Los Angeles beat Utah 120-110 in game 2.

Utah led in shot attempts, rebounds (again), assists and steals… and lost.  That’s because Los Angeles countered with a higher field goal percentage (57%), freethrows (35-43) and 3-point percentage (64%).  You will notice that their 3-point % is higher than their field goal %.

One of the telling stat is the freethrows. Utah only made 13 of 16.  Their freethrow attempts is way below Los Angeles’.  TJ Simers of LA Times initiated the annual NBA finals conspiracy theory by suspecting the refs are favoring Los Angeles.  I beg to disagree.  Utah is first in the league for sending the other team to the line.  They won’t suddenly become soft in the playoffs.  In fact, logic states that they will be much more physical.  If the refs seem to be ganging up on them, they only have themselves to blame.  They built that reputation all regular-season long.

If you ask me,  Utah thinks they can’t keep up with the Lakers so they are gambling with their fouls.  If the refs don’t call the fouls strictly, they figure they could foul their way to the conference finals.  So far that tactic is not working.  I wonder if they think the same tactic will work in Utah’s homecourt.  If they do and it backfires again, I’m afraid (or happy) they will have dug a big hole they can’t crawl out of.

Game 3 is on friday and Utah has the best home record.  Los Angeles is one of the teams with a superb road record.  Will Utah stick to its foul game plan?  Will Los Angeles relax and unconsciously let Utah win?  Your guess is as good as mine.