By: Staff Writer - StatFox
Published: 5/14/2008 at 10:46:00 AM

Kobe Bryant walked a bit gingerly as he emerged from the training area at Lakers headquarters to speak with reporters Tuesday, remaining on his feet since sitting is not a preferred option because of his sore lower back. “Quite a bit (of pain), but it’s a lot better than it was yesterday,” Bryant said with a smile—his mood clearly positive. “It’ll be fine.” Bryant tweaked his back in the opening minutes of Sunday’s 123-115 overtime loss at Utah that tied the Western Conference semifinals 2-2. Sore back and all, he had 33 points eight rebounds and 10 assists while playing 46 minutes.

Bryant said he’ll definitely play Wednesday night in Game 5 at Staples Center, adding he would have given it a go had there been a game Tuesday night. “I think the key is to know what you can and can’t do,” he said. “I kind of know what I can and can’t do. I hope I can do what’s necessary to help us win.”

Bryant didn’t practice Tuesday, spending his time in suburban El Segundo getting treatment and watching film. He said he hoped to participate in the shootaround Wednesday morning. He and the Lakers are just 10-22 ATS in home games after allowing 100 points or more two straight games.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he believes there’s a possibility Bryant might not shoot that well, but added: “As long as he can play, we’re satisfied. He’ll do OK.”

Jackson also said he wasn’t feeling the pressure a deadlocked series might bring. Having coached nine NBA championship teams, he’s been in this kind of situation many times before. “We know we have homecourt advantage. We earned it,” Jackson said. “We feel very confident in our building.” The homecourt has meant everything in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. The home teams are preposterous 17-1 (only loss was one-pointer by Orlando) with mouth-watering 14-3-1 spread record.

The Lakers have won the last six games between the teams in Los Angeles and have a 16-3 record (11-7-1 ATS) against the Jazz at Staples Center since the arena opened before the 1999-2000 season.
“To win the series, we have to win on the road,” Utah’s Matt Harpring said before the Jazz flew to Los Angeles. “So we haven’t gotten anywhere yet. The series is basically 0-0 and now it’s the best two-out-of-three. “They’re capable of beating us at home,” Harpring added. “We’re not invincible. We know that.” The Jazz will have to do better than being 16-29 ATS in road games off a home win.

Jackson said he believes the Lakers need to play a more physical game to be successful in this series. “I personally am for the cut-slash game. I like speed,” he said. “Our team is long, lanky, lean. You’ve got to beat the opponent to the punch. You’ve got to deliver the first blow. That’s what I’m telling the guys.” That means playing better defense and L.A. is 7-1-1 ATS after giving up 100 or more points.

Utah’s Deron Williams, who had 29 points and 14 assists in Game 4, pointed to slow starts and bad first halves as the key to his team’s 109-98 and 120-110 losses to the Lakers in the first two games of this series. “This is a big game. It’s a momentum game and it puts a lot of pressure on whoever doesn’t win,” Williams said. “You can always expect a couple guys to be the same at home and away. I think I have to be one of those guys. You’ve got to be maybe even more aggressive on the road and try to pick up some of the slack. That’s what I’m trying to do.”

Williams, in his third NBA season, has made quite an impression on Bryant. “I love him. He’s one of my favorite players in the league,” Bryant said, adding he’s not one to throw praise around lightly. “I love his toughness, I love his skill.”

While the Jazz were nearly unbeatable at home, going an NBA-best 37-4 during the regular season, they were just 17-24 on the road and have lost three straight in the playoffs after opening up with a pair of wins at Houston.

Utah coach Jerry Sloan expressed confidence in his players, saying: “I think they can play against anybody. I told them that at the beginning of the season.”

The oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com have made the Lakers 8.5-point home favorites with total of 213.5. Extra rest has benefited Los Angeles more than Utah. The Lakers are 9-3 ATS with two days off, the Jazz are 8-18 against the spread.

Game 6 will be played Friday night in Utah. A seventh game, if necessary, scheduled Monday night at Staples Center. Watch to see what happens on TNT at 10:30 Eastern.

StatFox Power Line –Lakers by 3

JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer contributed to this article.