The "Its Over" Edition- The Downbeat 1008

The winning streak is over

BLERG

Its a lot more fun to write downbeats after a win. I am usually lucky that way but not today.

During the 4th quarter Hapring said something to the effect, I don't think anyone thought the game would turn out this way, Boler agreed. I said out loud "I did!" I did, I had no doubt in my mind that the game would turn out exactly the way it did. (If you don't believe me you can ask Moni)

I don't think we should be surprised that the game turned out the way it did. I mean look at the teams we beat during the winning streak, look how we beat them, and then look at Denver and bam we should have known that it would end the way it did.

Did we really expect our guards to keep shooting the three at the rate they were? Really can you expect that when your starting backcourt consists of Mo Williams and Randy Foye?

I tweeted this but I feel its worth repeating.

One cool thing about past Jazz teams, they didn't rely on hot three-point shooting from mediocre guards to win ball games.

The thing is we aren't even a run and gun team like the Warriors where hot three-point shooting is their thing. We are an iso-heavy alfense. I remember thinking in 2007 (as everyone else did) no Warrior lead is too big because they'll shoot themselves right out of this ball game. And that's exactly what happened, the Jazz beat the Warriors 4-1.

I remember Jerry Sloan talking about how he didn't like his team to play that way. When we had our five game win streak, our Jazz were basically gambling like the 2007 Warriors did. I'm not saying we played like them but its the same type of mentality and as a Jazz fan I don't like it.

The Warriors had nothing to fall back on when their threes weren't falling. The Jazz obviously have nothing to fall back on ever. When teams shut down Al, and outside shots are not falling well (because usually they are dumb jumpers shot at inopportune times) the "offense" is a disaster. No screens set, no cuts to the basket, no pick and rolls, nothing.

When Ty was first head coach he was asked if we would keep Jerry's offense. I believe Ty responded with we'll see, we'll take the best from it and add somethings. What did Ty add?

I remember during the lockout Jeff Hornacek was asked out Ty's offensive plans. Jeff said he didn't know. That was about a month before the shorten season began. Really Ty, really? You had a longer offseason than usual and you didn't really have a plan yet?

Its ok though Ty has had it rough and well its hard when your team has had no identity for over twenty years and you have to start from scratch like you're the Bobcats are something, its hard.

I mean Ty did get to coach with a HOFer for seven years, a coach who was stable, consistent and had his team play one of the most beautiful offenses known to man. I can see why Ty has had a hard time coming up with a good offensive system.

Not a pretty shot is it?

Gordon and Al should not play all of the 1st and 3rd quarters when the starting unit is not playing well

Make substituions please in the 3rd when your team comes out flat.

Don't play Foye more minutes than Burks ever, especially when he is in chucker mode. 2-8 from three does not deserve nearly 27 minutes of play.

Favors always needs more minutes.

When Marvin is having a good game like he was last night maybe play him more.

When your starters don't bring the energy maybe try energy boost players like DeMarre and Evans.

I am not a coach so maybe Ty has reasons for the things he did that I just don't understand. I am not around the team either so maybe I am not sure of what I am seeing on the court.

Some post game quotes from the Deseret News and the Tribune

Gordon Hayward:

"It's one game. I think we realize that and we've got to stay optimistic here," Jazz swingman Gordon Hayward said. "We had a pretty good streak, so now we can start over and get on a new one."

Mo Williams:

"We just won five games in a row. I hope you guys weren't expecting us to go 11-0," Jazz point guard Mo Williams said. "That'd be great, but at the same time we're not going to win every game. You want to put your best effort out there. You're playing against a good basketball team. … They just got the better of us."

Carroll from the Tribune (remarks regarding fans chanting for him to get into the game)

"They definitely are a priority," he said. "I'll decide what I'm going to do at the end of the year. Me, man, I'm just ... at a level of my life, a level of my game, I can play in the NBA. I can be a rotation player and contribute. It's just finding the right opportunity, finding the right system, the right coach that believes."

Carroll said fans "understand what I do" and "that's why I love it here in Utah. But I just got to see when it's all said and done, see what's my best opportunity."

So um the last players to question Ty are now gone so is it fair to say Carroll wont' be back? KOC has been quick to rid the team of anyone who thinks Ty is not fair. KOC likes Ty.

KOC on Ty (from Moni)

You know, I have to tell you, anything I would say to COACH, I would say to him, you know, in private.

We’re very happy with the job he’s done…We’ve done, you know, we’ve done some things that have put in him a situation where he’s trying to figure out playing time, etc., but I’ll leave that to Dennis [Lindsey] and myself and to Greg [Miller] and Randy [Rigby], rather than talk about him over the air.

But let me say this. I don’t think you’ll find a guy with better character and a harder-working guy. And we’re all going to grow together, and I think that’s an important aspect of what we do.

So it sounds like Ty has full backing and they'll allow Ty to grow with the team? Then again KOC doesn't really ever share what he plans on doing.

Playoff Standings:

We are on the outside looking in.

We have six games left.

My prediction

vs Hornets- W

@ Warriors- L

vs Thunder- L

vs Timberwolves- W

@Timberwolves- L

@ Grizzlies- L

41-41... that would mean the Lakers would only have to win three out of their last seven games which I think is feasible.

Lakers remaining schedule:

Hopefully my prediction is wrong.

This really turned out to be a downer of a downbeat. I am sorry. I want you to know I love this team. I do. I have loved this team for a very long time. I feel at times though that I am in my own world when it comes to the Jazz, where I just don't get them anymore. I am clearly on the dark side of the moon.

I don't recognize myself as a fan anymore and my goodness we are a .500 team its not like we're perennial losers so I don't get it.

I mean what is there to question, right I mean we have transitioned nicely from every changing point we've been through right? The transition from Stockton and Malone was pretty dang smooth, now Post- Sloan well not smooth but not horrible right? What is wrong with me that it feels so weird and oddly wrong most of the time?

I was always a very positive fan, I never questioned the Jazz ever. I remember years and years ago (12) when Lou and I were first married discussing for hours about how the Jazz of course were always fighting for a championship and it wasn't about the money when he said just maybe the Jazz didn't do everything they could to win a championship. For hours I would tell Lou how perfect the Jazz were, they did things the right way, always.

I feel like that girl is gone and I don't know why and I don't know if she is coming back.

I am so grateful for all of you. I am grateful you let me babble on and on about my feelings towards the Jazz, I am grateful you accept my craziness. I am grateful you let me feel free to share exactly how I feel about this team of ours, the good and the bad. I am grateful to have all of you as part of my Jazz world.