and resume blessin's
.
By C. Jake Williams. May 10, 2008
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We learned three things from Jazz-Lakers game three.
1. Kobe Bryant is truly unstoppable.
2. The Lakers are not unstoppable.
3. The Jazz are capable of controlling their own fate.
Does Kobe Bryant ever miss an 18-foot jumper? How many times last night did you think 'Okay, this one's rimming out. How can he make Every shot?' I asked myself about as many times as Kobe got to the free-throw line. That's a lot.
Another thought on Kobe: Did you notice Bryant is now drawing fouls by swooping his arms under the defender's outstretched arms and raising up? Gilbert Arenas used this tactic last season and it's incredibly useful. Not only does Kobe get two freebies from the charity stripe, but the defender has to back off on subsequent plays. We call that a win-win.
A lose-lose, however, is exactly what might happen to the Lakers as a team during this trip to Salt Lake. There's no MVP in team, so the Jazz have a chance to outplay the Lakers as a whole just as they did in game three. This isn't a knock against the Lakers, necessarily. The Jazz simply have the potential to beat the Lakers on any given night because...
...The Jazz (Zac, stop reading right about here. Trust me, you Kobe worshipper you, you're not going to like this) can beat Any team, even if their best player goes off, on any given night. Carlos Boozer had been a no-show in the playoffs before last night and Utah was never a serious threat to be eliminated.
If Booze and Deron Williams each collect a double-double and the other guys play their little parts, the Jazz can win this thing in six.
I'm not even a huge Jazz fan and I'm writing this.
Again, I'm sorry Zac. I tried to warn ya.
On a less analytical note, I started sending my resume out to major newspapers yesterday.
I emailed a copy to the Salt Lake Tribune, Denver Post, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun-Times and Boston Globe. I haven't heard anything back from any of them yet, but maybe in a month or so I can send another copy followed by a phone call and generate some interest.
The respective editors will hopefully remember the interest I showed yesterday and give me a short phone interview. I can hold my own in an interview.
That's how I landed my Deseret News internship.
That's how I secured math sterling scholar.
That's why parents always love me more than their daughters.
I'm confident obviously, and after the daughters comment I think I need a tissue.
*New analogy for your viewing pleasure*: Kobe Bryant is even more unstoppable than my why-don't-daughters-like-me-as-much-as-their- mothers tears.
But just like the Utah Jazz, I am completely capable of controlling my own fate.
You were there.