One game down, only 16 more to go til a championship. You can look at the game yesterday one of two ways Either the Jazz got good experience from game 1 and will now know better how to play on Wednesday, or else the Jazz missed their best opportunity to steal a road game. You are free to feel however you want to, but here are some things to consider:
-Before yesterday, the Spurs had lost the first game of their last 6 series. They have gone 4-2 in those six series and won the second game in 5 of the 6.
- The Spurs only shot 6-17 from beyond the 3 point line yesterday.
- The Jazz both shot and made more free throws than the Spurs in game one.
- Manu Ginobili had 7 points on 3-10 shooting.
-The Jazz didn't play their best, but a lot of things went right for them. They lost by 15 points.
The great news is that the next game starts off zero to zero and the Jazz will have a chance to steal a game.
Derrick Favors highlights, courtesy of @prodigyjf (the best Jazzfan video guy on the market right now)
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is one of the premier defenders in the NBA. TrueHoop blog over at ESPN invited LRMaM to do a write up on the defenses of each of the playoff teams. Since the Jazz are the worst defensive team in the playoffs, I was intrigued by what might be said about them.
How good is Utah defensively?
They can cause some problems. They’re young and they play good basketball. They work hard.
Translation: They aren't very good defensively, but they play hard.
Mbah a Moute also gives the Jazz virtually no chance at winning the series.
By now you obviously know that Golden State won the coin flip drawing over the weekend and is currently in 7th place and keeping their pick. Unless one of the teams slotted 8-14 is able to jump into the lottery (27.5% chance) the Warriors will keep their pick and the Jazz will not have a first round pick in the 2012 draft. if the Jazz don't have a first round pick in this year's draft, does that increase the chance that Kevin O'Connor makes a trade for a point guard of the future or a 2012 lottery pick?
[Ed. Note: Removed a great picture of Mark Jackson being Mark Jackson]
This is a picture of Mark Jackson trying to decide how big of a buffoon he is.
In case you didn't already notice, game one against the Spurs was a playoff debut for 7 of the 12 Jazz members who got playing time. That doesn't even count Al Jefferson who hasn't played in the playoffs in 7 years. Derrick Favors' numbers don't blow you away, but he played a really good game. But Gordon Hayward's debut was impressive, especially since he was able to hamper Ginobili's game defensively as well. Seventeen points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 12 free throws! Hopefully he can keep that up the whole series.
Can you match the Jazz player (current and former) with their playoff debut stats? All but player E are rookie season
Player A: 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block, 3 person fouls, 17 minutes
Player B: 4 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 3 person fouls, 13 minutes
Player C: 8 points, 6 assists, 2-3 shooting, 4-4 from the line
Player D: 23 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 43 minutes
Player E: 7 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist, 26 minutes
Player F: 10 points, 1 assist, 1 rebound, 4-6 shooting, 17 minutes