SLC Dunk - NBA Regular Season: Utah Jazz (31-24) at Los Angeles Clippers (39-18) -- Game 56Our Team Is On The Floorhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/29190/slc-redunk-fv.jpg2013-02-24T08:16:00-07:00http://www.slcdunk.com/rss/stream/37868052013-02-24T08:16:00-07:002013-02-24T08:16:00-07:00Jazz @ Clippers -- Game Recap: Jazz fall 107-94
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JF6Kv9qvwQN2jOwrfzeoN9_CFxs=/0x170:2755x2007/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8641541/20130223_jel_al2_556.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I'm going to start off with the truth: I did not watch the game. I was busy pretty much all day with a bro-in-law's wedding.</p>
<p>So, aside from the highlights at NBA.com, I can't talk about specific plays. Though, as a fan of our young guys, that Hayward outlet to Burks for the alley-oop to Favors makes me smile. That's the future, folks.</p>
<p>But still the box score and the game flow can tell us a pretty clear story about this one.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In a way, tonight's game was a symbol of the entire season. The <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Clippers</a> are a great team. They aren't the title favorites. They aren't even one of the inside-track challengers. They're more like the best of the Deron Jazz teams, a terrific team that has an outside, but still real shot at winning it all.</p>
<p>And the Jazz showed us that they just aren't as good. They're an okay team.</p>
<p>And let's be honest ... nothing can change that. No lineup shifts, no realignment of playing time ... none of the stuff so many of us have called for this season would have changed the outcome of this game.</p>
<p>The starters got the team into a small deficit in the 1st quarter (again). They also played one of the worst stretches of the year in the third quarter. Yet <span>Al Jefferson</span> and <span>Paul Millsap</span> both had stretches in which they were quite good.</p>
<p>The bench brought the team back at the end of the first quarter. They then got back in a hole in the second. <span>Derrick Favors</span> was a part of the horrible run in the 3rd quarter. And the bench couldn't get anything back at the end of the game.</p>
<p>And overall, of course, the biggest problem was defense. 94 points can win a game. But not when the opponent shoots almost 52% overall and 40% from three.</p>
<p>No, even for as big a fan of the C4 as me, the stats and the game flow don't say the Jazz win with different lineups.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>And yet, there are still things that are just so obvious.</p>
<p>Our starting lineup is terrible. It just is.</p>
<h4>Our starting PG</h4>
<p>To say <span>Jamaal Tinsley</span> is the worst starting PG in the NBA is kind of insulting to the other 29 guys that get brought into the same conversation by the statement. Do you want to see something funny? Here's the list of guards who have produced as poorly as Tinsley while starting at least 32 games. This is in the history of the NBA:</p>
<p> </p>
<div class="sr_widget">
<div class="sr_widget_content">
<table class="sortable stats_table" id="stats"><tbody>
<tr class=" over_header">
<th class="tooltip over_header" colspan="6" align="CENTER"></th>
<th class="bold_text over_header" colspan="18" align="center">Totals</th>
<th class="bold_text over_header" colspan="3" align="center">Shooting</th>
<th class="bold_text over_header" colspan="2" align="center">Advanced</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th class="ranker sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" align="right">Rk</th>
<th class="tooltip sort_default_asc" align="left">Player</th>
<th class="tooltip sort_default_asc" align="left">Season</th>
<th class="tooltip" align="right">G</th>
<th class="tooltip" align="right">GS</th>
<th class="tooltip" align="right">MP</th>
<th class="tooltip" align="right">STL</th>
<th class="tooltip" align="right">BLK</th>
<th class="tooltip" align="right">TOV</th>
<th class="tooltip" align="right">PF</th>
<th class="tooltip" align="right">PTS</th>
<th class="tooltip" align="right">FG%</th>
<th class="tooltip" align="right">3P%</th>
<th class="tooltip" align="right">FT%</th>
<th class="tooltip" align="right">PER</th>
<th class="tooltip" align="right">WS</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lowesi01.html">Sidney Lowe</a></td>
<td>1989-90</td>
<td align="right">80</td>
<td align="right">38</td>
<td align="right">1744</td>
<td align="right">73</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">63</td>
<td align="right">114</td>
<td align="right">187</td>
<td align="right">.319</td>
<td align="right">.222</td>
<td align="right">.722</td>
<td align="right">8.7</td>
<td class=" highlight_text" align="right">1.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mckieaa01.html">Aaron McKie</a></td>
<td>1997-98</td>
<td align="right">81</td>
<td align="right">32</td>
<td align="right">1813</td>
<td align="right">101</td>
<td align="right">13</td>
<td align="right">76</td>
<td align="right">164</td>
<td align="right">332</td>
<td align="right">.365</td>
<td align="right">.190</td>
<td align="right">.764</td>
<td align="right">8.6</td>
<td class=" highlight_text" align="right">1.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td class=" bold_text"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/tinslja01.html">Jamaal Tinsley</a></td>
<td>2012-13</td>
<td align="right">49</td>
<td align="right">32</td>
<td align="right">1024</td>
<td align="right">52</td>
<td align="right">12</td>
<td align="right">87</td>
<td align="right">83</td>
<td align="right">192</td>
<td align="right">.363</td>
<td align="right">.302</td>
<td align="right">.700</td>
<td align="right">10.7</td>
<td class=" highlight_text" align="right">0.7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcleoke01.html">Keith McLeod</a></td>
<td>2005-06</td>
<td align="right">66</td>
<td align="right">32</td>
<td align="right">1232</td>
<td align="right">42</td>
<td align="right">9</td>
<td align="right">76</td>
<td align="right">131</td>
<td align="right">370</td>
<td align="right">.353</td>
<td align="right">.293</td>
<td align="right">.797</td>
<td align="right">8.6</td>
<td class=" highlight_text" align="right">0.6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcleoke01.html">Keith McLeod</a></td>
<td>2004-05</td>
<td align="right">53</td>
<td align="right">47</td>
<td align="right">1382</td>
<td align="right">63</td>
<td align="right">12</td>
<td align="right">99</td>
<td align="right">138</td>
<td align="right">416</td>
<td align="right">.350</td>
<td align="right">.250</td>
<td align="right">.767</td>
<td align="right">10.4</td>
<td class=" highlight_text" align="right">0.3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">6</td>
<td><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/shawbr01.html">Brian Shaw</a></td>
<td>1997-98</td>
<td align="right">59</td>
<td align="right">34</td>
<td align="right">1530</td>
<td align="right">49</td>
<td align="right">17</td>
<td align="right">99</td>
<td align="right">148</td>
<td align="right">372</td>
<td align="right">.345</td>
<td align="right">.295</td>
<td align="right">.692</td>
<td align="right">9.1</td>
<td class=" highlight_text" align="right">0.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">7</td>
<td><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/harriju01.html">Junior Harrington</a></td>
<td>2002-03</td>
<td align="right">82</td>
<td align="right">51</td>
<td align="right">2003</td>
<td align="right">80</td>
<td align="right">15</td>
<td align="right">157</td>
<td align="right">250</td>
<td align="right">418</td>
<td align="right">.362</td>
<td align="right">.250</td>
<td align="right">.652</td>
<td align="right">6.4</td>
<td class=" highlight_text" align="right">-0.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/claxtsp01.html">Speedy Claxton</a></td>
<td>2006-07</td>
<td align="right">42</td>
<td align="right">31</td>
<td align="right">1054</td>
<td align="right">72</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">75</td>
<td align="right">131</td>
<td align="right">221</td>
<td align="right">.327</td>
<td align="right">.214</td>
<td align="right">.550</td>
<td align="right">7.3</td>
<td class=" highlight_text" align="right">-0.7</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="sr_widget_footer">
<p>Data courtesy <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com">Basketball-Reference.com</a>.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p>Yes, of the eight guys on this list, four of them have ties to the <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Utah Jazz</a>.</p>
<p>Tinsley is simply finished as an effective player (and Earl, incredibly, is even more done). You guys had good careers, but it's over.</p>
<h4>Our starting SG</h4>
<p>I have been far, far happier with <span>Randy Foye</span> this year than I expected. His three-point shooting has been tremendous. But tonight reminded us again: aside from the three pointer, he's not giving the team a scrap of production. So when he's missing (like tonight) he's useless.</p>
<h4>Our starting SF</h4>
<p>Various national voices have started calling <span>Marvin Williams</span> the worst starting SF in the NBA. The more we see him this season, the harder it is to disagree.</p>
<p>I don't know if we'll ever know why Marvin didn't become a good player. Everyone loved him in college. I remember the 2005 draft vividly: and there were a few talking heads shaking their heads that Milwaukee picked Bogut instead of Marvin. By all accounts, he's a great guy. The Atlanta beat writers liked him. The Jazz beat writers like him. He comes across as a decent, intelligent person.</p>
<p>I don't know what "<b><i>it</i></b>" is, but in the end Marvin has never had more than a couple teaspoons of "<i><b>it</b></i>" as an NBA player, and now "<b>it</b>" is gone.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>These guys combined for this line 0-9, 0 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 0 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers, and 4 fouls. They started both halves, and played 14, 22, and 14 minutes.</p>
<p>You simply can't be a good team when these guys make up 60% of your starting lineup.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>I don't understand why <span>Tyrone Corbin</span> and the Jazz Front Office doesn't see how bad this is. I don't understand how nobody but the fans see how much these guys hurt the team game after game after game. I know they're all great guys, but come on ...</p>
<p>No, the C4 are not perfect. Hayward shot poorly tonight and continues to have some Matt-Harpring-layup-reincarnations. Burks still has some inexplicably horrifying moments at the free throw line. Favors' offensive game still needs polish. Kanter has games that his shot suddenly disappears (not tonight, however).</p>
<p>But they're good. The team would be so much better playing them more.</p>
<p>No, they would not have miraculously turned around this particular game. Starting them isn't the difference between an okay team and a title contender.</p>
<p>But they could be the difference between an okay team and one that is better. The team would be better this season and in seasons to come if Tyrone Corbin could just stop the absurdity and bench the vets that can't play basketball at an NBA level.</p>
<p>If only ...</p>
https://www.slcdunk.com/2013/2/24/4024172/nba-final-los-angeles-clippers-107-defeat-utah-jazz-94-game-recapYucca Man2013-02-24T02:08:24-07:002013-02-24T02:08:24-07:00The Clippers Win. Thanks Starters
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/43DNWeYThLhblgJmOgyeYmAmm4k=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828159/large_slcdunk.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>I'm going to start off with the truth: I did not watch the game. I was busy pretty much all day with a bro-in-law's wedding.</p>
<p>So, aside from the highlights at NBA.com, I can't talk about specific plays. Though, as a fan of our young guys, that Hayward outlet to Burks for the alley-oop to Favors makes me smile. That's the future, folks.</p>
<p>But still the box score and the game flow can tell us a pretty clear story about this one.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In a way, tonight's game was a symbol of the entire season. The <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Clippers</a> are a great team. They aren't the title favorites. They aren't even one of the inside-track challengers. They're more like the best of the Deron Jazz teams, a terrific team that has an outside, but still real shot at winning it all.</p>
<p>And the Jazz showed us that they just aren't as good. They're an okay team.</p>
<p>And let's be honest ... nothing can change that. No lineup shifts, no realignment of playing time ... none of the stuff so many of us have called for this season would have changed the outcome of this game.</p>
<p>The starters got the team into a small deficit in the 1st quarter (again). They also played one of the worst stretches of the year in the third quarter. Yet <span>Al Jefferson</span> and <span>Paul Millsap</span> both had stretches in which they were quite good.</p>
<p>The bench brought the team back at the end of the first quarter. They then got back in a hole in the second. <span>Derrick Favors</span> was a part of the horrible run in the 3rd quarter. And the bench couldn't get anything back at the end of the game.</p>
<p>And overall, of course, the biggest problem was defense. 94 points can win a game. But not when the opponent shoots almost 52% overall and 40% from three.</p>
<p>No, even for as big a fan of the C4 as me, the stats and the game flow don't say the Jazz win with different lineups.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>And yet, there are still things that are just so obvious.</p>
<p>Our starting lineup is terrible. It just is.</p>
<h4>Our starting PG</h4>
<p>To say <span>Jamaal Tinsley</span> is the worst starting PG in the NBA is kind of insulting to the other 29 guys that get brought into the same conversation by the statement. Do you want to see something funny? Here's the list of guards who have produced as poorly as Tinsley while starting at least 32 games. This is in the history of the NBA:</p>
<p>
<script src="http://widgets.sports-reference.com/wg.fcgi?css=1&site=bbr&url=%2Fplay-index%2Fpsl_finder.cgi%3Frequest%3D1%26match%3Dsingle%26type%3Dtotals%26per_minute_base%3D36%26lg_id%3DNBA%26is_playoffs%3DN%26year_min%3D%26year_max%3D%26franch_id%3D%26season_start%3D1%26season_end%3D-1%26age_min%3D0%26age_max%3D99%26height_min%3D0%26height_max%3D99%26birth_country_is%3DY%26birth_country%3D%26is_active%3D%26is_hof%3D%26is_as%3D%26as_comp%3Dgt%26as_val%3D%26pos_is_g%3DY%26qual%3D%26c1stat%3Dgs%26c1comp%3Dgt%26c1val%3D31%26c2stat%3Dper%26c2comp%3Dlt%26c2val%3D11%26c3stat%3Dfg_pct%26c3comp%3Dlt%26c3val%3D.37%26c4stat%3Dfg3_pct%26c4comp%3Dlt%26c4val%3D.31%26c5stat%3Dtrb_per_g%26c5comp%3Dgt%26c6mult%3D2.2%26c6stat%3D%26order_by%3Dws&div=div_stats&del_col=4,5,6,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19" type="text/javascript"></script>
</p>
<p>Yes, of the eight guys on this list, four of them have ties to the <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Utah Jazz</a>.</p>
<p>Tinsley is simply finished as an effective player (and Earl, incredibly, is even more done). You guys had good careers, but it's over.</p>
<h4>Our starting SG</h4>
<p>I have been far, far happier with <span>Randy Foye</span> this year than I expected. His three-point shooting has been tremendous. But tonight reminded us again: aside from the three pointer, he's not giving the team a scrap of production. So when he's missing (like tonight) he's useless.</p>
<h4>Our starting SF</h4>
<p>Various national voices have started calling <span>Marvin Williams</span> the worst starting SF in the NBA. The more we see him this season, the harder it is to disagree.</p>
<p>I don't know if we'll ever know why Marvin didn't become a good player. Everyone loved him in college. I remember the 2005 draft vividly: and there were a few talking heads shaking their heads that Milwaukee picked Bogut instead of Marvin. By all accounts, he's a great guy. The Atlanta beat writers liked him. The Jazz beat writers like him. He comes across as a decent, intelligent person.</p>
<p>I don't know what "<b><i>it</i></b>" is, but in the end Marvin has never had more than a couple teaspoons of "<i><b>it</b></i>" as an NBA player, and now "<b>it</b>" is gone.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>These guys combined for this line 0-9, 0 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 0 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers, and 4 fouls. They started both halves, and played 14, 22, and 14 minutes.</p>
<p>You simply can't be a good team when these guys make up 60% of your starting lineup.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>I don't understand why <span>Tyrone Corbin</span> and the Jazz Front Office doesn't see how bad this is. I don't understand how nobody but the fans see how much these guys hurt the team game after game after game. I know they're all great guys, but come on ...</p>
<p>No, the C4 are not perfect. Hayward shot poorly tonight and continues to have some Matt-Harpring-layup-reincarnations. Burks still has some inexplicably horrifying moments at the free throw line. Favors' offensive game still needs polish. Kanter has games that his shot suddenly disappears (not tonight, however).</p>
<p>But they're good. The team would be so much better playing them more.</p>
<p>No, they would not have miraculously turned around this particular game. Starting them isn't the difference between an okay team and a title contender.</p>
<p>But they could be the difference between an okay team and one that is better. The team would be better this season and in seasons to come if Tyrone Corbin could just stop the absurdity and bench the vets that can't play basketball at an NBA level.</p>
<p>If only ...</p>
https://www.slcdunk.com/jazz-game-streams/2013/2/24/4023688/nba-final-los-angeles-clippers-107-defeat-utah-jazz-94-game-recapYucca Man2013-02-23T19:10:34-07:002013-02-23T19:10:34-07:00Jazz @ Clippers -- Game Thread
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4B3nIFLanJPYSpIwYBdXZ0zfBwA=/0x1016:2952x2984/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8619813/20121230_lbm_aj4_440.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Game #56 • STAPLES Center • Los Angeles, CA • February 23, 2013 • 8:30 p.m. (MT) • TV: ROOT Sports RADIO: 1280 AM/97.5 FM and 1600 AM ESPN Deportes</p> <h3>NBA Regular Season 2012-2013, Game 56:</h3>
<h3> <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Utah Jazz</a> (31-24) at <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Clippers</a> (39-18)<br> </h3>
<p><u><a href="http://www.slcdunk.com/jazz-game-streams/2013/2/23/4022764/nba-regular-season-utah-jazz-31-24-at-los-angeles-clippers-39-18-game" target="_blank">#UTAatLAC Game Stream</a></u> -- <u><a href="http://www.clipsnation.com/">Clips Nation</a></u> -- <u><span>Jazz vs Clippers coverage</span></u></p>
<p><em>Don't get swept! </em></p>
<p><font color="white">.</font></p>
<h4>The Starters:</h4>
<ul> <li>PG: <span>Jamaal Tinsley</span> vs. <span>Chris Paul</span> </li> <li>SG: <span>Randy Foye</span> vs. <span>Chauncey Billups</span> </li> <li>SF: <span>Marvin Williams</span> vs. <span>Caron Butler</span> </li> <li>PF: <span>Paul Millsap</span> vs. <span>Blake Griffin</span> </li> <li>C: <span>Al Jefferson</span> vs. <span>DeAndre Jordan</span> </li> </ul>
<p>If they're going to flop, then at least give them something to fall down about. #ReleasetheKanter</p>
<p></p>
<h3>GO JAZZ GO!</h3>
<h3></h3>
<fieldset class="poll-box">
<legend>Poll</legend>
<h5 class="poll-title">Who is going to win tonight?</h5>
<div id="poll_container_167495_108523449" class="poll_container">
<div class="poll_option clearfix">
<div class="poll_option_percentage" style="display:none">54%</div>
<div class="poll_option_result">
<h5>The Mighty Utah Jazz</h5>
<div class="poll_option_bar"><span class="vote_count">14</span> votes</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="poll_option clearfix">
<div class="poll_option_percentage" style="display:none">46%</div>
<div class="poll_option_result">
<h5>The Los Angeles Clippers</h5>
<div class="poll_option_bar"><span class="vote_count">12</span> votes</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="poll-total-votes"><strong>26</strong> votes
| <span class="poll-has-closed">Poll has closed</span>
</p>
</div>
<script type="text/javascript">
jQuery(document).ready(function(){
new SBN.Poll('poll_container_167495_108523449').animateResults({renderImmediately:true});
});
</script>
</fieldset>
https://www.slcdunk.com/2013/2/23/4022774/nba-regular-season-utah-jazz-31-24-at-los-angeles-clippers-39-18-gameAllThatAmar2013-02-23T17:38:17-07:002013-02-23T17:38:17-07:00Jazz @ Clippers -- Game Preview
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vhi7wF7EcvGjB2Yyfeh4t3QDNBk=/0x65:4000x2732/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8619503/20121230_lbm_aj4_442.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Game #56 • STAPLES Center • Los Angeles, CA • February 23, 2013 • 8:30 p.m. (MT) • TV: ROOT Sports RADIO: 1280 AM/97.5 FM and 1600 AM ESPN Deportes</p> <h3>NBA Regular Season 2012-2013, Game 56:</h3>
<h3>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Utah Jazz</a> (31-24) at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Los Angeles Clippers</a> (39-18)<br>
</h3>
<p><u><a target="_blank" href="http://www.slcdunk.com/jazz-game-streams/2013/2/23/4022764/nba-regular-season-utah-jazz-31-24-at-los-angeles-clippers-39-18-game">#UTAatLAC Game Stream</a></u> -- <u><a href="http://www.clipsnation.com/">Clips Nation</a></u> -- <u><span>Jazz vs Clippers coverage</span></u></p>
<p><i>Don't get swept! </i></p>
<p><font color="white">.</font></p>
<h4>The Basics:<br>
</h4>
<p>I'm not entirely convinced that this hasn't already happened before, but if it has, I'm absolutely sure I have blocked it out. What am I talking about? I'm talking about having our Jazz, the Mighty Utah Jazz, be swept in the regular season by the Los Angeles Clippers. Seriously. The Clippers. Even stand up comedians who don't even follow sports were capable of making Los Angeles Clippers jokes, and killing it with them. That's how bad the Clippers franchise is. And yet, right now they are on the precipice of winning their 40th game of the season. All that stands in their way are the Jazz. We're 10-18 on the road, while LAC is 21-6 at home. The Jazz are 98-64 against LAC all-time, and 37-44 on the road. As far as finding a franchise to play on the road, the Clipps are one of the few where we've nearly broken even.</p>
<p>Tonight it's not about breaking even, tonight it's about payback and avoiding getting swept up by the Clippers, who are the #3 team in the Western Conference right now. It's not going to be easy; but it's not like we're push overs either.</p>
<p>Game 1: December 3, 2012 -- LAC 105 beat Utah 104</p>
<p>Game 2: December 28, 2012 -- LAC 116 beat Utah 114</p>
<p>Game 3: December 30, 2012 -- Utah 96 lost to LAC 107</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So in our three games the final score is 328 to 314, a grand total of +14 over three games. That's a +/- of -4.7 for us. So we've lost three games by an average of less than five points each time. Two games were one score differences. The W/L record favors the Clippers, but the actual performance disparity isn't as large as the 3 to oh margin appears.</p>
<p>Tonight the Clippers will look to sweep. They're a good team and they're missing just <span>Trey Thompkins</span>. (The Jazz will continue to play with former Los Angeles Clipper <span>Mo Williams</span>, and potential future Los Angeles Laker <span>Raja Bell</span>) It's really the last chance for <span>Randy Foye</span> to exact his revenge on the team that decided to go with <span>Jamal Crawford</span> instead of him. Against his old club Foye is averaging 19.0 ppg (56.3 fg%, 55.6 3pt%), 2.7 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.0 spg in 31.4 mpg. It's kinda going to be 'all eyes on him' tonight as he's our main source of outside firepower. The Jazz will be riding high on the returns of Gordon Hayward and <span>Gordon Hayward's</span> on court ability. He makes our team better, and we're lucky to have him back. Both of them will get cracks being defending by <span>Chauncey Billups</span> and Jamal Crawford.</p>
<p>I think the Jazz can survive with <span>Chris Paul</span> and <span>Blake Griffin</span> doing their thing. Utah will have trouble if the auxiliary guys get going, like <span>Matt Barnes</span>, <span>Caron Butler</span>, and <span>DeAndre Jordan</span>. And of course, the main Jazz killer I'm worried about is Crawford. But I think the number of guys we can throw at him should be able to keep him in check (Hayward, <span>DeMarre Carroll</span>, and <span>Alec Burks</span>, for starters).</p>
<p>LAC causes a lot of deflections, gets steals, and gets to the free throw line. Their pace of play is average, but they are a Top 10 offense and defense in both PPG and RTG. They're a good team. But we do have something on them -- chemistry.</p>
<p>The Jazz didn't make any trades, the players know each other, and the relief of NOT being traded should help free our guys to really maximize their collective performances. <span>Paul Millsap</span> and <span>Al Jefferson</span> need to show the world that they are worthwhile as individuals, but more so, as teammates who work together. I'd love to see what they can do tonight.</p>
<p>This isn't a must-win for the Jazz -- but no need to start losing games when we're on three game win streak and 7-3 in the last 10.</p>
<p>Let's go Jazz!</p>
https://www.slcdunk.com/2013/2/23/4022702/nba-regular-season-utah-jazz-31-24-at-los-angeles-clippers-39-18-gameAllThatAmar