in league-wide assists per possession.

This series provides some especially interesting matchups. Kobe Bryant causes huge headaches for opposing coaches, but the Jazz have two athletic, rangy defenders in Ronnie Brewer and Andrei Kirilenko to throw at him. I suspect they'll start the game with Brewer watching Bryant and then Kirilenko will take over when Kyle Korver is inserted into the game. Neither player has been particularly effective in limiting Bryant, who has averaged 29.8 points and shot over 56% from the field in the four head-to-head meetings with the Jazz this season.

Utah also has to be concerned about Pau Gasol...

(Read the rest of the preview after the jump.)