The good
Kobe's game, on both ends of the floor.  Extremely efficient from the floor and not just in the amount of shots taken (a more-than-reasonable 19 shots for 33 points), but in his selection as well.  Rarely did anything feel forced or ill-advised.  A wonderfully controlled night racking buckets.  And when he wasn't busy scoring, Kobe played his ass off on the defensive end.  His stuffing of Kirilenko under the basket brought the house to its feet and helped ratchet the team's already high intensity up yet another notch. 

Jordan Farmar: In a night where a collectively strong bench effort took place (41 points), Farmar may very well have been the standout pine performer: 12 points and four assists in just four minutes, with an absolutely sensational coast-to-coast layup that epitomized what Farmar brought in spades -- energy (not to mention results) out the wazoo.

Andrew Bynum: If Farmar wasn't the night's bench king, the title definitely goes to Bynum.  From start to finish on the floor, Bynum played among his most confident and aggressive games in a Laker uni, often bullying his way to his 15 points and nine boards.  He also remained focused on D, the one area Phil Jackson has consistently cited a need for improvement.  If he can make the lockdown efforts can remain this consistent, this could go a long way toward upping his minutes, if not usurping the starter's gig.

The defense:  Utah's 109 points will make it sound like the Lakers played a lot of "ole," but that wasn't really the case.  All in all, the team played pretty good defense, and even on sequences that went awry, the effort and motivation were pretty much always on display.  This was a team looking to hustle and make life tough on the Jazz.  I don't know if they're capable of playing that efficiently all the time.  But I can't think of a reason they can't try to.

The bad
As I said before, I was willing to overlook Kobe's five turnovers in recognition of how well he played.  But I ain't forgiving the 18 committed by the team.  That's just too many if you're looking to consistently come out on top.

Brian Cook: His six minutes consisted of one bucket, two turnovers (one which came courtesy of an ugly attempt to put the ball on the floor) and a general lack of energy.  To some degree, this might not be an issue, since it's looking like Vlad Radmanovic (and Luke, once he's likely moved to the bench upon LO's return) could bump him out the rotation altogether.  But assuming Cook would like to prevent that from happening, he needs to get it together and fast, because I could see his window of opportunity closing increasingly fast.

Jordan Farmar, post-game quotes:

"I never was lacking confidence, but it's just a different understanding of the game, what's expected of me.  The coaching staff has a different confidence in me coming into this season, and that helps a lot.  It translates to my teammates trusting me, and we're all just playing together.  It's definitely not just me."

"We're starting to play together and Kobe Bryant is playing great basketball.  He's just letting the offense run.  He's making the initiation passes and making his cuts.  Just letting everything run smoothly and trusting us.  If he doesn't have something good, he's swinging it on and we're making plays.  We always come back to him if we need something.  He's our man and he's the best player in the game.  If he continues to play like that, we're gonna be tough to beat."

"It's not necessarily 'solving' anything, but we're playing the right way.  It's not like we're playing and everybody's unhappy and uncomfortable and we're just getting wins, so everything's 'good.'  We're playing the right way.  We're playing hard defensively.  We're sharing the ball.  We're running our stuff.  We're screening for each other.  We're making the extra pass.  People are up off the bench, high-fiving and happy for their teammates.  It's not just the win.  The wins are just a product of the way we're going about our business." -- On whether, as the saying goes, these recent wins "solve everything."

"Our guy.  He starts everything.  Kobe is playing the right way.  I know all you guys can see it.  We see it.  We feel it.  I think he feels it as well.  He's really playing good basketball.  When he plays like that, he's the best player in the game.  By far." -- On where the ability to play this way comes from.

-- AK

Here are your post-game sounds.  Obviously, there was a lot of praise for Farmar and Bynum, to go along with complimentary words for all.  Well deserved, too. 

• Phil Jackson: On the play of the second unit, a big fourth quarter after "purposeless play" going into the half.  The quality of shooting, owing to the quality of shots.  The significance of the win ("We know people are still getting their legs underneath them in the NBA season ... a good start gives us some daylight we're looking for, some good vibrations for the team, especially with Lamar out, hopefully coming back this next week.").  On ball movement and sharing of said ball.  Defensive intensity, especially in the fourth. Download phil_jackson_11.4 Utah Postgame.mp3
• Andrew Bynum: On the energy of the second unit, the improvement of his off-ball movement, and the role Derek Fisher has played in helping him get better in that area, his increasing comfort level compared to two years ago and last season. Download andrew_bynum11.4 Utah Postgame.mp3
• Jordan Farmar: On improving, providing a spark for the second unit, the comfort he feels with Drew and the rest of the second unit.  "Knowing what everyone can do, and letting them do what they do."  Defensive intensity, pushing the pace, trying to create turnovers.  Taking ownership of the second unit, and the confidence PJ has to let him push the ball, being given the freedom to try and create.  Building an identity as a team, first and second squads.  Download jordan_farmar_11.4 Utah Postgame.mp3 
• Kobe Bryant: On the offense, spark of the second unit, improvement of Farmar.  The happiness that comes with plays like the block he had on Kirilenko's Q4 dunk attempt.  Drew's off-ball movement.  That last question regarding Kobe's shoes references the white, perhaps snakeskin numbers he was wearing tonight.  Download kobe_bryant_11.4 Utah Postgame.mp3
• Derek Fisher: On the help he's given Bynum with his off-ball movement.  Download derek_fisher_11.4 Utah Postgame, on Bynum.mp3

-- BK