The importance of Carlos Boozer in the Jazz's Western Conference semifinals series against the Los Angeles Lakers was underscored on the first possession of Sunday's game, when Boozer drove for a layup against Pau Gasol only 15 seconds in.
    "I think you could see that the first couple series," Deron Williams said. "We came down and got it inside to him. He attacked quick, didn't let the defense set up, really, and that's when he was effective. We've got to try to get him in some of those same situations and let him work."
    The Jazz sense the opportunity to hammer the Lakers inside, with Boozer matched up against Gasol or Lamar Odom, but their All-Star forward has struggled so far in the playoffs. It has been 15 games and counting since Boozer last scored more than 21 points.
    He has averaged 15.9 points on 42.9 percent shooting in the playoffs, compared with 21.1 points on 54.7 percent shooting in the regular season. Boozer finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds in Game 1 against the Lakers but committed seven turnovers.
    Along with Orlando's Dwight Howard, Minnesota's Al Jefferson and Washington's Antawn Jamison, Boozer was one of four NBA players to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds this season. On the eve of Game 2, Boozer maintained Tuesday that he is not growing frustrated.
    "Nah, just more anxious," Boozer said. "I'm more anxious. We
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all want to play really well, especially who I am on this team. I want to play great for my teammates, give them a lift in [tonight's] game."
    Talking about Boozer, Williams said: "He's struggling a little bit, but he's still playing hard. The shots will come, they'll start falling, and we've just got to keep going to him."
    It has seemingly been one thing after another for Boozer in the playoffs. He was plagued by foul trouble and missed free throws in the Jazz's first-round series against Houston. The jumpers and drives that Boozer hit all season suddenly vanished for him.
    "I've struggled a little bit with my shot in the playoffs and I'm aware of that," Boozer said, "but I'm also aware that I'm playing really good basketball, just not making my jump shots, so I'm hoping my jump shot will start falling soon."
    The Jazz spent Monday reviewing tape of their disastrous second quarter against the Lakers. Boozer had six turnovers in the first half of the game, including three in the second quarter, and admitted dropping his head in disgust as he watched it again.
    Derek Fisher, in particular, had a field day as the Lakers double-teamed Boozer, slapping the ball out of his hands and deflecting his passes for steals. Boozer said he had to face the basket quicker and not suffer from tunnel vision in trying to run the offense.
    "For me, I've just got to be aware of when they're coming for the double- and triple-teams and where they're coming from," Boozer said.
    Jazz coach Jerry Sloan answered, "I'm not worried about numbers as much as playing," when asked Tuesday if he needed more production out of Boozer. If the Lakers continue to double-team Boozer, Sloan said his teammates should be able to pick up the slack.
    "Everybody says, 'You've got get 20 points, you've got to do this, you've got to do that,' " Sloan said. "You've got to do what they let you do. If they take your inside game away from you, you've got to be able to pass the ball and we've got to make plays. You don't want the numbers that we had the other day."
    Those would be the Jazz's 11 first-half turnovers, which enabled the Lakers to build a 17-point lead in the second quarter. In the first quarter, by contrast, the Jazz scored 20 of their 24 points in the paint, with Boozer totaling seven points and six rebounds.
    Ronnie Brewer, meanwhile, talked about the expectations greeting Boozer after the Jazz's unexpected run to the Western Conference finals last year. It was Boozer's first trip to the playoffs and he averaged 23.5 points and 12.2 rebounds in 17 games.
    "I think it's a lot of pressure on him and D-Will considering how well they did last year in the playoffs," Brewer said. "Everybody's expecting them to mirror what they did last year. We know what they're capable of and what they mean to this team."
    There are questions about the state of Boozer's sore back - "We're not a team that really advertises our injuries," Williams said. "We'll try to keep them under wraps" - but in the meantime Boozer will look to lead the Jazz's push to play more inside-outside.
    "I think we can attack them inside," Boozer said. "I think we have the personnel to be able to go right at them, right in the paint and see if we can have an advantage at that."
    rsiler@sltrib.com
   
    20-10 vision
    Carlos Boozer was one of four players to average 20 points and 10 rebounds in the regular season. Minnesota's Al Jefferson didn't reach the playoffs. Here's a look at how the other three are performing (Antawn Jamison plays for the Washington Wizards, who were eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round).
    Pts Reb FG% Pts Reb FG%
    REGULAR SEASON PLAYOFFS
    Carlos Boozer 21.1 10.4 54.7 15.9 12 42.9
    Dwight Howard 21.7 14.2* 59.9 21 16.7 62.6
    Antawn Jamison 21.4 10.2 43.6 16.8 12.0 40.6
    *Howard had the highest rebounding total in the league during the regular season