Preview - Utah Jazz @ Dallas Mavericks

by Basketball John on Nov 3, 2009 5:03 PM MST in Game Previews

Soooooo, is there any hope for tonight's game? Has anything changed between last night and today? I've been checking the news but haven't heard any trade news.

My biggest fear tonight is that we get run right out of the building in the first 5 minutes. With the way we played against the Rockets, that game would have been over in the first half it was one of the top teams in the league (which Houston might be at least for now).

But this game has all the recipe for disaster. On the road, back-to-back, and not playing a lick of D. Maybe I should just start writing the game recap now and call it Jazz lose in Allas (stealing from UtesFan).

I'm afraid that the players need a change now to boost their confidence. Everyone remembers December 2007 when the Jazz won just 5 games. They trade for Korver and proceed to go on a huge run.

The team has been in a huge rut going back to last season and it's going to take some changes for them to get out of it. Deron seems to be putting too much on himself right now. And he seems to be doing a lot of stuff outside the offense.

Boozer on the other hand is doing things inside the offense, at least according to the coaches, but he's just not being effective at it.

It comes down to D though for the Jazz. No big revelation there. In fact, you could say that about any team. Point guards are driving at will. We're getting killed on the defensive boards. Locke pointed out that in the second half of the Clippers game we yielded no offensive rebounds. I think that's been killing us.

The Jazz aren't even leaving their feet when the ball is coming off the rim. How are they suppose to get a rebound when they're nailed to the floor? The other team just comes in a cleans up with a putback dunk. Deron has been getting a lot more rebounds than he has over his career on average. Maybe it's because he's trying to do everything himself because it's not getting done by anyone else.

This team needs a huge lift. What if the team traded for Tyrus Thomas and now suddenly they have a huge defender and an athletic one at that? Chiacago doesn't look like they're bringing him back. A swap for Boozer and Thomas (and a throw in) would benefit both teams. Thomas wouldn't have to be re-signed, so the Jazz have cap room there. And I might be wrong, but I believe by having Boozer on the team now, Chicago retains the right to go over the cap to re-sign him if they desire.

I just think some fresh blood would go a long ways to rebooting the team.

Let me know your thoughts. Are you going to be watching tonight? Is there anything the Jazz can do to get going again? Have we just lost another season of Deron?

Game Thread at 6:00

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Comments

(pardon my hiatus)

You are absolutely right a change is needed NOW. Deron is already saying things like “We just don’t want it enough” in postgame comments? That’s what you say in game 68 when everyone’s tired a bit beaten down, no?

If Boozer is the problem in the locker room, get rid of him for whatever it takes. Maybe we can trade him for one of the collins boys. But whatever, just get his stale a** out of there.

The only other option is getting rid of Sloan. Nobody will ever question his basketball knowledge and those aspects of coaching. His system is my favorite. But what is he doing to motivate the team? Telling them they need to play more D? How bout kicking there a**es from here to Durham NC? He’s out of fire, out of mojo. It’s time to put a fresh face….

…but that’s not going to happen. So Booze needs to go. But a change is just what they need.

I'll make it coach.

by MTN on Nov 3, 2009 5:46 PM MST reply actions

if jerry's not getting it done motivating the guys

dwill needs to step up and take on that role. he’s the undisputed leader, he needs to lead. the team is not going to win many games when the leader says stuff like “we don’t want it enough” or “we need to play harder.”

by moni on Nov 3, 2009 6:20 PM MST up reply actions

Bird once said

“we’re playing like a bunch of women…” In the next game, McHale clotheslined Kurt Rambis. I think the NBA has suffered from all the goodwill between players. It was better when they all hated each other.

I'll make it coach.

by MTN on Nov 3, 2009 6:57 PM MST up reply actions

Ridiculous

After watching the jazz fold once again in the 4th quarter, part of me wonders if we’re going to get our own top ten pick in the next draft along with New York’s.

by Guybrush on Nov 3, 2009 8:58 PM MST reply actions