According to ESPN’s Ric Bucher, there’s going to be a raucous crowd in Utah tonight. Just kidding, Bucher didn’t say that. He now knows to keep the words “Jazz” and “fans” out of his mouth. (Otherwise he might have Big Love DVD’s hurled at him.)

Even though Bucher didn’t report it, that doesn’t make it any less true. Utah is always a noisy place to come and play – at least that’s what the television stations lead me to believe when they show me the decibel graphics. I think Jazz games usually come in just below rock concert and just above Jason McIntyre’s 1997 Mazada:

The trunk went Eh-eh and all of a sudden

4 15’s didn’t see no wire’s

and then I heard boom from the amplifiers

Anyway, its a big night. The Jazz lose tonight and they are cooked. Can Kobe and the Lakers crush another team’s spirit the way they demoralized the Nuggets in Round 1? Or will the Jazz actually make a series of this one?

Call it a hunch, but I think the Jazz can actually win a game at home. In LA – not so much – but in Utah? Why the heck not! Besides, a Jazz win assures us of more good playoff games. We’ll need it to offset the atrocity that is Boston – Cleveland. Of course the fact that I’m rooting for a real series to break out doesn’t mean I won’t be rooting for Kobe to score 60 between Ballantine’s.*

No matter who wins tonight, enjoy this Jazz cheerleader. Pretty nice, right? I was going to go with a picture of Kobe or Deron Williams, but who wants to look at those guys on a Friday night? Not me. Enjoy the game.

And remember to give Imig all your best scoops this weekend. I hear the internet is limited in St. Louey.

*I’ll be drinking the cheap malt liquor – not Kobe. Just thought I should clarify.

Lakers expect a hostile crowd tonight [LA Times]

Update: It’s come to my attention that the lady above is probably not a Jazz dancer. Allow me to stand corrected. Here’s the 2005-2006 dance team. Apparently, they haven’t updated the team since then.