Game Thread - Los Angeles Lakers @ Utah Jazz - Game 4
by Basketball John on May 10, 2010 8:00 PM MDT
in Game Threads
799 comments
After having faced the Lakers for the past three seasons in the playoffs in addition to the 4 games a year we see them during the regular season, there's not much more to preview. We know, and the Jazz know, what it takes to beat them.
Lately it's been being able to finish down the stretch. You simply can't go for 3 minutes scoring drought late in the fourth and expect to win. I've talked about having to be near-perfect for the Jazz to win. Let's amend that to being perfect in the fourth quarter.
The Jazz have played themselves into position to win each game of this series. Will they finally put it together late and pull out the first win of the series?
Let's hope.
Game Thread - Los Angeles Lakers @ Utah Jazz - Game 3
by Basketball John on May 8, 2010 5:30 PM MDT
459 comments
Game Thread - Utah Jazz @ Los Angeles Lakers - Game 2
by Basketball John on May 4, 2010 8:00 PM MDT
in Game Threads
531 comments
Can't add much to what clark posted. I'll expand a little on the Gasol part and say that he's key to beating the Lakers. Great analysis, right? I hope the Jazz mix up their defense on him with doubles and help. I would also like to see a body on him when shots go up. I get tired of his offensive boards and tips.
Easier said than done but if we can slow him down significantly, the Jazz have another shot to win.
Of course it's going to take four quarters of good ball to get that done. I imagine they'll get off to a better start tonight but one poor quarter will probably cost them.
Finally, Deron had a good game on Sunday and is still banged up quite a bit. As good as he was in game 1 we still need him to take it up a notch.
Just win baby!
- No AK tonight
- Silver Screen and Roll
Game Thread - Utah Jazz @ Los Angeles Lakers - Game 1
by Basketball John on May 2, 2010 1:26 PM MDT
in Game Threads
561 comments
BEAT LA
Game Thread - Denver Nuggets @ Utah Jazz - Game 6
by Basketball John on Apr 30, 2010 7:21 PM MDT
in Game Threads
769 comments
I don't know how professional athletes do it. Here I am an hour before tip-off sick to my stomach. So I don't know how athletes must feel. I guess they're used to it but as a fan you never do.
Of course it's game 6 with the Jazz having a good chance at closing out the Nuggets. Many picked them to win in 6 or 7 games or even make it to the WCF. That of course was before Memo went down in game 1. When that happened, everyone was suddenly wishing for a re-pick. I thought the series would go 7 before Memo got hurt and I have to admit that a 5 or 6-game series in Denver's favor was likely without him.
The Jazz seemed to rally around being short-handed and have played some inspired ball. They haven't gotten the stops they've needed in games and have had the offense sputter at times but overall they're playing well above expectations right now. However, Arnovitz makes the case that they're not underdogs at all with the way Deron has been playing.
They're favored to win tonight and should be given that it's at the ESA. The Nuggets have yet to show that they can stop the Jazz on offense. I guess you could say the same about the Jazz on Denver though too.
So here's what we'll be looking for tonight for the Jazz to win. One, they have to avoid getting in the penalty early. That killed them in the fourth quarter of game 5.
Next, they have to get the foul line themselves. This does a couple of things. Denver is a little thinner tonight with Nene out. Getting their bigs in foul trouble will help the Jazz dominate on the inside. Second, it controls the flow of the game. Billups said that if they're taking the ball out from the baseline all night they can't get out an run. I hope Deron gets double-digit attempts as well.
Finally, Millsap and Korver are going to have to have great games. Millsap has had a good series and should continue against Denver's second line. Korver will start hitting shots. He's going to have to get going himself though while not letting JR Smith get open.
And if all else fails, get it to the ninja.
Game Thread - Utah Jazz @ Denver Nuggets - Game 5
by Basketball John on Apr 28, 2010 8:00 PM MDT
in The Downbeat
514 comments
Here's my big prediction... If the Jazz can run their offense the way they have the first 4 games, I think they can sneak out another win. I think they have one or two more stops in them than Denver has. The Nuggets haven't been able to stop the Jazz yet and I don't see that changing, it hasn't happened all year.
On offense the Jazz will only have themselves to blame if they don't score. The Nuggets are going to throw Billups at Deron and I suppose we'll see more trapping and denying him the ball. It hasn't made a huge difference yet.
On to the basketball!
Game Thread - Denver Nuggets @ Utah Jazz - Game 4 - 2010 NBA Playoffs
by Basketball John on Apr 25, 2010 7:00 PM MDT
in Game Threads
493 comments
I loss tonight for the Jazz would wipe out the last two wins. Denver would get home-court back and suddenly we have a best of three series with two of those games in Denver.
On the other hand, a win tonight not only gives them the 3-1 advantage but just might take the Nuggets out of it mentally. They're looking around for answers right now and I don't know if they're going to be able to pull out of their current funk in time.
They're still a dangerous team and should they get hot tonight, it could, and probably will, make for a much closer games.
If the Jazz play tonight like they have the first three games of the series, they should be able to pull one out at home again.
Thanks for coming to SLC Dunk
Game Thread - Denver Nuggets @ Utah Jazz - Game 3
by Basketball John on Apr 23, 2010 7:38 PM MDT
in Game Threads
488 comments
Pivotal, huge, series-changing. This game is all of the above. The Jazz were able to grab home-court away from the Nuggets with that game 2 win so long ago.
That win is all for naught if the Jazz can't take care of business at home. Playing at the ESA give the Jazz z huge advantage to be sure, but we've seen a Billupsless and Meloless team come into Utah and beat the Jazz once and give them a run the second time.
We may get into another shootout tonight so the Jazz are going to have to limit Nuggets' possessions by grabbing defensive boards and not turning the ball over.
We're also going to have to have ninja along with everyone else playing well. The offense is going to be there as Denver hasn't shown they can stop it yet, there's just going to have to be a lot of smart decisions tonight.
Above all, I expect the ESA to be thumpin'. Last night's Thunder/Lakers game had a recorded 109 decibels. I'd like to see if they measure decibels at the ESA.
Game Thread - Utah Jazz @ Denver Nuggets, Game 2, 2010 NBA Playoffs
by Basketball John on Apr 19, 2010 7:51 PM MDT
in Game Threads
772 comments
So here's the game plan. Win on the road in a hostile environment. Stop/slow Carmelo. Don't let JR Smith shoot. Be near perfect on offense. Oh, be without your third-leading scorer and without your x-factor.
No biggie.
A couple of great tweets from Siler,
Cool scene from the Jazz locker room before Game 2 with Matt Harpring in a suit giving Wesley Matthews a Carmelo tutorial. They went back and forth for 10 minutes or so, with Harpring offering pointers on Carmelo's moves and Matthews sticking a hand in his face.
He didn't mention if he schooled him smack talk or not.
I hope we see a highly emotional, yet in control Jazz team playing for Memo. Of course the Nuggets have George Karl on their minds. I the Jazz can draw on that for 48 minutes tonight.
Game Thread - Utah Jazz @ Denver Nuggets, Game 1, 2010 NBA Playoffs
by Basketball John on Apr 17, 2010 7:30 PM MDT
in Game Threads
637 comments
Here we go. 82 games has come down to this. Not where we wanted to be of course, but that's where we're at. I'll try to check in from the Skybox. Make sure to come down if you can.
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