Short turnaround

LOS ANGELES – They didn’t finish off Game 6 of their first-round NBA playoff series with the Denver until almost 11 p.m. Friday.
Early Sunday afternoon at the Staples Center here, about 38 hours later, they’ll tip off Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series with the Los Angeles Lakers.
They won’t have time for a morning shootaround Sunday, and instead hold a breakfast meeting to prepare for the opening game of their third second-round series in four years.
Blame the quick spin on Lakers big man Pau Gasol, whose putback against Oklahoma City on Friday night allowed the Lakers to close out their series with the Thunder.
Had Oklahoma City won Game 6 of that series, the Jazz would not be playing the winner – and its first game of the second round – until Tuesday night.
But so be it, those with the Jazz seemed to suggest during a media availability session – they had no formal team practice to speak of, but did do video work – this morning.
“I thought our guys did a great job (against the Nuggets),” coach Jerry Sloan said. “But we can forget about that now, and try to move on and get ready to play again.
“It’s a short turnaround.”
After playing Game 2 on Tuesday night here in L.A., however, the Jazz and Lakers will get to take three full days off from games before meeting again in Game 3 on Saturday night at EnergySolutions Arena in Utah.
“That’s a good thing,” said power forward Carlos Boozer, who added it should give injured small forward Andrei Kirilenko extra time to strengthen his strained calf.
“That’s good,” point guard Deron Williams added. “It’s like the last series (against Denver). It’ll give us a chance to heal up after these two games.”

-30-