The Downbeat - 25 November 2009 - #108 - The Actors Are Terrible Edition
by Basketball John on Nov 25, 2009 10:13 AM MST
in The Downbeat
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I was prepared to write how painful it was to see the performance last night in New Moon, but it looks like everyone that watched the Jazz game last night was in even more pain than I was. And to think I thought about trying to swing New Moon first and then the Jazz game. That could have ended my life.
I don't know what the official numbers are, but the ESA seems like a ghost town. The Jazz have never had problems filling the ESA even during whiteouts.
Even during the lean years I don't remember it being so lifeless. I jump at any chance I get to go to a Jazz game. Yet when I was buying the tickets for the Bulls game, I thought, "Am I just going to be wasting my money on this?" Home games at the Delta Center/ESA have been almost automatic. Now here I am half-tempted to not go? I think that a lot of fans probably feel the same way. Even when the team was suppose to be the worst in the league, I lived further away and still would go. This should never happen!
The Jazz may be holding on to Boozer for financial reasons primarily, but I have to think that keeping him and/or the lack of activity from the FO to spark some life into this team might be costing the Jazz.
It's hard to be patient when there's so obviously a need for a change. This team has always prided itself on stability. But there are times when some risk is needed to ensure stability. This is one of those times.
We didn't trade for Korver until the end of December of 2007 and the team still went on to win 54 games. They went on a crazy 32-18 streak after that. The only difference then was that at this point in the season, we were 10-5 and 13 & 5 through Dec 3 of that year. We then proceeded to go 4-11 to finish out the month. That left us at 17 & 16 to finish out the year.
We're 7-7 now. If we have a similar December as in 2007, we're in trouble. This team has too much talent and too much payroll to be playing .500 ball.
If you haven't looked at next month's schedule, it's pretty brutal. Spurs, 2 games against the Lakers and Magic, @ the Heat & Hawks and @ OKC.
This could get ugly.
I have to think that Boozer's value can't be much higher than right now. I don't know if there's any buyers at this point. Isn't he about due to blow something out?
Because you need something to cheer you up. 
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1. Ouch, New Moon? I tuned in to the last minute. My mistake. Should have never done that.
2. I don’t blame anyone for not wanting to pay to see this team. It’s disappointing and frustrating as a fan to see all the supposed “contenders” making deals to try and better their teams and then here is the Jazz not doing a thing. If the Warriors can get someone to take Captain Jacks (Stephen Jackson) and his $27.8 mill beyond this year SURELY we can find someone willing to take one of our salaries.
8. It’s going to get pretty ugly, pretty fast. If the front office is just wanting to dump salary after this season and rebuild (wow, that pains me to write that. How the HELL can we be REBUILDING!?!) then come out and say it and let’s be up front about it. Don’t have the 2nd highest payroll only to REBUILD. And don’t take center court of the first game to tell us that we have the money to go over the cap space if it is ONLY to rebuild. Uhhhhhhhh……………… I am so disappointed with this team. I don’t even know who to point my finger at. They all deserve it. The players obviously have issues, I am kind of getting frustrated with Sloan, and why hasn’t the front office made a trade? To many people to blame.
4. Agreed. The guy has to be peaked as far as trade value. Why aren’t we sending him packing? We have turned into the Knicks. The thing that is so frustrating is we have such a high payroll this year. You would think that equates to wins on the court. It clearly doesn’t and that is where my frustration is. If we are keeping this high salary then make a change to something that will produce and play defense.
5. That is funny, but I can’t even laugh. I am too frustrated with this team. All the talk about we are going to play better defense, we are a lot over the luxury tax, we are losing at home, we are behind OKC in the standings……etc…….
by P_Dizzle on Nov 25, 2009 10:35 AM MST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OKC
true, but they’re a good, young team. With chemistry. And an offense that seems well built around who they have. I didn’t think they’d make much progress until next season, but obviously I was wrong.
Some of those things fit the Jazz too. But some don’t, and that’s where we’re struggling.
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RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09
by UtesFan89 on Nov 25, 2009 12:02 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
#8
You are right on. Making no changes in the name of stability is getting rather old. If we want some success, we’ll have to take some risks.
Did anyone know that better than Larry Miller? That man wouldn’t have had all he had if he hadn’t taken risks.
by pmannion on Nov 25, 2009 12:09 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
#2
You must not remember the 2005-06 season:
I took that picture during the Nov. 29 game against the Indiana Pacers, which the Jazz lost 84 to 60. 60! From Flickr page page about that picture:
The best part is they have a section in the upper bowl with a big “Boozer’s Buddies” banner over it. There were about four people sitting there.
Does that section still exist? If so, do you think you could find four people to willingly sit there?
I’m going to the Orlando game on Dec. 10 (free tickets!). I wonder how many people will be there.
by kris247 on Nov 25, 2009 3:18 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Yikes, that is bad.
I must have had selective memory.
by Basketball John on Nov 25, 2009 8:37 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Give Boozer a break!
Honestly, Boozer did not help his reputation around here this summer. Really, i don’t like him, and don’t know many fans that do. But let’s be honest, over the last five games, he’s been a beast, and is playing better than D-Will. I know, i said it, and now i’m going to get crap for it, but if we really open our eyes, Boozer has been playing with intensity and attitude. Kristic fouled out last night cuz Booze was bothering him so much. Yeah, his stock is high, but if we get rid of him now, who’s playing well? AK maybe, that’s about it!
Let’s give Booze at least a little break if he keeps playing like this!
by JazzFan87 on Nov 25, 2009 4:55 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
are we watching the same games?
in the last five games, boozer has been playing with intensity and attitude—in the 4th quarter. For the first three, he is content to take fadeaway jumpers and play his own brand of lackadaisical defense on the other end. yes, he’s been great in the 4th—but if showed up in the first three quarters, we wouldn’t need him in the 4th. and as last night showed, sometimes he’ll win games doing what he’s doing, but sometimes we lose horribly.
also, team chemistry and distractions can’t be discounted. there were plenty of guys on the team that were friends with gira, but look at how they were playing and their record until he was traded. no one is going to come out and say it (unlike gilbert arenas), but something being not quite right in the locker room could be why the jazz have been playing so inconsistently all season. on paper, was gira-for-kk that big a change or upgrade? no, but it clearly made everything all better off the court, which showed on the court.
by moni on Nov 25, 2009 5:32 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
I havnen't ripped on Boozer for a while
It’s great that he’s playing fantastic because he still should be traded. If you’re paying 90+ million this year, you had better have a great team. He can bring pieces that we need to contend, namely a shooting guard that can shoot and create his own shot or a defensive big that can shut down the big men in the West.
Even if we didn’t have the whole off-court drama with Boozer, I would still want to see him traded for another piece. We have Millsap and AK that can man the PF position.
by Basketball John on Nov 25, 2009 8:39 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Defense
Basketball is not played on ONE end it’s played on both ends. Although Boozer has upped his intensity on the offensive end his defense is still horrible at best. People who are on the court have to play both ends, offense and defense. Offensive stats are what people look at but don’t be fooled into thinking Boozer has played good defense the past 5 games or so because he hasn’t. I can name at least 10 times per game where he stands flat footed on defense. He plays ZERO help-side defense. I know no one will say it out loud but I know that burns players. It burnt me when I played. You get beat by your man, some times it’s not all your fault, but the weak side guy is supposed to play help side defense. If he doesn’t YOU are the one looking the fool. You only let them happen once or twice before you start thinking the other guy is an ass for not helping out. So while most of the Jazz guys are not saying anything, I know it burns them. Boozer plays NO help side defense. Watch a game.
Why should I give him a break? As a fan he hasn’t given me a break. I am as depressed as ever about this team!
by P_Dizzle on Nov 25, 2009 9:29 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
2. i can only speak for myself on why i think the arena is so empty, and from a fan’s standpoint i feel that this team isn’t worth attending games for. therefore, i hope and pray that the FO doesn’t just assume poor attendance is the result of a bad economy or whatever, and has a clue that it’s about the team and the product that’s being put out there. otherwise, they’ll just sit on the their butts and wait for the economy to get better rather than exploring potential trades.
by moni on Nov 25, 2009 5:37 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
yawn...
That may just be my body anticipating tomorrow’s turkey, or it’s me just not being very excited about this team.
Seriously, with this inconsistency and .500 ball, the only thing I’m looking forward to with this team is: 1) a trade to mix things up; 2) the Knicks sucking.
I fear that as the season goes on, both of these will dissapoint more and more.
by Juan B on Nov 25, 2009 8:37 PM MST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
honest question.
Does anyone regret not letting Millisap go to Portland.
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
Head Czar of Amerika <--- Mortimer said so so there!!!
by faith on Nov 26, 2009 5:57 AM MST reply actions 0 recs
Nope. He will be fine.
It doesn’t seem like he is doing tons, or as much as last season, because he was such a beast last year, but he has basically changed roles this season. He doesn’t get to play around the basket as much as he used to and the team hasn’t even tried running the pick and roll through him. He plays top 2-3 defense on this team EVERY night.
As far as his contract goes, this year looks bad with the frontloaded part of the deal, but after that, we have him for three seasons at essentially 6.5 million a year, which, even if he stays at the same production level as now, is well worth the money.
Millsap is basically our 3rd best player this season.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
by clarkpojo on Nov 26, 2009 7:24 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
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