The Downbeat - 29 December 2009 - #132 - The Here Comes Memo Edition
by Basketball John on Dec 29, 2009 7:15 AM MST
in The Downbeat
9 comments
The separation in the standings in the west isn't quite what it's been in the past. It's still early of course. The Lakers will likely be out ahead when all is said and done despite their recent struggles.
The rest of the pack though looks like it will be the same as it has been the past couple of years. For the sake of this comment, we'll leave Dallas grouped with LA for now in the standings. That leaves just a three-game spread between #3 Denver and #9 OKC. We're at #8, just 2 games back.
And really, the only ones that can be counted out of the playoffs at this point are Golden State and Minnesota.
Given the current point-differentials only, you would have to think that everyone below OKC will start the drop off a bit. The rest of the teams though could be ranked anywhere though when the regular season comes to an end.
The Sporting News interviews Wesley Matthews
A week after the trade and it looks like Dontell Jefferson is the most likely to get signed by the team to fill the minimum roster requirements.
He should be a bit more than a roster filler though. That's not saying he's going to get PT, but he knows the Jazz system. He's been the Flash's leading scorer and assist man. He can also shoot the three.
Seems like the safe pick, especially given salary implications.
Will we see a Memo awakening starting next month? If the past is any indicator, we will. Here are Memo's career numbers by month followed by his numbers this year by month.
| Career | ||||
| Split | Value | FG% | 3P% | PTS |
| Month | October | 43.9% | 33.3% | 9.2 |
| November | 45.6% | 37.2% | 12.3 | |
| December | 44.0% | 35.6% | 13.5 | |
| January | 46.3% | 37.8% | 14.7 | |
| February | 47.1% | 40.4% | 14.5 | |
| March | 47.3% | 37.7% | 14.5 | |
| April | 46.0% | 37.5% | 14.3 | |
| 2009-2010 | ||||
| Split | Value | FG% | 3P% | PTS |
| Month | October | 45.5% | 66.7% | 13 |
| November | 44.3% | 42.9% | 13.3 | |
| December | 43.4% | 29.8% | 11.8 | |
OKC is now 3-0 since Maynor joined their team. He's not doing us any favors. He's played pretty solid and shooting 50%. He's getting about 13 minutes a game which is just a little less than what he was getting here. If you look at his numbers, the small sample size that they are, he's playing about the same as he did here.
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1. I think OKC might be my second-favorite team these days (it has been the Blazers since getting Roy). Kevin Durant is a freak – so tall and lanky, but he has T-Mac’s game (minus being a POS). I hope they do well, but not too well! As long as the Jazz finish ahead of them, I will root for them to be right behind us.
2. OMSW.
8. I hope they give him some court time to really see what he can do. Maynor thrived because he had plenty of court time and it wasn’t junk time, and already he started growing into the role. Price is still just as turnover prone as he is exciting, still just as likely to jack a brick as he is to run the system. Price should go into games when we are stagnant or getting way behind in the 3rd Q and we need a spark. Otherwise, he should be the 3rd guard. But if they give this Dontell kid a jersey, they should also give him some time and see if he can grow into the backup role.
4. Remember how many game winners he hit two years ago? Maybe since he is the Money-Man, his shot has been affected by the downturn in the economy. As the economy goes, so goes the Money Man. Where are my SLC Dunk statisticians? Make some graphs please!
5. Best wishes to Maynor. For some reason, I like the players who work their way into a draft after four years of toil more than I like players like John Wall who would have been drafted out of 11th grade if it were legal. I just think I’d rather have a guy like Maynor running my team than John Wall. Call me crazy. AAU, the internet, shoe companies and agents have ruined the mythos of “the basketball player.” Twenty years ago, the NBA was full of guys who rigged make-shift lighting for their back yard hoops so they could stay up until midnight practicing their shot or their moves; who had a father-son relationship with their coaches; who were poor until the day they were drafted; who survived because of their competitive spirit. Nowadays, stars are coddled from age 14, secretly gifted luxuries, carted around from camp to camp, and none of them can hit a jump shot like Steve Alford. There will be no more Birds, Magics, Jordans, Sloans, Stocktons, Alfords, Alex Englishs, or Sabonises because instead we have only AAU-pampered head cases with 50-inch vertical leaps, AND1 handles, and a jumpshot that would make Allan Houston reconsider another comeback. I’m rambling. sorry.
I'll make it coach.
by MTN on Dec 29, 2009 2:00 PM MST reply actions 4 recs
excellent ramble.
found myself nodding in agreement through the whole thing.
Uh, do you think you could draw me like a ninja?
SLCDunk.com: Bringing you ninjas, The KOOFs and anti-jinxes since 2008.
Point 5...
…could be the best thing I’ve read about Basketball in 2009. Brilliant BRILLIANT post.
And I agree 100%
Possibly the southernmost Jazz fan in the world!
I'm going to assume you're talking about MTN's #5 and not mine.
by Basketball John on Dec 29, 2009 4:48 PM MST up reply actions
Um, yeah, sorry BBJ
Yours is good, but MTN’s is better.
Possibly the southernmost Jazz fan in the world!
So true
“Twenty years ago, the NBA was full of guys who rigged make-shift lighting for their back yard hoops so they could stay up until midnight practicing their shot or their moves”
The culture of how basketball is to be played has certainly been influenced by the street ball (and1) movement. Its seems that in america talent and flashy moves are more important than the basics (shooting, passing, defense).
Perhaps that is why recently we see these Foreign teams (with far less talent) that are able to not only compete with the US “dream” teams but defeat them. I remember watching a US team that included AI, Lebron, and Carmelo get beat because the team they were playing (a) couldn’t miss anything, and (b) played solid “TEAM” defense.
I think the US has noticed that and has gotten to the basics somewhat, but you still see players coming out of high school getting all that money with all that pressure, and its too much (Lebron is the exception). Just ask Kwame Brown.
Possibly one reason that Sloan has some aparant difficulties with the youngsters today.
He likes to see very basic basketball played!
BUT!
We all see that the correct balance of styles, mixed well with discipline seems to bringing home the titles currently. Oh and not to forget the MASSIVE market vs. the also rans via the Sterns button.
SLC Dunk #1 Jazz Site in the world!
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