A Rosen Rebuttal
by Clintonite33 on Apr 3, 2010 4:44 PM MDT
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Absurd, half-true assertions fire me up like few other things do. And FOX seems to have found a niche in the market for the journalist that calls himself an analyst, yet comes across as more of a paper shock jock than "someone who is skilled at analyzing data."
Only days removed from throwing the Lakers under the bus, after they finally looked human when struggling in hostile territory (LA are still the ones with the target on the backs of their collective jerseys, remember), Charley Rosen, rather than address what the team he covers did right, instead turned his venomous keystrokes on the Utah Jazz
Specifically, one particular Jazzman more than any other; Carlos Boozer.
I find this to be a disturbingly myopic, hate-based viewpoint, grounded in a lack of real facts on the matter. How does one ignore the fact that Boozer actually won his matchup with Pau Gasol? Or at the very least played him to a draw. To lay the blame at Boozer's feet for the loss is absurd.
I'm not buying it.
Understand that I agree with Rosen on much of what he wrote concerning Kobe Bryant in regards to the Los Angeles Lakers in that roast-of-a-post, but I have to put down my foot when it comes to the Jazz. As Jerry Sloan once said, "you're way off on this one," Charley.
To say that "Utah’s post-up game is virtually useless against the Lakers" is only partially true. Boozer got to the rim plenty on Pau Gasol. Indeed, I'd argue that Gasol's defense of Carlos was even more heinous than Boozer's was of Pau. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if Phil Jackson revokes the lone "very" remaining of Gasol's game status.
The Utah Jazz had 54 of their 92 points in the game from the painted area. Even a cursory glance at the box score should tell you who did most of that damage for Utah.
via d.yimg.com
Carlos Boozer nearly had a second 20/20 vs the Lakers in a year's time -Getty Images
Sure, Pau had an impressive night too, dishing out 9 dimes, but seriously, it's more of a fluke from Fisher these days to go 2-3 from three-point line than not. Throw in Lamar Odom's less-than-surprising-to-Jazz-fans performance from range, and that pretty much accounts for the above average night Gasol had passing, as well as five of LA's seven threes.
On the season, Carlos Boozer is a career high 3.2 assists per game. Pau Gasol, 3.3.
How many dimes did Boozer miss out on with the Jazz's inability to match the Lakers from the perimeter, going 4-15 from the arc? That much Rosen got right; Utah is not yet consistent from the perimeter. Maybe drawing up an actual play off of some of those high screens might be useful after all, coach.
But, let's be honest about this. Only two Jazz players didn't seem to get wide-eyed when it got close. Only two guys showed up for the entire game, or at least more of it than anyone else bothered to, for Utah; Carlos Boozer and Wesley Matthews.
Shortly before game time I tweeted "Keys: 1) Jazz bigs play LA's to a draw 2) Matthews/Miles/Korver equal Bryant's output 3) D Will beats Fisher/Farmar"
Really only two of those players performed their roles the way we expected, or hoped they would. Paul Millsap made multiple mistakes at crucial times in the 4th quarter, while Deron Williams wasn't to be heard from again after the 3rd.
Getty Images via d.yimg.com
I'm leaving Mehmet Okur out of it because what else can you say about no made threes in three attempts when that's your specialty and a necessity to draw the LA bigs away from the paint. Or only seeing the stripe three times, while only grabbing three boards, no blocks and no steals as a seven-footer...
At least some of the Jazz players performed exactly way we expect them to. No, sirree. Can't blame them for the loss when they performed their contractual obligations and some, in one of the biggest games of this 25-year-old-as-a team's time together.
Yes, The Lakers' length is a factor in Utah's demise, but to try and pin this loss on the one guy who is "far-and-away" the most consistent on the roster is absurd. The Utah team as a whole rotated about as fast as a rotisserie chicken. How do you lose track of Lamar Odom so many times, for goodness sake? He's not a little guy.
It's Boozer needs the help, not Deron Williams, if the Jazz are to ever end the nightmare in the shadowed spotlight that is the STAPLES Center.
Time to take off those Rosen-colored glasses.
via poietes.files.wordpress.com
All comments are the opinion of the commenter and not necessarily that of SLC Dunk or SB Nation.
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Rosen is pretty awful
And this is coming from a Lakers fan who frequently gets excoriated and then praised in separate articles from him. Although his Xs and Os knowledge is good, he frequently makes bizarre claims (i.e. Chris Paul cannot run an offense. Chris. Paul; or in the case of this article, the notion of trading Okur for a second round pick) and the game has past him by pretty thoroughly.
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
Rosen's article makes it clear
that last night’s game is the only time he’s ever watched the Jazz play. His critiques are cliches derived from the tale of the tape with no depth of understanding of how the Jazz tick. We know Millsap is an undersized power forward. You don’t need to tell us that. Now explain why he is one of the league’s most efficient rebounders, Rosen. Watch the Jazz more before telling us what’s wrong with them.
I'll make it coach.
As a Jazz fan I am offended by this rebuttal against Rosen. He's an idiot, but like in King Lear, the idiot spoke a lot of truth.
I am offended that you would try to get Jazz fans to believe that not only was there nothing wrong with Boozer’s play, but that he played really well. Jazz fans who don’t know any better will believe you when you say that.
Boozer wasn’t the only problem last night. He wasn’t even the main problem. But he didn’t play well. And he can’t guard Pau Gasol.
A rebuttal to your rebuttal is forthcoming. Because that is what is fun about basketball. Debating points of interest.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
relieved to this comment
because reading other people’s comments and blogs, i was starting to wonder if i’d imagined boozer’s suckage last night since the game i remember seemed to differ from everyone else’s.
Good Stuff
That’s part of what makes the game so passionate. I wholeheartedly agree with your point of contention as a catalyst.
We have
No one that can guard Gasol and barely have AK who can guard Odom. Boozer played as well as can be expected.
To tell Jazz fans who don’t know better that Boozer really isn’t all that good when he’s better than 3/4 of the big men in the NBA is just as bad as preaching he is a Savior.
For the Love of the Game
I never said he isn't all that good.
I just pointed out the fact that he can’t match up with Gasol defensively and that his rebounding is better than his offense. I don’t think Boozer is as good as many Jazz fans believe him to be, but you have never heard me say that Boozer isn’t that good.
And for me, “Boozer playing as well as can be expected” isn’t enough, if we get pummeled 10 times in a row.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
I love Rosen articles.
He is one of only three sports writers who I actually think are good writers (Sam Smith, and Bill Simmons are the others). If you read enough of his articles, he generally only rights negative things… and he admits he does it on purpose to counter-weight the “nothing-but-positive” write ups the other writers do. And, relatively speaking, he is a Jazz fan… he say’s much more positive things about the Jazz then most teams.
And, you know, he is right. We are consistently dominated by the Lakers. Our post up game has been comically bad against them for the last three year. We seem scared of them. And, great as Sloan is, he has been badly (BADLY) outcoached by Jackson for ever (anyone over thirty should be able to attest to that).
My opinion: Rosen writes (comically) overboard critiques, but he was right on about the Jazz having no chance against the Lakers. Sorry.
He runs a
Triangle Offense with arguably 4 of the best players in the History of the NBA, Jordan/Pippen, Kobe/O’neal.
For the Love of the Game
There's no arguably about those 4
But the backup cast that those teams have had were pretty special too!
Funny thing is that...
I like Rosen’s article and his suggestions.
by iLoveBooks100per on Apr 5, 2010 7:55 AM MDT reply actions
This is how it's done
Take a look at what the Spurs did to the Lakers.
http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=300404013
Gasol went off.
The difference is, Manu did what Utah needed from Williams, but didn’t get. As well as one other key thing; Lamar Odom was kept in check, unlike vs the Jazz.
Aaaaand...
Ginobili got physical with it. I mean really got into it. So long as the majority of the Jazz’s players are intimidated by LA, the dominance in the matchup will continue.
Rosen’s opinion are lazily banged out, recycled, cliches.
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