JAZZ POSE NO THREAT TO LAKERS

Even if the Utah Jazz manage to tie up this seven-game series, I still feel very confident about the Lakers chances of advancing to the Western Conference finals. Here are five reasons why:

1) The Jazz still looks like a one-trick pony. Utah is a great home team but have yet to put a dent on the Lakers home-court armor. The Jazz won Game 3 by outhustling the Lakers, which is a direct product of playing at home. I don't see that happening in Game 5 when the Lakers return to Staples Center.

2) Deron Williams is not healthy. The Jazz point guard is playing through some pain and is obvious that he is not 100%. For the Jazz to win this series, Williams needs to be averaging 25 points a game and so far he is right around 18-20.

3) Utah still has no answer for Kobe Bryant. Unless the Jazz can come up with a defensive scheme that Kobe and the Lakers have never seen before, there is no stopping the newly minted NBA MVP.

4) As a franchise, the Lakers are 35-1 after winning the first two games of a seven-game series.

5) Phil Jackson is 39-0 after winning Game 1 of a best-of-seven series.