The Downbeat: AND TOTALLY REDEEMED YOURSELF! Edition

The Jazz won a game they should have won. It took them overtime and a lot of luck at the end of the game to pull it through. Yes, I said luck. Anytime you miss your final 3 shots of regulation with the game tied and you still don't lose that's luck. Marvin Williams and Randy Foye were the heroes at the end of the game coming in big with 3 after 3 to bring the Jazz back from a demoralizing loss at home.

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This play is called "Al The Conqueror Goes Long". Cue Yakity Sax.

via assets.sbnation.com

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

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Burks played! Not only did he play he had a total of 31 minutes ending with a total +/- of +21. Talk about impact. His final stat line was 14 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, 4 turnovers, and 1 "Save the Face of Utah Franchise". Pretty impressive. Locke talked about how Corbin made the right call by bringing in the starters in the final few minutes to close the game. One could argue that the pivotal lineup change in those final minutes was not bringing Big Al and Millsap in to close. It was the change that didn't happen. The one that left Burks to close the game.

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Speaking of the decision to bring Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap in the game, I don't understand why that was the big move. I know David Locke wanted to point out that that was huge but in terms of impact three other moves were bigger: Leaving Burks in, Foye subbing back in, Marvin subbing back in. But kudos to Corbin for having the moxy to allow Burks to stay in. We've been clamoring for it all year. Good on him even if it took injuries to all of your point guards to do so. Injuries usually provide the way to prove what you got. I'm hoping Burks seizes this opportunity and never looks back.

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I said a few nights ago on the Twitter that the next six games before the All-Star break could make or break the Jazz's playoff hopes. With the injuries the Jazz are facing and the slim room for error in a loaded Western Conference losses at home can sink the playoff ship fast. Cue to last night. That could have been a REALLY bad loss. Forget the 45 point drubbing by Houston. At least Houston is a potential playoff team. This is the Sacramento Kings. The Jazz are teetering on a ledge right now. The injuries to Watson, Williams, and Hayward could derail this whole thing. Guys like Tinsley, Burks, Marvin, and Carroll have to play significantly more minutes and impact the game a whole lot more than they have in the past. The guy I worry about is Tinsley. Not because of lack of skills but lack of youth. We're running that old guy into the ground. For the Jazz to have a shot at that 8th seed Burks has to play VERY capable backup PG to give Tinsley a break. This is make or break time for the Jazz. Do they come together and pull through this hour of need? Or do the wheels start coming off? Should be an interesting storyline to watch in the final days before the All-Star Break.

P.S. Jimmer was terrible.