The Downbeat - 1 March 2010 - #175 - The Beware The Games Of March Edition

1- Northwest division is the toughest by far. A division has to measured by how many contenders are in it. NW division has Denver and Utah, 2 of 3 of LA’s contenders. Then, OKC and Portland are as big of contenders as Phoenix or San Antonio.

2- Talented, talented division. Nene definitely over Boozer. i would probably take Boozer over Aldridge. Oden is interesting. Gotta consider Al Jefferson too and Kevin Love might help the team win more than other guys.

3- Big month. Winnable games for the most part however. i fear @ chicago and @ Milwaukee, @OKC, @Pho X2 and home against Minnesota. But there are few enough games left, that even an 11-6 or 10-7 record this month, will give the Jazz a sporting chance at the second seed.

4- Deron set a record for most points and assists by a player in 33 minutes or less. It was impressive. Scored and assisted.

5- Bill Simmons wrote this week about how organizations have to play the “season of regret card” to fans, meaning, no fan wants to miss out on the possibility that their team might turn into a true contender next season, so they hang around just in case. I think that is the real reason the front office has kept Boozer around even though they need to cut money. Almost every fan believes that keeping Boozer gives us the best chance at winning now and many fans are going to be more invested going forward, believing that the team might actually bring back Boozer next season. Total opinion, but that’s where I stand with them keeping Boozer.

1. The NW is definitely getting stronger. Staying pat this summer will not be enough to keep up, unless we get some lottery magic.

2. Nene, hands down. he brings more to the table than just another scoring threat.

3. If we get going on a roll, it will be good that the games are so close together. It will allow the team to stay focused, if they don’t have time to dwell on a loss here or there.

4. It’s about time. I love Deron. It really pained me to see him shooting poorly. I have to admit that, before the last game, I was getting nervous each shot he took. Hopefully he can stay focused on playing and having fun, rather than getting frustrated at refs. I don’t have any stats to back it up, but I feel he plays a lot poorer when he lets the refs get to him.

5. Agreed, the only reasons they give for trading Brewer, also apply to Boozer. I’m not saying the Brewer traded was a bad “business” decision, but Boozer would have been better for the business side. Then again, perhaps we get a major piece this summer with a sign and trade. I won’t get my hopes up, as the Jazz off season moves continually disappoint me, but there is the chance we could get better by waiting till this summer to dump Boozer. So really, I guess I don’t actually have an official opinion on the matter :)

golf clap
Well played BBJ. Notice he didn’t (publicly) respond?

Why KOC would do that is beyond me.

Not that it matters, cuz I don’t have to make their payments or payroll.

It’s just nice to hear your gut feelings acknowledged as the reality of the situation.

 I feel for the FO having to make such a decision, I’m sure it was not easy, but money talks and BS walks. There is a monetary reality involved.

I’ve said enough in the past about Boozer, I’ll wait till something with concrete flows into forms to add any more. With a single exception, I hope he stays, a pay reduction would both be fair on his part and helpful toward the teams goals. Working as a team and cohesive unit from the FO to the last piece of pine holder on the bench, this could turn into a ring.

There is a reason that Malone played his final year in LA for pennies of what he was being paid. With all he had achieved there was one empty place on the shelf, I hold nothing against him for trying to fill that spot.