The no-block game

Much thanks to blog reader Clark Schmutz, who responded to Sunday’s question about how many times the Jazz have failed to block a shot for an entire game in recent seasons with some tremendous numbers.

The Jazz did so for the first time this season in Saturday’s loss to Minnesota, a game in which the Timberwolves scored 108 points, shot 57.1 percent and enjoyed big nights out of Ryan Gomes, Al Jefferson and Kevin Love.

As for last season, the Jazz had four no-block games in 2008-09. What’s remarkable is that they won three of those four games, beating New Orleans twice (Jan. 7, April 5) as well as New York (March 30).

Although they lost to Portland 122-108 on Jan. 31 in their other no-block game, it’s false to say that failing to block a single shot is such a defensive indictment that it automatically dooms the Jazz to defeat.

The Jazz gave up 102.5 points in those four no-block games last season, which was only modestly above their season average. They held New Orleans to 90 points in their Jan. 7 no-block victory.

In the 2007-08 season, the Jazz did not have a no-block game, though there were two one-block games. They had four no-block games in the 2006-07 season (going 2-2 in those) as well as seven one-block games.

Schmutz noted in his e-mail that you have to go back to the 2005-06 season to find a Jazz team that regularly totaled double-digit blocks. All told, they’ve had nine no-block games the last four seasons. Again, great numbers from a reader.

--Ross Siler