Bryon Russell is discovering that the playoffs can be a different proposition without the protective shroud of anonymity.
Last year, Russell emerged from the depths of the Utah Jazz bench to become a playoff hero with his three-point shooting. He averaged 9.6 points per game in the postseason, shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 47.2 from the three-point line. His performance chased longtime incumbent small forward David Benoit to New Jersey.But last year's surprise is this year's marked man. Left undefended less often, Russell has struggled with his three-point shot. Heading into tonight's Game 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Forum (8:30 p.m. MST, televised on KJZZ, TNT), he's averaging a respectable 10.8 points per game and shooting a solid 52.6 percent from the field, but he's hitting at just a 31.3-percent clip from the arc.
Russell acknowledged that familiarity has become his enemy.
"Teams kind of know what to expect now," he said. "Last year they didn't."
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan also recognizes that fact.
"Teams are going to guard him now," the coach said. "They've had a chance to prepare for him, to get people in the right spots so he doesn't have open shots all the time."
Despite that, the Jazz coaches say they aren't at all unhappy with Russell's postseason play. They've always felt that defense and hustle were the strengths of his game, that any points he scores is a bonus.
"He's doing very well defensively and cutting without the ball, and he's rebounding better than in the regular season," said assistant coach Gordon Chiesa.
Russell concurred.
"I've had a couple shooting lulls, but my defense has been pretty good," he said.
Still, the coaches admit that it opens up an opposing defense when Russell can knock down the three. In Game 1, Russell threw up a slug of wild misses in making one of his first eight shots.
"His first five shots were like slingshots, because of anxiety," Chiesa said. "And the Lakers basically dared Bryon Russell to shoot."
That's a switch. The Clippers guarded Russell closely, but the Lakers have chosen to concentrate their defensive efforts on Karl Malone and the Jazz's other inside players and focus on guards Jeff Hornacek and John Stockton on the perimeter, leaving Russell with good looks at the basket. He responded in Game 2 by making five of seven shots, including a crucial three-pointer in the closing minutes.
Jazz guard Jeff Hornacek, noting how valuable it was to the Lakers in Game 2 when their small forward, Robert Horry, was left open and responded with an NBA playoff record seven-of-seven effort from the three-point line, said Russell can have similar impact for Utah.
"Bryon's our Robert Horry," Hornacek said. "When he knocks down those threes, it gives us a big lift."
Russell said if the Lakers continue to leave him open, he'll make them regret it.
"I've got to keep shooting," he said.