The Utah Jazz's series-clinching win over the Golden State Warriors wasn't easy, but in the end, the Jazz were too big and strong for the Warriors. Utah had another huge rebounding edge (59-35) in its 100-87 win on Tuesday, but I thought the key to the series was the defensive strength of Utah's guards.

Derek Fisher and Deron Williams were able to frequently stay in front of Baron Davis and make him work for every shot, and eventually Davis wore down. In the last two games of the series, his play dramatically fell off and, as a result, Golden State didn't get the open three-pointers it was getting earlier in the series.

The Jazz are a versatile team, and with great players at the point (Williams) and on the block (Carlos Boozer), they could do some damage in the Western Conference finals regardless of who they play.

• The Chicago Bulls' 108-92 victory Tuesday was a phenomenal effort. They were quicker than the Detroit Pistons all game long, chasing down loose balls and rebounds, moving the ball and penetrating and kicking out like they did against Miami.

Of course, it helps when you make 72 percent of your shots in the first half. But the key to the game was the Bulls' ability to attack a Detroit zone defense that has bothered them so much in the series.

Chicago continually got the ball inside to collapse the zone and create lanes for passing and driving. The Bulls look like they've reached a new level of confidence after squeaking out a win in Game 4, and now they have a chance to even the series in Chicago on Thursday. What an amazing turn of events.

• As for Detroit, this has to feel like deja vu.

Last season, the Pistons led Cleveland 2-0 and appeared to be on their way to an easy series win, but the Cavaliers won the next three games and scared the living daylights out of Detroit before losing in seven.

If the Pistons have a weakness, it's the fact that they tend to lose focus sometimes and take things for granted. That appeared to be the case in Game 5, as they were outhustled and outplayed.

Detroit wins games by grinding things out at both ends of the floor. The Pistons have to get back to being who they are in order to close out the series.

• Here's my take on the suspensions the NBA handed down Tuesday in the Spurs-Suns series: The league pretty much had to suspend Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw, based on precedent. But perhaps it's time to change the rule a bit.

I understand the spirit of the rule, which is to keep bench players from potentially initiating or escalating a brawl. But I think there are two fundamental problems with the current rule:

1. It potentially rewards the team that commits the dirty foul in the first place because the players who generally leave the bench (and end up suspended) are the ones from the team that has gotten punked.

2. It makes no room for human reaction. The intensity and emotion involved when you're playing in an NBA playoff game is unbelievable, and when you see your teammate get nailed by a cheap shot, your reaction is to take a few steps toward the play.

My feeling is that the rule should be altered to allow for that human reaction, as long as the players' second reaction is to immediately turn back around when his brain tells him, "Don't leave the bench!" If you watch Diaw on the replay, that's exactly what he does -- he takes three steps, then realizes he shouldn't be on the floor and turns back.

Every player in the league knows he can't run onto the floor, but sometimes human instinct takes over. If it's just for a second or two, and the player turns back around quickly without doing anything, then why punish him? 

That is just one idea off the top of my head, but surely there are other alternatives to the rule. Somehow, the league needs to figure out a way to make sure that its playoff series are decided on the floor and not in a law office.