A little round-up of what the net is saying about Paul Millsap's 46-point explosion last night against the Heat.
Millsap’s career-high 46 lifts Jazz over Heat in OT | The Salt Lake Tribune
But there are those close to Millsap who have long asserted that he has the potential to average 30 points and 10 rebounds a night. In addition, guard Deron Williams said he knows that Millsap can bury long-range baskets, because he has seen him display the skill during practice. And even Jazz coach Jerry Sloan could not help but tip his well-worn hat to Millsap. Sloan said that the forward from Louisiana Tech has worked for everything he has acquired. And in a league where fame and glory often precede and eclipse true devotion, Millsap is the real thing. "When it gets tough, he doesn’t quit working," Sloan said. "That’s what he’s been since he’s been here. That’s why he’s gotten to be better."
Miami Heat Killer Paul Millsap Is The Face Of The NBA's New Economic Reality
And while Millsap – arguably the league's best bargain – beats down LeBron, Wade & Co., his predecessor earns twice as much to nurse an injury on the Bulls' bench.
At the Buzzer: Jazz' Millsap detonates Heat - CBSSports.com
The Heat gave up 72 points in the second half after a 20-point lead in the first half to lose in overtime, at home to the Utah Jazz 116-114 . Paul Millsap was ridiculous, scoring 46 points with 9 rebounds while Deron Williams filled it up with 14 assists, as if to say to Chris Paul after his Hornets beat the Heat, "Match!".
Heat grasp for answers after meltdown - Heat Index Blog - ESPN
"I think D-Will got them going, Millsap carried them and the rest of them followed," James said. "I don't know what Paul Millsap's career 3-point percentage is, but I know it's not 100 percent." It was on Thursday ... errr ... Tuesday. Asked why Millsap was able to torch the Heat for a career-high 46 points on 19 of 28 shooting from the field – and drill just about every shot he threw up against the Heat's defense -- Chris Bosh's response didn't exactly get to the root of the problem. "Because they needed them," Bosh said. "I've never seen (Millsap) hit a three before. In my mind, when he's shooting it, I'm thinking, 'Box out' because it's probably coming off."
Dave Hyde | Sun Sentinel blogs | Hyde5: Haslem gets schooled by Millsap in loss
Millsap made two-of-20 on 3-point shots in his career, so it's absurd that he made three against the Heat. But those shots are as much an indication what a groove Millsap was allowed to get in on Tuesday. Haslem was in the game nearly 31 minutes Tuesday to play defense and rebound. And he did rebound with nine. but on a night the Big Three did plenty, Haslem didn't carry his role at the defensive end. Millsap didn't just score 46 points. Haslem lost the time-and-score fundamental and allowed Millsap open enough to make his third 3-pointer when it was the only play Utah had to get into the game (Haslem was drifting down on center Fesenko - 1 point at the time - before rushing out at Millsap on that play).
Miami Heat stunned by Utah Jazz in overtime - Miami Heat - MiamiHerald.com
During his postgame news conference, Bosh said he never recalled seeing Millsap make a three-pointer until Tuesday. Millsap was 2 of 20 from three-point range for his career before the game. The Jazz was 1 of 7 from three-point range entering the fourth quarter but 7 of 12 from distance in the fourth quarter and overtime. ``The basketball gods were with him and he made the shots,'' Wade said of Millsap.
Court Report: Paul Millsap, scoring machine - Roto Arcade - Fantasy - Yahoo! Sports
The Jazz staged a massive comeback against the Heat on the shoulders of Paul Millsap, who scored a career-high 46 points on 19-of-28 shooting, including three treys in the final minute of regulation. Millsap has now averaged 24 points on 63-percent shooting through seven games and has established himself as the go-to interior presence for the Jazz. Al Jefferson(notes) was very quiet Tuesday (28 minutes, 2 points, 1-7 FG) and is averaging 16 points on 42-percent shooting - he's not going to shoot this poorly all season, but clearly his adjustment process has been magnified by Millsap's unexpected assertiveness on offense.
NBA Scores And More: Making Sense Of Wild Utah Jazz Win Over Miami Heat - SBNation.com
The Jazz won because they stuck to their system: The answer here is ... sort of. Certainly, when down 22 in the third quarter, they did, and in that respect, they deserve props. But during key moments, the Jazz succeeded because they did some different things, deviating from their standard flex cuts. During regulation, they gave Deron Williams more freedom to run high pick and roll and set people up from there, and during overtime, the Jazz succeeded on the secondary fast break. The final play was a classic side pick and roll between Price and Elson. There's nothing wrong with this, but it's still worth pointing out, because the whole "JERRY SLOAN DISCIPLINED COACH" meme is going to take off.
JE SKeets with the perfect Sap/Meme Combo
Paul Millsap's career night - TrueHoop Blog - ESPN
He was just two of 20 for a career, and then three of three on one magical night. Now that he has hit these ones, though, what are the chances he attempts only 20 over his next 328 games? That's part of the hot hand discussion, which I know will come up in the comments down there. But for the record, the research says that the hot hand may or may not exist, but if it does, the effect is overwhelmed by the reality that hitting a few shots inspires players to take several bad ones. If Millsap starts taking more 3s, and misses a lot of them, it would fall in line. And if he doesn't shoot more 3s ... well then I'd take that as evidence Jerry Sloan really does run the most disciplined team in the NBA.
Daily Dime
While Millsap's 3-pointers will be the memory, the stat line was built on bunnies. In fairness, several times Millsap hit midrange jumpers on the backside of plays that were set up by Williams' excellent driving and passing. No team could defend some of those shots; Williams demands attention and the Jazz have expertly crafted sets that get Millsap the ball in his comfort zone from 15-18 feet. But there is also no dodging the fact that Millsap victimized Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem regularly around the rim, making 10 baskets within 5 feet of the basket.
Game Changer 11.10.10: Fluke or Fact? - CBSSports.com
For starters, the Jazz shot 17 of 23 in the fourth, not Indiana numbers , but still an absurd streak. This was of course capped off by Paul Millsap. Millsap entered last night's game a career 2 of 20 3-point shooter (10%). In the final minute of the game, he drained three 3-pointers, making him perfect on the season, as they were the only 3-pointers he's taken this season. Swish. Swish. Swish. Throw on top of that the 46 point detonation he leveled with the other 37 points, including the two on the tip in to force overtime, and you have an amazing night for Millsap, and a huge outlier in terms of predictable results. The Heat suddenly found themselves dropped from an airplane and happened to land right in the middle of a tornado. That's what we're talking about here in terms of probabilities.
Jazz forward Paul Millsap scores 46 in win over Miami Heat - Lee Jenkins - SI.com
MIAMI -- By the fifth and final day of the 2006 pre-draft camp in Orlando, most of the scouts and coaches had gone home. The Utah Jazz contingent remained, hoping for one more look at a chunky power forward nobody else seemed to want. Through the first four days of camp, Paul Millsap appeared out of shape and out of place, unable to create his shot or hold his position. But on the last day, Millsap began to assert himself, demonstrating how he led the nation in rebounding two years in a row at Louisiana Tech. The Jazz staff reasoned that Millsap was not the kind of player built for pre-draft camps, which tend to showcase shooters and drivers. He needed a system.
Ep. 605: Mill’slapped! | Blog Archive | The Basketball Jones | Blogs | TheScore.com