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It’s been a pretty good Western Conference semifinals thus far, though — and I know Utah fans will disagree — it seems like the Lakers are really losing games more than the Jazz are winning them. Give Utah credit, they’ve tied things up, but I have yet to feel like the Jazz can actually win the series.

Of course, if Los Angeles drops Game 5, that changes everything. I don’t see that happening, though.

1. Three games to go, and two are at home for the Purple and Gold. Considering that Utah is less than .500 on the road, and has not beaten LA at Staples this season — well, anything can happen in the playoffs, but I don’t see the Lakers doing anything but pummeling Utah in Game 5. The caveat to this: If Kobe isn’t fully recovered, or at least in decent playing condition, I would be somewhat concerned.

2. A lot of people have been piling on Kobe after the Game 4 loss and the way overtime played out. Injured back, ankle, and lingering finger injury to boot, and No. 24 still puts up 33 points. Gutsy performance, five assists in the Lakers’ game-tying fourth quarter run. He just ran out of juice. It happens.

3. Despite the loss, Lamar Odom is clearly feeling it. No. 7 hits two consecutive baskets in regulation to force overtime — one a three, and then a putback of a Kobe miss. LO’s play thus far is definitely on par with his performances against Phoenix in Round 1 of last year’s playoffs, and he’s seemingly growing stronger with each outing.

4. Derek Fisher should have his number retired when he retires.

5. Here’s an interesting statistic. In the two wins, Kobe was two for four from the three-point line; he only took four three-pointers in two games. In the two losses, Kobe is 1 for 16 from the three-point line. To make this point even more clearly: in the two losses, Kobe would have been 10 of 14 (71 percent) and 12 of 23 (52 percent) from the field had he not shot a single trey. Obviously, there are a bunch of other issues that factored into the defeats, but KB can improve his own game, and help the Lakers offensively and defensively, if he gets to the basket and either dishes or tries to score himself. (Granted, that might have been more difficult on Sunday, ailing as he was.) Driving to the hoop creates opportunities for his teammates and forces Utah to foul. Given that the Jazz were the most penalized team in the NBA this season, they will put him on the line, just as they did in Game 1.

6. Pau Gasol has been solid all series long, but sort of like Utah winning, none of his performances have really felt dominant. LA could use a game like that.

7. Vladimir Radmanovic is hurting Los Angeles at both ends of the floor, and the Lakers would be better served — at least for the time being — with him coming off the bench.

8. After the regular season that Jordan Farmar had, it’s difficult watching him struggle the way that he is. It’s critical for him to get on track in Game 5. When Farmar is hitting, he’s a real perimeter weapon, and he’s one that Los Angeles could very well need, both in this series and beyond.

9. In combination with points 7 and 8, Sasha Vujacic could help Los Angeles by being on the floor more often. In three of the four games, the Machine has shot 60 percent or higher from the field, doing serious damage from long range.

10. It is extremely important for Los Angeles to penetrate in Game 5. Getting Utah’s big men in foul trouble proved instrumental in the two victories — in order to make that happen, the Lakers need to take the ball to the basket or work it into the post.

David Neiman has written for the Washington Post, Miami Herald, Los Angeles Times, Lakers Magazine and other award-winning publications. He is the president of Athlete Interactive, a web development company for professional athletes.

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