The Downbeat - 15 March 2010 - #185 - The Crying Game Edition
by Basketball John on Mar 15, 2010 9:24 AM MDT
in The Downbeat
3 comments
Here are the standings if we just take the games since the beginning of the year,
DEN 25-9 .735
OKC 25-10 .714
UTH 24-10 .706
LAL 23-12 .657
DAL 23-12 .657
PHX 20-14 .588
SAS 20-14 .588
POR 20-15 .571
MEM 20-16 .555
I think given the Lakers easier schedule to start the year and the Jazz fans desire to erase Oct-December from the history books, we should just go with this.
As for the rest of the season, the Jazz have 18 games left and only 8 of those on the road. With the exception of the game @ LA, all of those are winnable. The question is what are the Jazz going to do over the remaining 18? If this season is any indication, they could go 16-2, 10-8, or 8-10. Like I've said before though, the Jazz really don't have an excuse not to finish out the season strong. The remaing schedule is the easiest they've had in recent years.
If they were to go 16-2 to close out the season, Denver would have to choke down the stretch for the Jazz to win the division. Denver only has 16 games left which means they would have to go 10-6 (11-5 does us no good as they hold the tiebreaker). Do they have six losses left? They do have a five-game road trip @NY, @BOS, @TOR, @ORL, and @DAL. They also have remaining away games against Houston, OKC, and PHX. THey have some tough home games against the Bucks, Lakers, Grizz, and Spurs. So it's not impossible that they could stumble, but I don't think it's likely. They're a very good team and a legitimate threat to knock off the Lakers.
Othyus jeffers got picked up for another 10-day contract. He's not likely to see many minutes given that he didn't even get PT against OKC when we were short on players. So if he's going to get signed for the rest of the season, he'll have to make the team in practice.
Right now, I'm not sure there's a better option out there for the Jazz. Larry Hughes got signed over the weekend. Is there really a player out there that the Jazz can sign that would be an upgrade? Given that whoever it is, they're not going to get much court time. If anything though, I'd like to see what Jeffers can do at least on defense. They say that he can guard guards and power forwards. The offense might take a bit to learn, but the defense is something that can be picked up pretty quickly.
I have to say, I watched my first national college basketball games over the weekend and it makes me salivate for Evan Turner, Cousins, Wall, and the like. I've said it before, but the fact that we even have a slim chance at landing one of these types of players makes me drool. I'd like to thank to Dallas Mavericks for getting taken behind the woodshed by the Knicks. Thanks a lot.
Do you realize that if we were to land Turner, that we could have two pirates, Wesley and a relative of Bill Turner?
When did we turn into whiney Bs when we don't get a call? It's one thing to complain, but I counted at least a couple of times when Deron's man got up court because DWill was crying to the officials. First, if you're going to complain, it shouldn't be when the action is still going on. Second, at what point do you think that it's going to help for future calls?
That's one of the biggest reasons I hate other players like LeBron and Kobe and the like because they're whining after every call. Frankly, (breaks out cheese doodles) it's embarassing. Let us fans whine, that's our job.
Looks like the Jazz are drawing big locally on FSN. It looks like it didn't start out well though in the beginning of the season,
"We have been consistent in our [ratings] delivery, but earlier in the season, we were getting some concerns from some advertisers because the ratings weren’t there," said Chris Baum, senior vice president of broadcasting for the Jazz. "But we have started to grow our ratings dramatically in February,"
I'm guessing with Boozer still on the team, college football still going on, and the overall poor play of the Jazz had something to do with that. It looks like things are back on track though.
"Our ratings are now back to our glory days when we had John Stockton and Karl Malone," Baum said. "And February in Utah is cold."
It would be interesting to see how this year has compared to year's past when there was KJZZ as well.
3 comments | 0 recs |
Market Value: A Carlos Boozer Story
by clarkpojo on Mar 15, 2010 7:13 AM MDT
10 comments
We will have plenty of time to talk about this guy later.
We are sort of coasting into the end of the regular season and at this point, all we can do is hope that our team doesn't limp their collective way to the finish line. In a couple of months we will have a lot to talk about including the playoffs and who the Jazz should draft with the number one overall pick. But right now there isn't much to talk about other than x's and o's and the occasional great game or big letdown to an inferior team.
So let's talk about the impending offseason for a bit, not because we are casting the season aside, but because there really isn't anything sexier to discuss. Today's topic is the impending free agency of Carlos Boozer and why Jazz fans just need to start getting used to the fact that Carlos Boozer is making his last run in a Jazz uniform.
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Game Thread - Utah Jazz @ Oklahoma City Thunder
by Basketball John on Mar 14, 2010 4:46 PM MDT
in Game Threads
241 comments
No AK, no Memo, no Price, no problem, right? The Thunder were going to be tough enough as it was even with everyone.
According to Locke, CJ will start for AK and Millsap will take Memo's place. That's going to be a pretty thin rotation with just Korver on the bench that's part of the regular rotation. We're going to see some odd combinations on the floor tonight.
So we'll see Gaines tonight, maybe even vs. Maynor. Deron might be going 40+ minutes though, let's hope he's wearing the wrist brace. And we're in trouble if the Jazz start getting into foul trouble as well.
If we're going to pull out a win, we're going to have to have season-best type games from everyone. Oh, and don't be surprised if Durant goes for 50.
241 comments | 0 recs |
Jazz Get Bucked in Milwaukee, Lose 95-87
by Basketball John on Mar 12, 2010 9:29 PM MST
in Game Recaps
3 comments
See what happens when you knock a beer out of a fan's hands? Milwaukee gets angry over the wasted brew.
The Jazz had quite few non-calls that they should have but the Bucks flat out took this game. Utah is one of the best offensive teams in the league and the buck stopped in Milwaukee.
So to answer the question in the preview, the immovable object wins tonight. Had the Jazz not have to play from behind for most of the night, they might have had enough to steal this game in the fourth. You can't keep playing from behind like that and expect to win them all. It's nice to know that they can come back like they have so many times, but when you run into a team like the Bucks that are just as hot, the odds are going to be against you.
Despite the poor play from the Jazz tonight, that they had a chance to win this game was remarkable. They finally took the lead late in the fourth on Deron's second free-throw and Boozer's dunk on the next possession pushed the lead to three, 78-75. The Jazz had the chance to push the lead to six, but CJ Miles and Korver couldn't connect on their three-point attempts.
After that, the Bucks took over getting back to back turnovers from Deron and Boozer on consecutive possessions which resulted in points on the other end. That put Milwaukee up four, 84-80.
Even then, the Jazz fought back with a Korver jumper and then Memo blocking Jennings on the other end. CJ Miles then calmly made two free-throws to tie it up. The Jazz got some D on Bogut on the following trip down the court for the Bucks, but someone didn't box out, and Ersan Ilyasova was able to get the easy put-back.
With one more shot to tie it up or win, the Jazz ran a play for a Memo three thatwasthisclose to going in, but rimmed out and that was essentially the game.
All the credit should go to Milwaukee in this one. They held the Jazz to just 87 points when Utah had been putting up that number by the third quarter in recent contests. The Bucks, and namely Andrew Bogut, frustrated the interior offense of the Jazz all night long.
Who knows, maybe if even one three ball falls for the Jazz, we're talking about them pulling out another win. Maybe if someone else other than Memo or Boozer contributed offensively, we're talking about how we stole one. Maybe if AK hadn't hurt his calf, there would have been an AKWSUA moment.
I didn't expect the hot three-point shooting for the Jazz to continue at the same pace, I just didn't expect for it to even out in one game.
No loss is good, but this loss to the Bucks isn't like the loss to the Clippers or the Kings. The Bucks are a very good defensive team.
So off to the OKC on Sunday. That's going to probably be a tougher game than this. They're a great defensive team as well and Durant can drop 30 on you before breakfast. So they're going to have to do what Matthews' mom used to tell Wesley about losses and that's forget about them at midnight and go on to the next one (according to her on 1320 KFAN when she was sitting with Locke).
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Game Thread/Preview - Utah Jazz @ Milwaukee Bucks
by Basketball John on Mar 12, 2010 4:44 PM MST
in Game Threads
387 comments
The unstoppable force meets the unmovable object?
That's kind of what we're heading for tonight when the Jazz head into the brew capital tonight. The Bucks are a different team since getting blown out at the ESA a couple of months ago, 112-95. Since then, they're 18-7 and 10-2 since the break and 9-1 in their last 10.
The reason has been their stifling defense. The Bucks aren't scoring much and in fact their PPG is less after the All-star break. However, they've only been giving up 89.09 points a game during that same span.
On the other hand, they haven't faced an offense like the Jazz much since then either. The one game they did lose in their 9-1 streak was against the Hawks, the third-rated team offensively. They also beat Cleveland but the Cavs were sans LeBron.
The last game saw the Jazz win with a balanced scoring attack. Doe was 2-3 from deep and had a team-high 19 points. Four other Jazz men had double-figures. Boozer and Okur owned the glass with 12 boards each. The Jazz were also 8-16 from three-point land.
The Jazz jumped on the Bucks early in their win at the ESA and that's what the Jazz will need again tonight. I'm looking forward to what the Jazz can do against the Bucks' D.
Oh, and I'll get up a recap tonight for a change if it kills me.
387 comments | 0 recs |
The Downbeat - 12 March 2010 - #184 - The KOOF > Chuck Norris Edition
by Basketball John on Mar 12, 2010 9:29 AM MST
in The Downbeat
15 comments
This is good news: It looks like Ronnie B could be returning to action as soon as the beginning of next week,
"If I push it, I might be (back) this weekend. If not, early next week," Brewer said. "I plan on getting out there and helping this team. I have to get the OK from the doctors but I'm trying to come back soon. But 31/2 games out (of the eighth playoff spot) is not unachievable with the talent level on this team.
Looks like he's ahead of schedule in the healing process. I wish nothing but the best for Brewer.
So you've likely read Siler's notes about Fesenko re-telling Chuck Norris jokes that he heard from Kyle Korver. Shouldn't there be a site for the KOOF? Like... The KOOF only plays the last minute of blow-out games because Stern doesn't want him to break the record for most points in a game. Or... the KOOF is the only person to be able to divide a prime number evenly by another number besides itself and one?
Great article from SLAM on Jerry Sloan,
He also feels coaches should be given a chance to prove something to the players who are essentially seen as the proverbial inmates running the asylum. "I think [sticking with a coach] would send a message to the players. Players [feel like] ‘I don’t have to play for this guy so when the next guy comes in, I’ll wait and play for him.’ It’s an attitude that players have."
And how does he deal with that kind of attitude from guys? "I tell our players I’m gonna be here and you may not."
End of discussion.
As if this was anyone else's team. You have to have some pretty good confidence in your relationship with management to be able to make a statement like that.
Sloan has said many times that he doesn't know when he'll stop coaching. He's stated that he will likely will just wake up one morning and decide that he's done. My question is what's going to be the piece of straw that breaks the John Deere tractor's back? Honestly, as long as he's physically able to do it, I don't see him retiring.
It's likely going to have to be his back that breaks before he stops coaching. I don't think it's going to be a voluntary retirement from the game.
I'm not saying I want him to retire by any means. In fact, I'm quite the opposite. I hope he coaches for a very long time.
So far, so good for March. The Jazz have typically had great starts to the new year over the past several seasons and this year isn't an exception. They're 4-1 this month and 24-8 since the calendar flipped to 2010.
There really isn't any one thing that you can nail down as the reason for the recent success of the Jazz, it's been a combination of everything. Everyone is healthy. Chemistry seems to be at an all-time high. Kyle Korver is so freakin' hot right now. Memo is getting his post-baby bump in production. AK is being AK. Deron seems to have transitioned to the next belt in ninja. Doe is getting it done and not just with his unconcious three-point shooting. Has he finally started figuring things out? Simply put, everyone is clicking and everyone is contributing in their defined roles.
Do you realize that we were a couple of hiccup games in LA and Sacramento from having a 12-game winning streak ON THE ROAD? In what alternate universe does that happen for the Jazz? Every game something happens that reinforces the Sundiata Gaines/Jughead theory. If that's the case, there's only one place this season is going.
Friday poll
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The Downbeat - 11 March 2010 - #183 - The Jazz MVP Edition
by Basketball John on Mar 11, 2010 9:47 AM MST
in The Downbeat
21 comments
This should probably be the mailing it in edition. Here's my top 5 MVP candidates for the Jazz with no explanation. Discuss
Deron - Ninja
Andrei Kirilenko - If you watch the Jazz, you just know.
Carlos Boozer - Huge, consistent season
Wesley Matthews - Definition of diamond in the rough
Kyle Korver - He's so hot right now.
21 comments | 0 recs |
Game Thread - Utah Jazz @ Detroit Pistons
by Basketball John on Mar 10, 2010 5:00 PM MST
in Game Threads
371 comments
Hopefully there was a precap up before this game thread. If not, I have failed you.
371 comments | 0 recs |
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Northwest Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Denver
|
45 | 21 | .681 | 0 | Won 6 |
|
Utah
|
42 | 24 | .636 | 3 | Lost 2 |
|
Oklahoma City
|
41 | 24 | .630 | 3.5 | Won 5 |
|
Portland
|
41 | 28 | .594 | 5.5 | Won 4 |
|
Minnesota
|
14 | 53 | .208 | 31.5 | Lost 9 |
(updated 3.15.2010 at 1:36 PM MDT)
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