Game Day: Utah Jazz @ Portland Trail Blazers - Pre-season Game 1

by Basketball John on Dec 19, 2011 11:21 AM MST in Game Previews

What's going on with the Blazers

Injuries continue to dominate the headlines for the Blazers. It was announced that Greg Oden could miss the entire season as he suffered a setback in his rehab. It was expected that he would be able to join the team for this season and signed a one-year deal to remain with the Blazers.

Of course, as you may know, Brandon Roy announced that he would retire from the NBA due to his chronic knee problems that were never going to get better. It may be hard to have sympathy for the Blazers given their recent history with the Jazz and free agents, but this is really a big loss. Roy was a unique and transcendent talent. It was never fun to see him pick apart the Jazz defense but if you can put aside the fandom for a bit, he was an amazing player to watch.

Without those two, the Blazers still had a very good year last season behind the MVP-type efforts of LaMarcus Aldridge and with contributions from Wesley Matthews, a mid-season trade for Gerald Wallace, and point guard play from Andre Miller. In addition to Odom and Roy, the Blazers have some other roster changes. They trade Miller to Denver for Raymond Felton in addition to sending Rudy Fernandez to Dallas. That means Nicolas Batum will be their primary option of their bench which appears to be pretty thin this season.

What's going on with the Jazz

As was mentioned in the Downbeat, the Jazz right now are very much the cliché student backpacking through Europe trying to find themselves. After just trying to get through the end of the season last year, the lockout didn't help this team at all. Coach Corbin announced that all of the starting spots were up for grabs. He will need every last minute of both of these pre-season games against the Blazers to evaluate talent, rotations, and starters. Don't be surprised to see one set of starts tonight and another on Wednesday.

As we've seen around the league so far, games have been very sloppy as teams work to shake off the lockout rust. That's where the structure of the Jazz offense may help. There was limited time for the team and new players to learn things but there was at least a foundation built that could be built upon this season. Corbin will be adding a few wrinkles to the offense, but expect a lot of the same sets. We're still bound to see some early mistakes though. Just remember, this is the very first pre-season game after a pinch of a training camp. So don't get too high or too low with what you see tonight.

Lineups, Records

Blazers - (0-0)

Starters: LaMarcus Aldridge, Raymond Felton, Wesley Matthews, Gerald Wallace, Marcus Camby

Jazz - (0-0)

Starters (guessing): Devin Harris, Raja Bell, CJ Miles, Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson

What to look for

Both teams are eager to get the season going and play against real opponents. This game will end up being a little more than a scrimmage in terms of execution and rotations. What you see tonight will not be what you see even two weeks from now, let alone for the season.

The biggest things to look for tonight are the rotations and five-man units that Corbin uses tonight. He's going to need to get a feel how certain players play with others.
We'll see just how far along Derrick Favors is against a quality big man in Aldridge.
Who gets the minutes tonight?
How do Jamaal Tinsley, Keith McLeod, and Scottie Reynolds look?
Who's the first man off the bench?

Previous meetings

First meeting of the season

Blogs

Blazers Edge

Other notes

Game time - 8:00 p.m. MST on ROOT sports (no NBA TV)

Tweet Comment 48 comments | Add comment | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Starters

According to David Locke and the media notes, the starters are:

Harris
Bell
Hayward
Okur
Jefferson

by Hansol1986 on Dec 19, 2011 11:34 AM MST reply actions

This has been revised to:

Harris
Bell
Miles
Jefferson
Okur

by Waxmaster on Dec 19, 2011 1:22 PM MST up reply actions

BOO!

by Daniel Smith on Dec 19, 2011 2:01 PM MST up reply actions

Blazer fan here

Firstly, isn’t it great that basketball is finally here? I can’t believe the real games start in a week. These 2 preseason “tune-up” games are gonna be critical to both teams to start off on a good note.

The Blazers had 3 new FA additions as well this offseason in Kurt Thomas, Jamal Crawford, and Craig Smith. Also Aldridge isn’t expected to play tonight, but should be playing in the 2nd game. I’m really curious as to what this new “fast-paced” blazers squad can bring to the table since at least on paper anyways we’re setup to run run run.

I really wanted Devin Harris last season at the deadline… Want Felton?

by Devyn on Dec 19, 2011 11:36 AM MST reply actions

no thanks

we ll take matthews though (;

Louisiana Jazz fan

by TBKIII on Dec 19, 2011 11:48 AM MST up reply actions

I like Felton

more than Harris but I honestly think that trade wouldn’t help or hurt either team haha.

I’d slay dragons to get Matthews back though.

For the Love of the Game

Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!

Follow @JasonForTheLove

MonSTARZ forever!

by ForTheLove on Dec 19, 2011 2:07 PM MST up reply actions

Felton

After Saturday I think the Jazz would trade Kater for Felton straight up.

(joking…mostly)

by chamont on Dec 19, 2011 11:48 AM MST reply actions

Remember, people questioned whether Hayward would be any good early in his rookie year

… and he stunk it up for the first 3 1/2 months of the season. Opinions changed quickly when he dunked on Gasol and outscored Kobe in LA.

by flibbidy on Dec 19, 2011 12:57 PM MST up reply actions

Random unnecessary Kanter hate aside

I will be at this game! Maybe if I’m motivated I’ll bring an in-person Jazz fan take. :)

by 3 in the Key on Dec 19, 2011 12:19 PM MST reply actions

You're right

I should give Kanter a break. Kanter is a project and needs some time.

Have fun tonight. I’m jealous. Go Jazz!

by chamont on Dec 19, 2011 1:22 PM MST up reply actions

yep Kanter needs time...

but he is a big body & he seems to always fight for rebounds and position, so those are all positives…he was pressing too much at the scrimmage, but he basically contributed as well as Favors, though with less wow factor & less fouls per minute

Of the 2011 draftees that I’ve seen play this preseason (DET v CLE; MIL v MIN), K Irving & D Williams both looked good, but they were gone when we picked; B Knight was alright but tried to force a few things; T Harris looked out of shape; J Leuer (maybe sp.) played surprisingly well for Milwaukee.

by Waxmaster on Dec 19, 2011 1:36 PM MST up reply actions

I don't even necessarily think he needs a whole bunch of time

I watched him at least look comfortable and not intimidated against the likes of Dirk, Marc Gasol, etc., at Eurobasket, I don’t understand why people aren’t advocating for him to see the floor. He’s a #3 pick. He’s making twice as much as Hayward, we should at LEAST throw him on the floor for 15 minutes a game and try to assess where he’s at.

From what I’ve read he is an NBA ready rebounder, and as far as I remember we could have really used one of those last year. He seemed to have the same kind of ‘slow start’ in the Euro tourney as well, but really came on and (imo) played pretty impressively as he got more games under his belt.

My best argument is that we’d have flipped out if Favors averaged 5 minutes a game and played in 35 of them last year, but I don’t feel like people would be all that jumpy if it were to happen to this year’s #3. Anyway, end rant.

I will attempt to have enough fun for the both of us! I’m just glad they’re coming up early, they won’t be back to Portland until April! :(

by 3 in the Key on Dec 19, 2011 3:23 PM MST up reply actions

Everyone saying Kanter needs to ride pine to "develop"

Or saying he’s not ready needs to watch the EuroBasket highlights again. He did well. He played against NBA’ers. He held his own.

I am so, SO baffled by the seemingly overwhelming vibes that it’s okay for Kanter to not play at all.

I got the crap beat out of me in Provo one time

by Yucca Man on Dec 19, 2011 3:34 PM MST up reply actions

my feeling is,

give corbin a chance. he has 5 start worthy bigs. he’ll figure it out on who deserves to play. my hope is that everybody works their butt off to get in making the whole team better. not to mention who knows what this year will bring. my thoughts are. everything will be ok

by gubihero on Dec 19, 2011 4:15 PM MST up reply actions

so i guess to sum that all up

i trust corbin

by gubihero on Dec 19, 2011 4:18 PM MST up reply actions

correction on the lineup

. CJ Miles in for Gordon Hayward. With Harris, Raja, Memo and Al. oh and millsap not playing due to his quad. take that for what you will

by gubihero on Dec 19, 2011 12:51 PM MST reply actions

I dunno wtf the jazz are doing with

our starting lineup.

You start Bell and Memo over Hayward and Favors? Freakin stupid.

For the Love of the Game

Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!

Follow @JasonForTheLove

MonSTARZ forever!

by ForTheLove on Dec 19, 2011 2:08 PM MST reply actions

i think

most would agree we need to get Favors minutes. But Big all on the block with memo stretching the D could be very potent offensively

by zdid on Dec 19, 2011 2:30 PM MST up reply actions

Agreed.

And Memo has busted his tail to get healthy, and the least we can do is not make him ride the bench. I love Memo. May his hair always make him look like he just rolled out of bed.

"Shoot baskets, not people." -AK

by DWest on Dec 19, 2011 5:54 PM MST up reply actions

This

I was so excited to see this last year in our offensive sets but I feel like we never really had it. In order for Al to be most successful it will require that he is surrounded with potent threats on the perimeter. Especially if that comes in the form of a 7’ 4/5 who stretched out the other post defender.

by udowado on Dec 19, 2011 3:07 PM MST reply actions

Double This, for sure

Memo’s status/ability – I feel – is what will ultimately decide who is the odd man out between Millsap and Al. Sadly, I feel like something has to give there at some point.

by 3 in the Key on Dec 19, 2011 3:26 PM MST up reply actions

Millsap + healthy Memo > Al + healthy Memo.

"Shoot baskets, not people." -AK

by DWest on Dec 19, 2011 5:54 PM MST up reply actions

I am really sursprised

I thought Hayward would start. I hope he ends up starting in the regular season.

by PunnyUte on Dec 19, 2011 3:25 PM MST reply actions

Same.

From all accounts and the scrimmage as well, it seems like he’s ready to. The series of events that would have had to happen this summer for Hayward to be less deserving of a starting nod than Bell or Miles seem perplexingly unlikely.

by 3 in the Key on Dec 19, 2011 3:27 PM MST up reply actions

Bell's shot was dead on

Hayward was shooting great too, but Raja was knocking them down (to the best of my recollection).

Plus, Raja wears sparkly shoes! I think Ty subconsciously likes his bling.

by chamont on Dec 19, 2011 3:51 PM MST up reply actions

Raja was still getting killed on D though

He still has very limited ball handling skills
He still can’t penetrate or create anything
He is stuill a horrible rebounder
No athleticism
He is just a spot up shooter that has that ever elusive “toughness”.

The problem is that Hayward does everything he can do and so much more.
Maybe he has had some kind of renaissance, so I’ll wait until tonight to start judging.

by davidthecomposer on Dec 19, 2011 3:59 PM MST up reply actions

doesn't matter who starts the preseason game

it matters who finishes in a real game. man i feel preachy today, but i just feel that things are getting away from everybody. i vote lets watch the first game then gripe afterwards. this rampant specu complaining seems just a bit out of hand

by gubihero on Dec 19, 2011 4:26 PM MST up reply actions

though i can kind of understand it

it’s all this pent up energy. i just want it to start. to quote rhino in bolt "let it begin, LET IT BEGIN!!

by gubihero on Dec 19, 2011 4:28 PM MST up reply actions

and i feel like a downer for killing another thread

by gubihero on Dec 19, 2011 4:41 PM MST reply actions

Raja?

But why? Hayward is much better for obvious reasons. Same Jazz, just a new look.

by KaBar6 on Dec 19, 2011 5:25 PM MST via iPhone app reply actions

maybe he just feels that hayward would serve the second unit better, help with scoring and playmaking

by gubihero on Dec 19, 2011 5:32 PM MST up reply actions

I hate that there is a basketball game tonight....

And I am stuck at my girlfriend’s parents house for a silly Christmas party.

by hamfist on Dec 19, 2011 6:25 PM MST via mobile reply actions

The starting lineup for this game is probably irrelevant. Corbin will try several combinations before

deciding on starters, lineups and finishers.

by jazzpatty on Dec 19, 2011 6:41 PM MST reply actions

the game is starting in like 5 minutes right?

im outside tue US and i’m not so sure about the time zones

Following the Utah Jazz from the bottom of South America!

by Jazzfan_in_Chile on Dec 19, 2011 6:56 PM MST reply actions

yes.

by moni on Dec 19, 2011 7:00 PM MST up reply actions

dont get it... the game is at 8:00 pm MST or 7:00 pm??

Following the Utah Jazz from the bottom of South America!

by Jazzfan_in_Chile on Dec 19, 2011 7:01 PM MST up reply actions

it seems not

Following the Utah Jazz from the bottom of South America!

by Jazzfan_in_Chile on Dec 19, 2011 7:00 PM MST up reply actions

oops one more hour

i suck at time differences sorry

by moni on Dec 19, 2011 7:02 PM MST up reply actions

Nope, 8 PM Mountain Time start

by JasonInPG on Dec 19, 2011 7:02 PM MST up reply actions

ok... so one more hour to go?

Following the Utah Jazz from the bottom of South America!

by Jazzfan_in_Chile on Dec 19, 2011 7:03 PM MST up reply actions

Yep...

one more hour.

Another Jazz Fan in Louisiana

by hamaca on Dec 19, 2011 7:02 PM MST up reply actions

noooooooooo

Following the Utah Jazz from the bottom of South America!

by Jazzfan_in_Chile on Dec 19, 2011 7:03 PM MST up reply actions

At first I was disappointed with the starting lineup...

but as mentioned, Corbin will try all sorts of lineups. Perhaps more importantly, as this is the first game of his first full season as coach, he may be wanting to set a decent tone by starting the veterans who will be least likely to screw up and turn the game into a circus.

Wouldn’t surprise me, after everyone gets over initial nerves, that non-starters play significantly more than the starters compared to prior year pre-season games.

Another Jazz Fan in Louisiana

by hamaca on Dec 19, 2011 7:03 PM MST reply actions