Sloan'd

I could have told you, Jerry Sloan, this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you

2011-02-11T01:16:00.009-07:00

For Jerry Sloan, basketball wasn’t a meritocracy. In fact, he didn’t even believe that you were only as good as the last great you thing you did. For Sloan, you aren’t what you were, and you aren’t yet what you could be. You are who you are, and what you’re doing, right this minute.

Even while he was getting challenged by an angry young man -- whose biggest achievements are two All-Star Game selections and one trip to the Western Conference Finals (that, if we’re being honest, wouldn’t have happened had the Warriors not been hot at the perfect time and the Mavericks not gone cold at the absolute worst time) -- Sloan did not call for a comparison of resumes.

Sloan didn’t bring up his 23 years of exemplary service, six appearances in the conference finals, two trips to the NBA Finals, 1221 wins, or his 2009 induction into basketball's Hall of Fame.

He didn’t pull out the list with the contact information of impressive references, like the NBA’s all-time leader in assists and steals; the best power forward ever -- who was so good he could play and own in L.A. Gear shoes, and possibly even Sketchers; the two coach of the year recipients he worked with, including the one who had no problem being under Sloan’s stewardship for many of Sloan’s 23 years as the Utah Jazz’s head coach; or the man, now a ghost, who was business savvy enough to keep a team thriving in small-market Salt Lake City for 25 years, and who backed Sloan for over two decades.

Sloan didn’t do these things because he knew there was no point. He would have won the credibility war with the angry boy, but what good would it do?

Every athlete talks about being a competitor. They all claim it, but what do they actually mean? That they don’t like to lose? That they like to be challenged, then overcome? Or that they like to get paid a lot of money to play a fun game in front of thousands of people and a television audience a few nights a week?

Sloan was a true competitor, and to him competing meant trying his hardest to win. He could lose because he or his team weren’t good enough, but it was unacceptable to lose because somebody let up, even a little bit.

And he only sought victories on the court, he only wanted to beat opposing teams. It might be the easiest victory of his life, but defeating a disgruntled point guard, his disgruntled point guard, would do nothing to help his team win.

Sloan knows how to make in-game adjustments. His farmboy speech belied his superior basketball intellect. Letting the irascible star win was an adjustment that Sloan feels will give his (former) team its best chance of winning.

So Jerry Sloan is walking away from the Utah Jazz, and barring something unforeseeable, the National Basketball Association.

He leaves without a title, but with no regrets for the two times he was just games away from winning one. The happiness a championship could have brought would be long gone by now, anyway, having left as soon as the following season began, when there were more games that needed to be won.

Sloan leaves without many other things, like a coach of the year trophy, that he couldn’t care less about. While Woody Allen didn’t want to belong to a club that would have him as a member, maybe Sloan didn’t care much about a club that would have Mike Dunleavy as a member. That’s not fair to Dunleavy, though; it wasn’t because of him, or Sam Mitchell, Don Chaney, or Doug Moe, that Sloan didn’t care about the award. It is because it had little to do with what happened on the court.

Many say the game has passed Coach Sloan by. How could this be when he still runs one of the most intricate offenses in basketball? In football, an offense that has been that effective for such a long stretch of time would garner Sloan the label of “genius.”

Some insist Sloan doesn’t know how to coach today’s young players. What about Bryon Russell, Shandon Anderson, Paul Millsap, Wesley Matthews, and even Deron Williams? What about the all of the players whose play dropped off significantly after they left the Jazz and Sloan? What about the unearned, unwavering patience with Andrei Kirilenko?

The game didn’t pass Sloan by, and young players weren’t impossible for him to work with and help improve. Jerry Sloan’s system has yet to stop working. No, the players stopped working for Sloan’s system, and he has chosen to accept it. He can’t change his expectations for them, and it seems they either can’t or won’t tweak their unproven games to fit into his proven style of play.

Sure, the NBA has changed. Actually, it changed a long time ago, and it will continue to change. Before they even sign their first pro contract, players have non-hoops dreams they plan to pursue. Many fancy themselves rappers. LeBron James thinks he is an adept business man, not realizing his entire net worth is attributed to the way his body grew, and not any kind of boardroom decision he has made.

Sloan wanted no part of this cocktail generation, but he never tried to control what players did in their free time. All he asked (and by “asked,” I mean “demanded”) was they be ready to commit themselves to seeking excellence whenever they were on the clock.

When he realized that commitment was lost and not coming back, Sloan knew the only possible way to salvage this team was for him to step aside and not let his high standards get in the way.

So, here we are.

* * * * *

Jerry Sloan's Last Words

2011-02-10T15:12:00.000-07:00

The biggest quote by Jerry Sloan after last night's game:

"We're not looking to trade anybody," he said. "We're looking to try to make our team hopefully better on the floor [and want] guys [to] accept the responsibility that it takes to be good every day," he said.

What does this say about Deron Williams?

Shoot first, ask questions later

2011-02-04T20:47:00.025-07:00

One of this blog's co-founders has moved to Indiana. Me, for graduate school. It all happened so fast. Since I missed the first Utah Jazz-Denver Nuggets game (I watched it the next day, which caused puking) on account of studying for the GRE, which I would take the next morning, I thought tonight might be an appropriate time to attempt a live blog.

I don't even know if I can entertain myself for the entire game, much less anyone else. That being said, I dedicate this to B, his brother Pail Millsap, and Sloan'd's one reader, Holdinator.

***You know how us Westerners thinks it's stupid for Easterners to not stay up a little later to watch West Coast basketball (as well as football and baseball) games? I'm no defending them, but it IS tough. It's 10:30 here in the EST. If not for the dearth of Jazz games I get to watch on TV, I would have started this game with no intention to finish it.

***Chris Anderson must have been strung out while the rest of us were making fun of Mike Tyson's face tattoo.

***Watch I'm watching for early: The other night, Steve Luhm (Salt Lake Tribune) said the ball moves better when Gordon Hayward is on the court. Keepin' tabs.

***Geez louise, Hubie Brown, get off Hayward's back. We know he's a whipper-snapper, but he deserves a fair chance.

***Deron Williams is so excited to be back on the court. Check his happy feet on defense. (the set-up)

***Kyrylo Fesenko is so excited to be back on the court. Check the usage of his brain. (punch line)

***In a Google image contest, "silly fesenko" beat "dumb fesenko," "brainless fesenko," and "naked fesenko."

***The first quarter of this game is over. For the rest of the Jazz players' lives, they will have to live with getting outscored 24-23 by the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter on February 4, 2011. You can never take this away from the Nuggets.

***Pail Millsap is not impressed with Fesenko's performance. Says we know Fesenko can do this against the Nuggs. Wants to see his boy Kyrylo do it against other teams too. @Del_Taco

***Jeremy Evans gets up and stays up. Cialis.

***Call your doctor is J.E. spends more than four minutes on the court at a time.

***I also dedicate this live blog session to Bryon Russell. Like him, I believe I am much better than I am.

***Start thinking of songs to dedicate to the Jazz's first-half performance. If a Youtube of the best one exists, I will post it.

***Williams' new birth control must really be working.

***What if the Jazz, like the Lakers, Celtics and Spurs, are built to win in the playoffs, not necessarily the regular season? Chickenshit, or no?

***Andrei Kirilenko looks like a girl who hasn't been asked to dance all night. "There's really nobody I'm interested in anyway. It's okay. My acne has nothing to do with this. So what if I never use a curling iron?"

***You can never take this halftime lead away from the Utah Jazz. The record will always show that they led 50-47 at the midway point.

***Any songs you want to dedicate to the Jazz's first-half efforts?

***Uhhhhhh ... self bang?

***For Jeremy Evans:

***Halftime song dedication:

***So far, and in so many ways, this video personifies the Jazz's second half:

***What I'm surprised Hubie Brown hasn't said: "Utah needs to be careful. They just got three dunks in a row. They're not a team know for their dunks."

***The look on Bell's face after J.R. Smith pushed him down said, "Ah, good, I still got it."

***Holy cow. A scuffle. I've been wanting this for three years. I need to go back and watch it again.

***That scuffle was the best Utah Jazz moment since they made the 2007 Western Conference Finals. Williams probably should have gotten tossed too.

***The lineup the Jazz had during that mix-up was perfect -- Roger Bell, Al Jefferson, Williams, Paul Millsap and Earl Watson. There's a lot of pride there. They all knew exactly what to do. Bell started it, and it was smart of him to not get involved because he would have at least received a technical foul, and possibly a tossing. Williams was the closest teammate, which requires him to push J.R. Smith, which he did. Millsap and Jefferson got there soon after to separate the fighters, but to also speak some fighting words. Finally, Watson was further away, but when he got to the scene, he got right up with the rest of the crowd. Everyone had Bell's back, and now the youngsters, like Calvin Miles, Hayward, and Fesenko, know what to do when a fellow Jazzman gets mugged. I have a feeling Francisco Elson and Ronnie Price were so pissed they weren't able to get involved.

***Al Jefferson has offered his fellow Jazz a ride on his back in this fourth quarter.

***Friend Bryan text messaged me: "This might gel us, man. D(eron)Will(iams) pushing was HUGE." It's true. Look at all the Jazz since the fight, they're feeling badass.

***That being said, Utah MUST finish this game. They were in the Nuggets' head. They have to throw the knockout punch.

***One more thing: That near-fight probably turns out completely different if Kirilenko is on the floor.

***Great win, worth staying up until 1:30 a.m. for.

***It is hard to predict anything with these modern Jazz, but the roles of this team might have been determined today.
Al Jefferson is the go-to guy on offense who can also make huge plays on defense.
Deron Williams is the best player.
Roger Bell now knows he is free to instigate because his teammates got his back.
Paul Millsap is the role player. He'll score some big hoops, grab some crucial rebounds, and make a few plays on defense. He also bails out Williams when Yaz gets erratic.
Earl Watson is the calmer. While Williams can get crazy, Watson can bail him out when they're playing together, or sub in for him and slow the Jazz's roll.
Calvin Miles is a less reliable version of Millsap.
Kyrylo Fesenko goes into Denver and takes a few huge dumps.
Francisco Elson and Ronnie Price come in and do veteran things.
Gordon Hayward and Jeremy Evans do rookie things.
If Mehmet Okur every plays consistent minutes, he'll be the shooter off the bench.
This might just be the game that leads the Jazz to pull the trigger on a salary dump deal. What does he bring that the Jazz don't already have with the above players?

***Then again, this Jazz team has not established an identity since John Stockton and Karl Malone left. Every time these Jazz seem to have it figured out, they forget it.

That being said, I think Utah is about at the beginning of one of their All-Star break hot streaks.

Jazz vs. the state of Florida

2010-11-10T21:04:00.000-07:00

Other than being a huge comeback, the Utah Jazz-Orlando Magic contest was quite different from the Jazz's game with the Miami Heat last night.

1) The Jazz played fairly well against the Magic. There a lot of turnover, but Utah had energy and effort. The Magic simply could not miss in the second quarter and most of the third quarter. When the Jazz made their comeback and started sinking shots, the reaction was "finally," or something similar.

The comeback against the Heat was the return-from-the-dead type. Utah spent the better part of three quarters getting hammered. They worked their way back into the game by chipping away at the lead.

2) The comebacks were different. The Jazz were all but completely dead in Miami, and they slowly dug their way out of their own grave, kind of like this:

In Orlando, the Jazz made up ground quickly with a 24-2 run at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarter.

3) Whereas the Miami comeback was mostly due to Paul Millsap and Deron Williams, the Orlando revival was a team creation. Yes, Williams could not miss, but Kyrylo Fesenko, Millsap, Al Jefferson, Roger Bell and Andrei Kirilenko all made important contributions.

* * * * *

Yeah, that's right, Florida.

Duh, EVERYONE knows Millsap can sink the three

2010-11-10T17:03:00.003-07:00

Why not Paul Millsap, why not tonight? -- Matt Harpring

How incredible was Paul Millsap last night against the Miami Heat? Well, can you remember a Jazz player having a game as incredible as that? Here's the thing: as unreal as his one-man comeback show at the end of regulation was, Millsap was great the entire night; his 3-point barrage was just the apex of a stunning performance.

Anyway, Millsap's showing goes down as one of the best in Utah Jazz history. There aren't many that compare. The only performances I can remember in the class with Millsap's were by Karl Malone: his 61-point night against the Milwaukee Bucks in 1990, and when he scored 42 on the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1997 playoffs.

* * * * *
Other thoughts on last night's Jazz win:

Remember when Chris Webber used to have quiet 20-10s? You'd watch the entire game, then be shocked when the play-by-play announcer would say Webber had 20+ points and 10+ boards. The reason for your jaw-drop was Webber not seeming to impact the game at all. Well, the same felt true about LeBron James' triple-double last night … Speaking of Chris Webber, isn't Paul Millsap's game resembling Webber's more and more? I mean this in a complementary way -- not all of Webber's 20-10s were worthless. … What was the common factor in last night's game and the Jazz-Cavs game in January -- you know, the Sundiata game? The obvious answer is LeBron James, which is correct, but there was another similarity between these two games: Deron Williams had to leave the game early (fouled out last night, injured in Cavs game), and somehow Ronnie Price ran an effective point and helped the Jazz win. … DWILL gets all Nashian (Nashty?) when setting up a hot three-point shooter at the end of the game. Williams will penetrate to the top of the key to draw the defense to him, jump in the air, then contort his body and nicely set up the shooter for a good look. He usually does this with Okur, but last night it was Millsap. … Great work by SLC Dunk in compiling stories from around the country regarding Millsap and the Jazz.

* * * * *
It looks like Jerry Sloan will be around for at least one more year. Sometimes I wonder if Jeff Van Gundy is just biding his time on those NBA broadcasts, waiting for the Jazz gig to open up. Utah fans and the Jazz organization likes JVG's kind of hoops, and the job would provide a stability unlike he and his brother have experienced in their NBA coaching careers.

In honor of Sloan, here is another song that references the Utah Jazz:

Drake ft. Lil Wayne -- Miss Me

"Young Money's Jerry Sloan, I turn every stone"
(The lyrics before and after this line are a little bit naughty.)

Millsap at SF----->The Commercial

2010-11-09T17:37:00.001-07:00

When in a crunch, one can find out the strength and quality of themselves or an entity to which they belong. Four observations from the last few minutes of the Jazz-Clippers double-OT game on Saturday:

1) For all his shortcomings in the last 20-30 seconds of a game, Deron Williams is one of the best at taking the ball the length of the floor during a game's last moments and making a play happen. Steve Nash is probably the only other point guard who could consistently do this like Williams does it.

2) Paul Millsap has played like a grown man this season. He seems to find different ways to be an effective offensive contributor every single game.

Here's the question: Could Millsap start at small forward? His game is becoming increasingly better, to the extent that he is playing more and more like a small forward, but without losing his power forward skill set (though he does drive to the hoop more like a small forward). His mid-range jump shot has become reliable, much more trustworthy than any shot attempt by Andrei Kirilenko or CJ Miles.

The question is how would Millsap do on defense against the quicker kind?

The first retort to that question is, how would the quicker kind defend him? See, mismatches often go two ways, with a consideration given to the talent involved. Millsap has talent enough to take advantage of being guarded by a slighter-framed fellow. Furthering the question, how would Millsap's advantage stack up against the advantage of the quicker player? The answer to this sub-question can only truly be answered in a game-by-game instance, so the original question is the type to ponder in a macro sense.

To start, Millsap is no slouch athletically. He might not be as nimble as a prototypical small forward, but he is by no means slow. Also, Millsap could use his thicker body to punish his SF adversary on both offense and defense. By the end of the game, his opponent might be worn down and ragged, unable to attack the hoop with much zeal. In fact, Millsap should be quick enough to stay in front of his man most times, thereby turning his SF foe into a jump shooter. With the defensive rules in the NBA, making a defensive impact most of the time, or perhaps only half of the time, is fairly good defense.

Overall, I think opposing SFs would get by Millsap as much as they proceed past Kirilenko and Miles. AK might be better at recovering and blocking the shot, but again, Millsap is no slouch at this himself. It should also be noted that Millsap's lack of size is a defensive detriment against most power forwards. At either forward spot Millsap is going to give up something. He might actually give up less as a small forward.

The power advantage the Jazz would have starting Millsap at SF and Jefferson at PF should be taken into account. Much to Millsap's credit, in fact most of the credit be unto him, these two power players have been able to play well together. Millsap's feel for the game and somewhat reliable jumpshot have given Jefferson room to maneuver in the low post.

The Jazz would set a nasty tone each game with a starting a frontcourt of Millsap, Jefferson and Elson, especially alongside physical guards Williams and Roger Bell. When Mehmet Okur heals and returns, he doesn't necessarily have to start. Jerry Sloan likes to have a scorer in the second unit, and Okur could fit that role nicely. Or Sloan could put Okur in the starting lineup alongside Jefferson and Millsap. Memo's added outside shooting would leave the paint open for Millsap and Jefferson, as well as Williams' penetrations.

Which brings up one more concern about moving Millsap to SF: he's no 3-point shooter. Yes, but Kirilenko isn't consistent enough with his treys to force the defense to spread their efforts. In fact, it seems Millsap's jumper and ability to attack the hoop would better keep the defense from crowding the basket than what Kirilenko brings.

I gave the argument for Millsap starting at small forward, because it seems the natural inclination is to say it wouldn't quite work. Back the argument up or tear it apart.

3) Jefferson's blocking Chris Kaman's shots in overtime is an element the Jazz's defense didn't often posses with Okur and Carlos Boozer on the court.

4) There is a lot to complain about with Kirilenko. One thing I noticed for the first time on Saturday was he always gets up after getting knocked down. Well, except this time:

* * * * *
Since the Jazz playing the Miami Heat tonight, here are some interesting reads dedicated to LeBron James' new commercial.

Michael Weinreb: On LeBron, Nike, and the Deconstruction of America

Jason Whitlock: LeBron's Nike ad: Just do ... whatever

Bethelhem Shoals: LeBron James' Nike Commercial Asks 'What Should I Do?'

Kevin Blackistone: Quoting Cassius Clay, LeBron Rings Hollow

Deron Williams wigs, Sloan'd forgives

2010-11-04T23:10:00.022-06:00

“It’s going to be a different team for us this year,” Williams, 26, said.
“Things aren’t going to come as easy as they have in the past. It’s part of my
job to keep the team together and keep the team focused.”

When I saw Deron Williams wig out at Gordon Hayward and read his panic (which he insists was not panic) about getting drubbed in the first two games, my initial reactions were: this is exactly what prevents Williams from being a great point guard/player, what makes Steve Nash so superior, what keeps the Jazz from making progress against the Lakers.

A few days later, my thoughts continued: this is what happens when you hand your team over to a player who has never been The Man before. Yeah, my thinking went on, he's totally inexperienced at being the "undisputed leader" of a team.

At The Colony High School in Texas, Williams was purportedly overshadowed by teammate Bracey Wright, a smooth shooter with a nice game who went on to play at Indiana University and lead the Big 10 Conference in scoring his junior year. Wright was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves (in the same draft the Jazz took Williams), but played only 26 total games before moving overseas to hoop. (Wright's problem was being a shooting guard who was only 6-foot-3.)

When the University of Illinois made their run to the 2005 NCAA Championship Game, Williams took a backseat to Dee Brown for most of the season. As the season went on, it was evident Williams had the best pro potential, and the buzz got busier after he hit this shot:

Then Williams arrived in Utah with Matt Harpring and Andrei Kirilenko having been good Jazz for three and four years, respectively, and Carlos Boozer as young, up-and-comer who had been with the team for a year. Through he became the best player on the Jazz, Williams hasn't been an assertive leader until this season. In fact, if he were a Ninja Turtle, Williams has been more Raphael than Leonardo.

As my brain turned it over more and more, my opinion began to change. Is it proper to expect perfection from a fellow in a brand new situation, especially this early in the endeavor? No it isn't, I concluded.

He deserves some slack for panicking, and there was nothing wrong with yelling at Hayward, except Williams did it as he walked by instead of doing it face-to-face (but again, he's new at being the alphaperson). What Williams is deserving of critique, and constant ridicule, for is throwing the ball at Hayward -- that was a middle school temple tantrum.

“Everything’s a process,” Millsap said. “Everybody don’t come in just
knowing everything. So he’s been listening. He’s been able to get guys around
him, as far as coaches and players, throughout the years. Deron’s been working
hard to get where he’s at.”

“I think he’s made a lot of strides from where he started,” Sloan said. “The
experience that he has, knowledge, all that stuff — he’s a terrific player. I
think the experiences that you have over the years puts you in a position to be
able to do those things; to be a leader; have the responsibility to get other
players to play better. That’s the bottom line. That’s what leadership’s
about.”

--Quotes from The Salt Lake Tribune

* * * * *

With only four games played and so many new players, it is hard to glean anything about the 2010-11 Utah Jazz from the first week of the season. They haven't even been in a close game yet. One can, however, make observations about each player and what role they might have on the team.

RAJA BELL: The Jazz's best player the first two games. It appeared he was trying to will the team out of its funk. Oddly, he hardly played in Sunday's win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. I wonder if Jerry Sloan will avoid forcing Bell's minutes if Utah is getting good play from Calvin and Kirilenko. Bell is older and coming off an injury. If he isn't needed, he might as well be preserved for when he is.

FRANCISO ELSON: Still seems lost on offense, but he will come in handy when the Jazz face the better teams in the West. Elson won't mind mixing it up, or starting the mix-ups, with the likes of the Lakers, Nuggets and Spurs. He shoots jumpers with confidence.

JEREMY EVANS: Like everyone else does, I find Evans impressive. He puts his athleticism to use by attacking the hoop and aggressively seeking rebounds.

KYRYLO FESENKO: Getting better. His most valuable contributions have been the times he has altered shots, or blocked shots as a help defender. He still loves the in-game promotions.

GORDON HAYWARD: Has shown hustle and smarts. Better yet, he has shown he can score in a lot of different ways, so long as he isn't shooting a three-pointer. If the Jazz get hit with injuries and Hayward has to play 30 minutes a game, his scoring average could reach 13 to 15 ppg. Hayward probably isn't a star, but he should be a valuable role player who scores when needed to score.

AL JEFFERSON: He might be lost within the offense, but he's right at home under the hoop. Like Boozer, he follows his misses. Unlike Boozer, he is able to follow the shot with a combination of power and a soft touch.

ANDREI KIRILENKO: Somehow, he looks more lost than ever on offense. His defense on Kevin Durant was terrific in the third game. His entire game was terrible in the first two contests. AK is Utah's version of JR Smith -- he'll either light it up, or hold the Jazz down.

CJ MILES: Overcame downright failure quicker than he usually does, which could be a good sign. Like Kirilenko, you can't expect anything from him, game in and game out. Hopefully he will show up at opportune times for the Jazz, scoring when the rest of the players are struggling. Sunk three huge 3-pointers against Toronto.

PAUL MILLSAP: Playing exactly like the Jazz need him to. He might not big enough or fast enough to be a go-to scorer, but he forces defenses to keep an eye on him the entire time. He'll either get his points, or open up the lane for his teammates. His jumper keeps improving.

RONNIE PRICE: Finds himself as the Jazz's third-best point guard once again. Might prove valuable at shooting guard against teams with a small backcourt. Could form a good fight-starting duo with Elson.

EARL WATSON: He has been much better than Jason Hart and Brevin Knight were their first month in the Jazz system. Runs the offense well and can hit a mid-range jumper.

DERON WILLIAMS: Nice game against the Thunder. We kind of know what we get from Williams. He needs to control the tempo and maintain order in the midst of chaos.

* * * * *

Goodbye Mr. Gaines

2010-10-21T18:21:00.002-06:00

Sundianatello Gaines was cut by the Utah Jazz today. Last year he was responsible for one of the most exciting wins in Jazz history, and as far as I know he's the only Ninja Turtle to ever don an NBA uniform.

Pau Gasol wishes he were this handsome

2010-06-09T08:23:00.003-06:00

Book him: Pau Gasol Impersonator dot com

Hey, D-Will, drop the B.A.

2010-05-27T15:55:00.005-06:00

My friend Jordan just e-mailed me about a run-in he had this afternoon with the Deron Williams:

"So I just ran into Deron Williams at Foothill Village while I was at lunch. I was approaching my car as he was getting into his (we had parked right next to each other). As I got to my car, I absent-mindedly waved to him, as if he would recognize me. He made eye contact, but no return gesture—not even a courtesy wave back.

I understand DWILL isn’t the friendliest guy, but I still felt like such a loser."

He asked that DWILL be left in all caps. Done.

To answer your first question: Yes, it was an Escalade.

But, surprisingly, it isn't black or off-white. In Jordan's own words:

"It’s a weird maroon color with black 22s and lo-pros. Plus those weird bluish halogen headlights."

Jordan continues: "When I pulled up next to it, I thought to myself, 'that is a hideous car.' Then when I saw that a young guy was driving it, I muttered under my breath, 'what a jerk.' It was after all of this that I recognized it was DWILL and made my friendly gesture."

Seriously, DWILL, you'd be a whole lot prettier if you'd smile once in a while. Rockabye.

There is only one good outcome from tonight's lottery

2010-05-18T09:12:00.005-06:00

The 2010 NBA Draft is short on greatness but seems loaded with role players. If they Jazz don't get the #1 pick, they might as well pick 20th, or even 30th.

Evan Turner is a really nice player, but probably not nice enough to be a team's star player. I really like that he spent three years playing college hoops, but he only seemed a little better than everyone else, not head-and-shoulders above them. He would be an excellent fit on the Jazz, but if they get the number two pick, Utah could likely get much more in a trade than they would out of Turner.

Even John Wall is suspect. If he can't handle not getting enough cuddle time with John Calipari, then he will have trouble with the put-out of Jerry Sloan.

If the Jazz draw anything above #9, they should trade it.

I predict the Philadelphia 76ers will win the #1 spot.

2009-2010: In Memorium

2010-05-11T23:50:00.004-06:00

"Not like this. Not like this."

Those were my thoughts in the closing seconds of Game 4 of the Lakers series, when I saw Sundianatello Gaines, Othyus "Johnny Highpants" Jeffers, and Kosta Hufflepuff Koufos stripping off their warm-ups to get into the game. Thus would end Utah's 2009-2010 campaign.

Not like this.

That's not how I wanted the team to go down. Before the start of the game I wanted to be hopeful. I wanted to think they could at least give the home fans one victory before ultimately falling to the Lakers. My hopes were realistic. I didn't have any fantasies of the 2004 Red Sox. I knew that the Jazz weren't coming out of the series. Going into Game 4 I looked at the Jazz like a sick ol' hound settin' by the fire, each breath a wheez, each movement a symphony of creaky bones. You don't want that old dog to go, but you know that it's his time.

Jim Rome said it after Game 1. To paraphrase: "The Jazz are going to work. They're going to battle. They're going to give you toughness, and heart, and they're going to play as hard as they can for the full 48 minutes. But in the end, they just don't match up. They don't have what it takes to beat the Lakers." I knew, deep down inside, that Rome was right. I wasn't without hope, but my expectations were realistic.

Still... not like this.

But what's done is done. Despite my plea, yes, in fact, exactly like this. And now it's over, and it's time to move on.

The 2009-2010 season was a special one for me. Oddly enough I actually missed the first game of the season, choosing instead to honor an ill-timed commitment to a group of new friends. Those people have since become much better friends and I'm actually glad I hung out with them that night. The Jazz lost badly to the Denver Nuggets. Lee texted me early on to tell me of an awesome jam by Memo (or could it have been Fes?) and I was bummed that I missed it. But after hearing of the final score I was confused... the Jazz are supposed to be great this season. How did they lose the opener to Denver? Denver's window is closed, right?

I mentioned that first game, hanging out with new friends. But from that point forward I was there every step of the way with my two best friends and Jazz viewing companions. Together we watched, I dunno, 80% of the games this season? I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. This season had some great moments. Some of the greatest in Jazz history, and they just wouldn't have been the same if I was only watching the nightly highlights or reading about the games in the paper. To me, the essence of the Jazz are Jerry Sloan, Ron Boone, and my crew. Wouldn't have it any other way.

What moments this season had!

- Eric Maynor and Wesley Matthews getting minutes early in the season - when the season looked like it may turn out to be a disaster - and showing that yes, those kids can play.

- Inexplicably, Eric Maynor was traded early in the season. I thought it was a joke at first. A prank. I was so angry. Devastated even. I considered boycotting the Jazz for the rest of the season. I felt betrayed. Worked out in the end, I suppose.

- Things turning around in December, the Jazz playing with fire, with passion, with fluid skill.

- Early on, they beat San Antonio. Then they beat San Antonio again. They beat San Antonio at home. They beat San Antonio FOUR TIMES.

- The green retro unis, debuting in an otherwise nondescript game against Indiana. Those uniforms. Oh those uniforms. When I see them I'm still stunned by their beauty, their classic simplicity. Those were easily the best uniforms in basketball this season.

- Phoenix is maybe the best team in the NBA at the moments, and they gave us a drubbing in the last regular season game that remains my personal worst live sporting experience of all time. But we had dramatic come from behind wins against them twice this season, wins that made you believe anything was possible.

- A late Sunday night, double-overtime win against the Trailblazers, another improbable come from behind win. The best game of the season, I dare say.

- Other great things about this season:

- Wesley Matthews, obviously.

- David Locke doing the radio play-by-play. He's not trying to fill Hot Rod's shoes, which is the wise move. He can make any game sound like a thriller, and maybe sometimes goes too far with the excitement but hey, it's radio. You gotta make it more exciting to make up for the lack of movin' pic-a-tures.

- speaking of, I listened to 1320 k-fan practically all day for the entire season. I'd turn it on in the morning at work and let it go all day long. 1320 has a really strong line-up right now.

- This season, more than any in recent memory, showed us why Jerry Sloan is a great coach. Suffer no delusions: he IS a great coach. Any of the tired old arguments against him don't mean a thing. "He doesn't play young players," "He doesn't let the team have fun," "He doesn't allow slam dunks," "He's never won a championship." The only one of those that's even true is the last one, but you know, a lot of great coaches and players have never won a championship. It's hard and rare to win a championship. That's why it's called a championship. There was a game where David Locke pointed to the players on the floor, during a game in which the Jazz were winning handily, and pointed out: "2nd round, 2nd round, 2nd round, undrafted, undrafted." Can you think of any other coach that could accomplish so much with that kind of roster?

- CJ Miles's tweets. I love this man. His twitter comments can sometimes be inexplicable, baffling, ridiculous, but more than anything they remind that he's a human, he's a kid, he's doing what he loves.

- Speaking of, CJ Miles played so well in the playoffs. His potential is finally becoming true skill. I'm proud of my boy.

- Gotta give a shout-out to number 1 Jazz fan and Sloan'd Blog's official mascot, Pail Millsap aka my brother Mikey. I enjoyed our late night Jazz talks, even when they went on for way to long. Follow him on twitter at @realmsampson.

- Seriously, those green uniforms.

- Oh yeah, this too.

This season I got more enjoyment out of the Jazz than I can ever remember. I cared more about the team than I ever have in my whole life (and I've always cared about the Jazz) and I suffered the heartache with the rest of you, but I'm glad I was there for it. I'm thankful for my Utah Jazz.

Now I'm exhausted. Wake me for the draft.

Are you a man or a mouse?

2010-05-10T18:19:00.000-06:00

From today's Salt Lake Tribune (Ross Siler):

"Sloan talked about resisting the urge to quit after Saturday's loss, saying of his players, "I'd really be disappointed in them as people if they did that and didn't come and play as hard as they can."

For the record and what it's worth, the Jazz are 2-0 against the Lakers on May 10th, and both victories were a little on the improbable side.

So, there's that. Will we be talking draft or Game 5 in the next few days?

Lakers beat Spurs yesterday, according to Yah.....oops!

2010-05-03T07:40:00.003-06:00

I guess you have to click to enlarge.

There's pride at ESA

2010-04-30T19:04:00.003-06:00

I'm not too bummed the Utah Jazz lost Game 5 on Wednesday. They had a three-games-to-one lead in the series, and were playing on the Denver Nuggets' home floor. It's a tough spot, and Utah had already done their lower-seed duty and stolen a game at the Pepsi Center. With Game 6 being at ESA in Salt Lake City, the Jazz didn't need to win the 5th game.

I also figured the Nuggets would give it one last try before summer vacation. Unless the Jazz jumped all over them in the first quarter, Denver probably wouldn't be inclined to bro-hug the season goodbye. Carmelo Anthony wanted to envelop his head with a headband at least once more. Chauncey Billups wasn't ready to stop lubricating his entire body, even if the KY purchases are adding up (as they often do towards the end of the long season). JR Smith needed a few more days of freedom before orchestrating his next run-in with officers of the law. Arron Afflalo would like a little more time to work on getting his personality in offseason shape so he can further maximize the benefits of being one of the most handsome fellows in the NBA.

I knew there was too much at stake for the Nuggets to simply bow down to His Majesty (Sloan), but what the earth was that fourth quarter? Deron Williams took the first path he saw to the basket--EVERY SINGLE TIME. Well, almost. When he did let other Jazz touch the oversized-inside-out cantaloupe (a basketball is not a pumpkin), they did their best to get quick, unwise shots off (Kyle Korver, CJ Miles) or miss (Paul Millsap, even Carlos Boozer a few times).

Utah fell apart mentally and physically after hanging in the game in the 3rd quarter, despite the Nuggets best efforts. Williams was sucking air (along with sucking it up). Boozer let himself get lost. Matthews, Korver and Miles weren't taking turns screwing up. Millsap kept missing lay-ups.

Game 5 reminded me of the 3rd quarter of the 26 March loss to the Indiana Pacers, which I was listening to the on 1320 KFAN. Jazz play-by-play announcer David Locke was making a rook mistake and not announcing the time left in the game. It is an intangible that will come more natural next year. Anyway, he was all but declaring the game over, Jazz win. I honestly thought the game was in the final three or four minutes. I think he called Williams the "king of the world" once. Slowly the Pacers slimmed the lead. No worries from him, so no fear grew within me. I think I heard him start winding up his wires, Urbanspooning on his smart phone for a place to eat after the game, and Googling the lyrics to Ke$ha's "Tik Tok" for new phrases to use in his play-by-play.

(My favorites: "got up like P. Diddy" after a dunk, "Don't stop, make it pop" and "D-Will blow my speakers up" when Williams does anything good [these line would be further enhanced if preceded with the word "please"], and "Tick, tock on the clock, but the party won't stop" when the Jazzmen have a nice little run going)*.

It turned out that the game was only in the 3rd quarter. Indiana kept chopping down Utah's lead, then, Timber. By the time I arrived home, the Jazz were down by double digits, and it never got any better. The Pacers won, 122-106.

The Jazz up three games to one is similar. A lot of people were calling the series over. Even after the loss, people aren't worried. Salt Lake Tribune columnist Kurt Kragthorpe wrote the next day that "winning was basically optional" for the Jazz. Rather than worry about the Nuggets putting the Jazz in a Game 6 that is Game-7-like, like he did in today's paper, I think Kragthorpe was too busy "talking about everybody getting crunk, crunk." (Ke$ha, again)

True, the Jazz could afford to lose Game 5, but they played like a team that knew they didn't have to win. I'm sure they wanted to win, but the didn't seem ready to grind for a win. This is what irked me.

Every single playoff game is important. Trust me, I'm a Yankees fan. If Game 4 wasn't blown in 2004, then Game 5, Game 6 and Game 7 never happen. Curt Schilling never uses the clubhouse ketchup as a dramatic device. Bill Simmons never parlays that win into thinking he is the world's absolute expert on everything, and the first two chapters of his Book of Basketball probably aren't written in a way that makes me like Larry Bird a little bit less.

What if JR Smith and Carmelo Anthony are white hot grease fires of pure entertainment and can't miss tonight? Even if all Jazzmen play well, they'll probably lose by double digits.

What if Nene-less Nuggets are better suited to beat Utah? With him out, the Denver lineup gets long and lean. Although I still don't understand it, Mr. Boozer and Killsap have a hard time with tall, thin dudes. As good as everyone makes Andrew Bynum out to be, the Jazz do better against the Los Angeles Lakers when he is in the lineup, which he rarely is (I'm 50/50 that Phil Jackson makes up Bynum injuries when the Lakers play the Jazz). (Best case scenario, the Nene-less Nuggets will be a good warm-up for Booze and Kill's 2nd-round match-up with L.A.)

With Buh-Buh-Buh-Billups, Melo and Smith, Denver is always a threat to play so well that they are unbeatable. The Jazz cannot assume they will win just because of how tough it is to play at ESA. If they do, this series might end up like that Indiana game in late-March.

* = Despite his weird dedication to downplaying Big Impact's good performances, I like Lockheim. I believe he raised the standards of a set-in-their-ways SLC media. His play-by-play has improved throughout the season. It's so odd not hearing Hot Rod Hundley, but Locke should be pretty good once he finds his voice. The Lady GaGa on Boozer's block, then slam vs. the Celtics was deplorable, though.

---

Speaking of JR Smith, Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla wrote this after the Nuggets Game 5 win:

Now here is one small, revealing scene that tells you that Denver might be as sweet as a Twinkie, but also full of fluff at its core.

It was halftime of Game 3 in Utah, with the Jazz on the way to a 2-1 lead in the series. J.R. Smith emerged from the visitors' locker room and began warming up his shooting arm, as players have done since the NBA's infancy.

But here's what was odd: Smith decided he would practice bouncing the ball in the basket. Not just once or twice. In a stunt indicating he might have a promising future as a team mascot dressed in a goofy, furry suit, Smith pounded the ball off the floor toward the rim at least a dozen times.

On the Utah bench, veteran coach Jerry Sloan and his Jazz assistants could barely suppress laughter as Smith made a joke of the warm-ups. This childish display did not go unnoticed by a Nuggets official, and it made him fume with anger.

So go ahead and scream your fool head off in appreciation for the thunder dunk by Smith in the fourth quarter, a slam that rattled the rim and stamped the exclamation point on Denver's victory in Game 5.

Smith represents exactly what these Nuggets are: fool's gold.

Beautiful. I think Kiszla just made JR Smith's list of things to do in the offseason.

to take away some of the sting of tonight's loss

2010-04-29T00:33:00.003-06:00

(via slwn3d correspondent Pail Millsap. Follow him on twitter at @realmsampson)

Jazz must take advantage of the homecourt advantage shift

2010-04-23T17:57:00.004-06:00

In an article about the NHL playoffs, E.J. Hradek wrote that since 1998 each Stanley Cup-winning starting goalie had a save percentage of at least 90%. "You don't build a percentage like that just by making all the routine stops," Hradek wrote. "You build it by also coming through with the spectacular save at the critical moment."

The Utah Jazz did the spectacular by stealing homecourt advantage away from the Denver Nuggets on Monday. Really, it was spectacular. First, the Jazz won in Denver, which has been a struggle for them. Second, they didn't wait until the series was out of hand to start fighting back, like they have in the last few playoff rounds.

Now, they head back home to what might seem like the routine: Win two games at home. But it isn't routine, and if Utah considers it that way, they will probably find themselves on the business end of the Nuggets pulling off "the spectacular". That is, retaking the favorable homecourt circumstance.

Winning Game 2 in Denver was an impressive feat, and it was indeed spectacular, but it gets canceled out if Denver gets all spectacular in Game 3 or 4.

The Jazz need to realize a few things. One, the ESA (I abbreviate because Energy Solutions hates it) hasn't been the Impenetrable Fortress that Larry Built like it has been the last few seasons. Two, Denver won in ESA without Carmelo Anthony and without Chauncey Billups. It was one of the two biggest WTF losses the Jazz had this season. The other was to the Bryant-less Lakers on 10 February.

Utah must protect Larry's house. (I use that phase in mockery. Under Armor has yet to become anything other than Douchebagwear. Click, clack.) Here are three factors to doing so, and thereby adding a capital 's' to the spectacular they have already done.

Replacing Okur

A lot about Okur won't be replaced. Namely, his shooting and the gumption to mock Kobe Bryant.

But without him, the Jazz can clog the middle a little bit with Fesenko and sometimes Koufos, or they can put Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap on the floor at the same time for large chunks of time. These two can be an effective tandem the more Boozer's injury heals and if Millsap starts making free throws.

By the way, I hate that NBA teams can go from Monday to Friday without playing, but it has to be a good thing for the Jazz this year on account of Mr. Boozer and other dinged Jazz having three days to take it a little easier.

CJ Miles and Kyle Korver need to continue to make huge plays on offense, and Miles needs to continue to irritate Carmelo Anthony.

Breaking the press

I was going to make what I felt was an astute observation, but I caught part of 1320 KFAN's Locked on Sports Rewind yesterday wherein David Locke made the same point, only he also had statistics to back it up. Anyway, the press by Denver on Monday was genius. A few days later, I remembered that George Karl did the same thing to John Stockton when Karl was the Seattle Supersonics coach.

There was really only one point guard who was in Stockton's league in the 1990s, Gary Payton. He and Stockton had some good head-to-head playoff and regular season matchups. What made playing Seattle even more difficult for the Jazz (along with Detlef Schrempf out-classing Bryon Russell), was an incredible 3/4-court press. It almost always killed the momentum of the Utah's offense. Stockton would have to attack the press to make two player commit to defending him, then dribble backwards to reset the offense and find someone to pass the ball to or an open spot to penetrate in order to get the ball across halfcourt. A lot of time it was fun to watch Stockton break the press down, but it was also a difficult watch because there were times where the press was impossible to break. The only team against whom Stockton didn't control the pace of play was the Supersonics.

I'm getting kind of confident that my Nuggets-in-six prediction is going to be incorrect.

Don't worry, tired Jazz, the postseason will be short

2010-04-17T19:23:00.004-06:00

I keep assuming the Utah Jazz are going to defeat the Denver Nuggets in the playoff series that starts tonight. It is dumb. First, I was assuming the Jazz would beat the Los Angeles Lakers a few weeks ago--on the road. Second, when I think about what wins a playoff matchup, the Jazz don't really have any edges over the Nuggs, besides coaching.

Elite Player in the Series

Carmelo Anthony. This isn't even close. Anthony averaged 28.2 points per game against the entire NBA this season and 33.5 against the Jazz (in two games). Worse yet, Utah has not shown any ability to control this man. I forgot, does he still wear a headband? I seem to remember him ending that fashion practice. If he has stopped, I like him 20 percent more than if he still wears it.

Health

Edge: Nuggets

Kenyon Martin has been hurt recently, and but is back. He might be slowed a bit, but his anger is the most important thing he brings to the Denver squadron.
The Jazz are still missing Andrei Kirilenko. Their best player, Carlos Boozer, is back but hurting. Mehmet Okur has been playing hurt recently. Deron Williams is probably ailing too. His ball handling, passing and decision making have been to sketchy over the last 10 games for nothing to be wrong with him. Then again, maybe he is just really sad that Ronnie Brewer is no longer a Jazz.

Momentum

Edge: Neither. Both were 6-4 over the final 10 games. The Jazz only played good in one of those games, versus Oklahoma City. Even in that game, though, the defense was non-existent.

Leadership

Edge: Denver.

Denver has Chauncey Billups, the Jazz kind of have Boozer, and sometimes Williams. Wesley Matthews will probably take his place as the Utah's leader sometime next season, but he is still a rookie and I think Williams would hate a rookie telling him to sack up a bit.

Toughness

Edge: Denver

Martin, Nene, Chris Anderson and Billups are tougher than Boozer, Matthews, Williams, Paul Millsap and Ronnie Price. I wish this were closer than it is. Maybe Matthews will inspire his teammates. Matthews is good Jazz.

Athletes

Edge: Nuggets

The Jazz aren't as nonathletic as most think, but they don't stack up with Anthony, Anderson, Martin, JR Smith and Nene

Shooters

Edge: Denver

The Jazz have Okur, Kyle Korver, Williams, Matthews and Calvin Miles. All can be good shooters, but none are automatic. For Denver, Anthony won't be stopped. Then there is JR Smith. Which brings us to....

The Wildcard

Edge: Denver

This could also be the ticking time bomb. JR Smith can light any team up. He will probably win one game by himself this series.

Coaching

Edge: Utah

Jerry Sloan versus an interim coach is not even fair. Hopefully Adrian Dantley will blow a close game.

See what I mean? The Jazz are toast.

Denver also has homecourt. Utah is a better road team, but they have been terrible in Denver.

Prediction: Denver in 6

For the Jazz to win this series:

1)Someone needs to catch fire. This is unlikely. Utah's offense has been pretty bad lately.
2)Boozer's injury can't be a factor. He needs to be able to extend on his post shots.
3)The Jazz be scared in the playoffs like the have been the last two years. They have a tendency to avoid making passes that involve even the slightest risk. So, they never make a pass into the post, or a pass off penetration.
4)Matthews needs to guard Anthony, and do a good job. Kirilenko wouldn't stop Anthony, so maybe it is a good thing he is out for the series. It might force Matthews to defend Anthony. Matthews is a much better on-the-ball defender than Kirilenko.
5) Someone needs to start a fight in one of the first two games. I nominate Kyle Korver, but it will probably be Price.

I'm still assuming victory, but I know that I am just being an (J)azz.

Maybe the loss to the Lakers wasn't all THAT bad?

2010-04-02T09:09:00.002-06:00

Maybe I'm just making lemonade, but that loss to the Los Angeles Lakers right before the All-Star break might have been a good thing for the Utah Jazz in their (one-sided, little-brother) rivalry with the Lakers.

It was Wednesday, February 10, year of our Lord 2010. It had been one of those days, and I considered skipping the Jazz-Lakers game because a) the Jazz were at home, b) Kobe Bryant was out with an injury, and c) the Jazz were playing the best basketball the franchise has seen since Malone and Stockton were around. This game was going to not only be a blow-out, but one where Jazz fans proclaimed an end to the Lakers' domination of the Utah team. Nothing about this game was going to be good or worthwhile. I didn't really want to be a part of it.

The Lakers started hot, and game got out of hand early. For most of the game, the Jazz seemed like they were a nice run away from being within striking distance of the Lakers. The run never happened. In fact, the Utah never even got started, and Los Angeles outscored the Jazz in every quarter but the fourth--when the game was over. Utah had quarters of 18, 23, 16 and 24 points. The final: Lakers 96, Jazz 81.

This loss was very disheartening. The Jazz not only had their nine-game winning streak halted, they also lost a game that wasn't expected to be close. It was a terrible loss, but maybe something good will come of it. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.

Since the Boozer-Okur-Williams era started, Bryant has been considered the only reason Utah has been unable to beat the Lakers. Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol are good, but not particularly terrifying fellows to face. Derek Fisher is nobody's All-Star (except Deron Williams'). Ron Artest is showing how hard it is for a star player to down-shift to a role player. Andrew Bynum has “potential”.

Bryant is the best player in the NBA, and it isn't even close. Kevin Durant isn't quite ready to supplant him. One of the drawbacks to having a great player like Bryant is his teammates' tendency to sit back and watch him make all the plays. The Lakers don't seem to have this problem.

When facing a player as great as Bryant, the other team can fall into the same trap as his own teammates. The opponents sometimes spend so much of their attention watching the defense of the player assigned to Bryant, waiting for the defender to mess up, so they can try to help out. This is a horrible way to play defense. In football, a defense sets up a bit of a wall. To make offensive progress, the offense needs to weaken the wall and go through it, or find a way around it. Defense in basketball is similar, though less literally. A defense needs to be ready for Bryant to beat his man, but when they focus their brain on it they, as a whole, become less firm, more movable.

This misguided focus comes from fear. Fear cannot play defense, and it also affects offense. “If we don't score here, the other team will score, and our deficit will get larger (or our lead, should we be so lucky, will get smaller).”

Kobe Bryant gets in the Jazz's head when the Lakers are on offense, and he stays when the Jazz are on offense. Even when he is on the bench, Utah feels the pressure to make something happen during that small window of time.

So, what might the Jazz have learned by losing without this fear? Well, hopefully that they were letting Kobe beat him a lot more than he actually was.

By giving so much attention to how Bryant was being guarded, Utah essentially made his main defender their star player. In past years, this was BruBru, who the Jazz just traded for a second round draft pick. Not a star player.

Now that they know Los Angeles can wipe the floor with them without Eagle County's favorite tourist, the rest of the Jazz players should now realize that they all have their own challenges to face. Bryant will be dealt with when he needs to be.

Mr. Boozer needs to realize that length shouldn't be so hard for power to dominate. There are many “long” NBA players who never became more than bench players because they kept getting over-powered by stronger, usually smaller players.

Williams can't let his respect for Fisher shrink the talent gap between the two players. Fisher has never been a good player. He is average. He was they one who was left open on the Shaq-Kobe Lakers teams. He was the veteran on a bad Warriors team. He was the fellow who missed every single shot he took in a Jazz uniform, save for a few in the playoff series against the Golden State. Even his leadership gets overrated. Remember the long losing streaks the Jazz had at the end of the season when he was in Utah? Larry Miller had to point out that they “sucked.” The best thing he did for the Jazz was to leave them and let them give a real shooting guard a shot.

Each Jazz needs to simplify his role. They have to stop (mentally) defending Bryant when they are on offense. On defense, they need to stop thinking that Bryant is their problem. Calvin Miles or Andrei Kirilenko need to focus on Artest. Williams only has to stop Fisher, or Dry Farmar. Mr. Boozer and Okur need only pay heed to Gasol or Odom or Bynum. Ronnie Price should be deciding which Laker player he wants to start a fight with, and nothing more. On offense, they need to work towards outscoring these players, which most of them should be able to do.

Utah now knows that perhaps they had their match-up with the Lakers all twisted. It isn't if-we-can-stop-Bryant-we-should-win, it is now we-need-to-outplay-the-other-players-first-then-work-on-Kobe. This can make a difference. The Jazz have the offensive firepower to compete with the Lakers, but none of them can outscore Bryant individually.

Or it could have been a terrible loss and the Jazz are in more trouble with the Lakers than they ever have been. Like I said, I might be making lemonade.

Enjoy this:

Kenny The Jazz Smith----->Andrew Bogut------->(not) Jerry Sloan

2010-04-01T07:49:00.002-06:00

Carlos Boozer's awkward attempt at the hip-hop

2010-03-30T11:26:00.013-06:00

What the earth is Boozer saying to the New York Post?

"I love D'Antoni, he's the dope," Boozer said. "Spending time with him in the Olympics, his offensive mindset is unbelievable. He's got the best plays I've ever been around -- on a whim. It's like rappers when they come out on the top of the dome with quotes. He's got plays in the back of his head with plays for that moment."
I'm no square. I listen to a good amount of hip-hop. But I got Boozer's words all twisted. The one thing I do get is that he things D'Antoni has the best offensive plays Boozer has seen, or "been around," as he so uneloquently put it.

1) Really? The best? Like, the best besides the team you are on right now?
2) Really? The best? Like, the best at not having actual plays?
3) Why would anyone want to play for a D'Antoni team without Steve Nash involved? Sure, the high numbers will get you a fatty check, but after a few years, players in this type of system always seem to be called out as a fraud. "Sure, he's getting those numbers, but it's based on the system he is in." Playing for the Suns or Knicks is like playing for Texas Tech's football team (back when Mike Leach was the coach). Nobody respects your performance after awhile. Ask Amare Stoudemire. Even the Suns, his own team, thinks he is a fraud.

Plus, you never win in the playoffs when you are with D'Antoni.

Why does Mr. Boozer talk like this with the New York Post, but not with the local media? Actually, "Mr. Boozer" is New York Times-style, not New York Post-style. I am hereby naming Boozer's Post persona, "Boozah". I understand this nickname is about as original Boozah calling D'Antoni "the dope". That's kind of the point.

I am, however, feeling this quote from the same article:
Boozer walked out the arena yesterday's morning shootaround wearing a Yankees ballcap --
the same fashion statement of James. "I'm a Yankees fan," Boozer said.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/boozer_intrigued_by_possibility_URPzYYgZj0KxHtmrZsmYuM#ixzz0jgPn3c7B

Good job, Mr. Boozer.

I like Jay-Z, but this song is better without him:

The latest Alicia Keys album (The Element of Freedom) is so good, and holds the distinction as the only R&B album I own.

Sundiata Gaines set the mood

2010-03-03T22:32:00.005-07:00

Text message from B during a conversation about babies and their names: "I predict that we're going to see a huge spike in birth rates around Sept. 15. Nine months after Sundiata Gaines hit that shot."

RE: Williams----->Small changes, big pay-off

2010-03-03T09:35:00.006-07:00

In the post before last, superstar reader Holdinator wrote:

"This summer will be a lot more interesting for the Jazz than last summer, and I'm not sure I think that's a good thing. It's so fascinating to me that the best thing the Jazz did this past summer was sign Wes Matthews. They don't have either of their draft picks, but they have this rookie free agent starting for them, and doing a decent job.

I'm looking for some consistency from Deron. Last night's game against the Clippers was awful. It was almost an identical performance to the Kings game, and that makes me nervous."

I respond to the second paragraph first, then the first, second:

When he went to the free throw line last night, I knew Defense Williams would miss one. I wasn't prepared for him to miss both.

I started paying close attention to his last-second(-ish) shooting last year. He never makes them, and they seem to miss the exactly same way every time: bounce off the right front of the rim, ricochet off the backboard, hit the rim somewhere and then go to a rebounder. A person would think that he would make finally make one, but his time has not yet come.

I know that he hit one against the Cavs a few years back, but I can't think of any others. He also hit a clutch shot in the last minute of the playoff win last year. Perhaps he was due. I was hoping that meant he had gotten over whatever mental block was affecting him, but alas, he has not. Karl Malone is known by even Jazz fans as a choker for missing two free throws.

Defense Williams is generally good at making passes in crunch-time, but has also made some terrible ones. Remember on New Year's Eve when he passed the ball to Ronnie Price? I'm not confident in Williams in the waning seconds, but Price is even worse.

Williams also had that flop on Kaman's perfectly fine screen. Sure, Baron Davis probably would have still scored, but you can't just let your man go free to the hoop like that when you are down by more than one possession.

Not Defense Williams' finest moments. Some of his worst, in fact.

A lot of Jazz fans seem to think the Jazz need to "blow up" the roster every time they have a terrible stretch. This is stupid. Well, I guess I need to know what they mean by "blow up". If they mean get different role players, then I guess I can get behind the "blow up". But that is like a pretty weak explosion. If they mean get rid of Boozer, Williams or Okur (if just for the heck of it), then it is a stupid idea. Getting players as good as Boozer and Williams isn't easy--especially a big man like Boozer. You might as well blow up the Delta Center if you are going to be that hardcore about making a change. It is way too drastic.

If you are a fan pyro, the best to hope for is holding on to Boozer and Williams, probably Okur too, and tweak things here and there. Because of how vital and awesome I think Matthews is, I think he should be held onto at all costs.

This speaks to your point about their best offseason move being the discovery and signing of Wesley Matthews. A little move can make a huge difference.

It also makes me excited to see what the next little move is. (see: the post before last)

-----

How about another track that references a Jazz player?

At 2:07:

It’s like that [fellow] Jordan, I’m Scottie Pippen
It’s like Magic, Worthy
Parish, Bird be
Stockton, Malone ish

the illest

2010-03-02T18:22:00.000-07:00

Sundiata Gaines changed my life

2010-02-27T10:02:00.010-07:00

Sundiata Gaines has made the signing of a 13th players a suddenly exciting thing. See, there the Utah Jazz were going toe-to-toe with the Cleve Cavs, getting punched and returning in kind. Then Deron Williams went down in the second quarter...uh, I'll just let the Turks take it from here (translated from Turkish to English, thanks to Microsoft Windows):

nbdlin idaho wearing uniform utah jazz'shortages on the following guard played in the nba was a chance finding. The 10-day contracts signed during the first 4 in the first game of spades, although output and 5 assists a game multiplier göza although many also did not exhibit. 2. 10-day contract was signed yesterday and the same evening the match played in cleveland williams deron also injured in last second field at the last second quarter and the game was earned.

it was a chance to smile said:

1. deron williams was injured
2. 2 issues were front and 15 seconds before parker cleveland missed free throw 1
3. 6 seconds into the back of the pot before Korver very difficult to withdraw from the obligation found şutla basket
4. Ilgauskas has missed free throw 1
5. normally had to throw korver'ın last second shot, but when it comes compression price'a ronnie gave him the ball the compression came gaines'e was passed. nba career attempt in the 4th quarter before Gaines hit us in the face at the quarter and sent Parker's hand and gave the match.

I watched the video again and realized two things:
1) That Mo Williams looked back (like Lot's wife) at the celebration, and smiled. Either he appreciated the moment or he longed for the days when he wasn't playing in Cleve or Milwaukee.
2) How controversial this shot was. I suggest you read the comments. If salty language offends, I advise that you click "Options" next to "Text Comments" and click the 'Hide objectionable words' box.

Anyway, I've been following the names being thrown around to replace Ronnie Brewer's spot on the Utah Jazz roster. One name that was mentioned was Brian Cardinal. He was only brought as a player that is available, not necessarily someone the Jazz would pursue. I did some research on him, since I haven't heard much of him since he was in Memphis. I learned that before getting bought out by the Knicks (I think), Brian Cardinal was making $6.7MIL this year.

Cardinal is not a worthless player by any means. He hustles and can shoot from the outside. A poor man's Matt Harpring perhaps. But, $6.7 million? It's ridiculous.

Hustle players like Cardinal are critical components of good NBA teams, but a team cannot over-pay for a hustle player. You cannot over-pay for any role player. They are crucial, but also expendable.

Look at what Kevin O'Connor did to Ronnie Brewer. BruBru will be a free agent after this season. He makes $2.7MIL this year. Not bad, maybe even a steal. But, he'll expect bigger paychecks. In a typical free agent year, Brewer shouldn't get more than $4.5MIL per year. A player who has been a starter for three years on a good team might take offense to an offer like that. If so, the Jazz could get a nice burn in by saying, "It's about time you get offensive."

This isn't a normal free agent year, though. The Jazz have choices to make, the biggest being how to clear salary so they can re-sign Carlos Boozer. Utah can't even offer $4.5MIL per to Brewer. As awesome has he has played since the year turned, he offers nothing that isn't replaceable. So, the Jazz made a great trade that will bring a future 1st-round pick--or money since people have gotten wise to KOC's plan of waiting for another team's draft pick to turn into a lottery position (a GM can pull a ruse like this when he knows he has job security and will be around to reap the benefit). Essentially, the Jazz got something for nothing.

Unless Boozer hates playing here so much that he wants to take a pay cut, he should be back next season. Considering his recent statements about hoping the Jazz are “aggressive” in bringing him back, Boozer seems to want to be a Jazz for a few years longer or he wants to get the largest amount of money possible. Either way, it appears re-signing Boozer is up to the Jazz

More money probably needs to be freed up, though. First, Kyle Korver might not be back, especially if the Jazz use the Knick's pick to get a swingman. But, they'll need to replace him in some way. Also, Wesley Matthews needs to be re-signed. Decisions need to be made about Kryrylo Fesenko and Gaines, who will both free agents. Korver would also need to be replaced in some (relatively cheap) way.

Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur seem like the the most likely to be traded. Probably not Okur, unless the Jazz draft a center and feel comfortable with Fesenko and Kosta Koufos being the veteran big men. Then again, Boozer could also spend more time at center.

I think it should be Kirilenko. He has played so well, and his contract will be expiring after next season. Unlike last offseason, he is tradeable. AK knows he will be taking a pay-cut after next season, but how will he feel when he is offered maybe as low as a third of what he is getting paid now? Likely it will be closer to half of his current pay rate, but there is a chance he goes from a max player to a borderline mid-level exception player. It is really hard for a contributing player to take a large pay-cut from their current team. It is even harder for their agent to be convinced.

Even though he is playing his best basketball ever, the Jazz should probably pull the trigger on a trade involving AK, if they can find a buyer (I know, big “if”). Otherwise, they risk getting nothing for him.

Some people think Millsap is the tradebait. I thought so too earlier in the season. But, Millsap can do almost everything AK can, and only makes $6.2MIL, $6.7MIL and $7.2MIL in the next three years. Barring injury, massive weight gain or a sulking about not starting de-motivating him, Killsap (new nickname update below) is a bargain. Well, he will be a bargain. Right now he is kind of a rip-off.

Then again, if the Jazz break out of this funk they seem to be in, finish the season strong and make a nice playoff run, Greg Miller and Randy Rigby might be willing to shell out some luxury tax to see if this team can win a championship in 2010-11.

-----

This blog died for a few weeks because B had a cold, then passed it my way. It should finish the season strong, though.

Holdinator made an interesting observation during the All-Star Game.

"The one thought I had during the game was that the East players seem to like each other, whereas the West players all kind of hate each other. Maybe that's because the West is really competitive and everyone in the East wants LeBron to win the title."

I didn't catch it myself, but it gives me a reason to watch next year's All-Star game. It's probably true.

-----

Nickname update:

Paul Millsap = Killsap. This comes from Sloan'd promoter/mascot Mike S, who is known my some as Pail Millsap. Anyway, Pail sometimes plays video games with CJ Miles, Ronnie Brewer (R.I.P.) and Paul Millsap. Pail reports that BruBru (R.I.P.) and Miles are talkative, but Millsap rarely says anything. I concluded that he is focused on destroying enemies. Hence, Killsap.

Deron Williams = Defense Williams. This came after Deron's near shut-down of Brandon Roy at the end of last Sunday's epic comeback against the Portland Trailblazers.

Kryrylo Fesenko = Big Impact. My brother told me his friend bestowed this moniker on Fesenko in the preseason. It rings so true.

Aw, little BruBru...

2010-02-19T15:24:00.006-07:00

I was fine with the trade until I saw this face in a Memphis Grizzlies practice uniform.

B wrote this text message to me yesterday: "Well, you're free now Ronnie Brewer. Go. Just go! You're free!"

LIVEBLOG: NBA All Star Game 2010

2010-02-14T17:18:00.022-07:00

Okay, I'm going to try this, but I don't know if I can stick it through to the end. I've taken ill and feel like I need to trade in my head for a new, non-dizzy head. I'm going to do my best though. If this blog goes silent before the game is over, avenge me.

• We're outside Cowboy Stadium with Ernie, Charles, Kenny, and the "U.S. Army." I hope Charles realize that there are more guys in the Army than just that.

• Ernie won't stop talking about the Thunderbird jets that will soon be flying over. They finally do after he says "Thunderbirds" for the magic 12th time. It's not very impressive. Not the jets' fault, jets are always cool, just bad camera work.

• Everyone is chanting USA! USA! because they think they're at the Olympics.

• So there are going to be 95,000 people here. I don't think I'd want to be one of those 95,000. That doesn't sound enjoyable at all. Maybe if it was my team, and we were all rooting for a Cowboy victory, but an All-Star game where no one cares about the victor, I don't know.

• I'm being excessively negative so far. And It's going to continue.

• We're treated to a performance by a band called One Republic (I think). I want to criticize them but I don't think there's any way to do it without sounding like an old man. The last time I listed to modern alternative rock radio was about five years ago, and at the time all the music sounded like this. So I guess we haven't made much progress.

• Someone needs to tell me if this band is actually famous, or if they're just being pushed by a record label that has a deal with TNT. If they are famous, good for them.

• When the All-Star game was in SLC we had Boyz II Men. Now those kids had talent!

• Okay enough of the pre-game show. I'll rejoin you at tip off.

• Oh okay, the pre-show team is joined by McLovin'. Why wouldn't they be? Oh I see. He did some little comedy bits for TNT. They're very funny (not very funny).

• They keep showing clips from Superbad. Maybe during the half-time show they'll talk about Austin Powers.

• The Dwight Howard/Shaq Superman nickname controversy might be the dumbest thing in all of sports.

• TNT is having technical problems tonight. They keep showing about one second of a commercial, then one second of another, so on.

• Yeah, TNT is a wreck tonight. The Sager/Nash interview was extra awkward because they had to start it twice. The camera was on the whole time Craig!

• The Charles Barkley Taco Bell Rap gets worse and worse every time. If you're my age, around 30ish, you probably had an assembly in elementary school where the Principal, that old square, got up and did a little rap about school pride. And the kids laughed and laughed. I guarantee that was better than Barkley's rap.

• Now Usher is pretending to sing. I feel like this excessive (even by big ticket sports standards) introduction is a direct result of Avatar's success. Doesn't it kind of feel like the NBA is saying "We don't have enough faith in our own product to let it be carried by it's own merits. "

• It's hard to tell with this music and the cavernous venue, but it sounds like every one of the Eastern reserves is getting booed. Maybe F-16s are just flying over head.

• Wait we're really doing another Usher song? There's not going to even be a game tonight is there?

• Chris Paul is on a crutch and is walking like C3PO.

• Here comes Deron... any second now...

• Making his first appearance in the NBA all-star game, local High School star, from the Utah Jazz, Deron Williams!

• No joke, Deron got the quietest applause of anyone. I'm sorry buddy.

• More Usher.

• Gretchen Wilson is singing the National Anthem, but there's no reason we can't just pretend it's Boyz II Men.

• Dirk Nowitski welcomes everyone to Dallas because THEY'RE HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE YET!

• Now that the game is under way I don't know what I'm supposed to talk about.

• The organ player in the stadium hasn't stopped the entire game. Amateur.

• Seriously now that I've said that it's all I can hear. It's like I'm watching a carnival. The musical director for this game does not understand the purpose of the organ. It is not supposed to go during every second of the game.

• We got a twenty second break before it fired up again. This is killing me. I'm considering boycotting the NBA.

• Dwight Howard hits a three pointer while nine other guys stand around and watch.

• He takes another three after bringing the ball up like a point guard. THE ORGAN IS STILL GOING.

• Deron is in. I hope he does something awesome.

• Deron dishes to Dirk, missed jump shot. No one even tried to grab the rebound.

• Text from my friend Bryan: "This whole thing looks like it's being played in another country." He's right.

• Deron awesome dunk!

• Deron awesome steal awesome pass to Billups awesome dunk!

• It think Deron wants to get a triple double.

• I wish Boozer were playing. Think how great "AND ONE!" would sound echoing off the walls of this stadium.

• Deron! He did not come here to be polite.

• So we're stopping the game in the middle of the 2nd quarter so Derek Fisher can... sing? Oh he's talking about the children. That's a good cause, no doubt about it, but this is weird.

• Mike: "Great, now Deron is going to start playing like crap because he knows Fisher is here."

• Chris Kaman, bless his heart. I wish it was Boozer out there.

• I don't want Carmelo to get the MVP.

• Halftime. I'm going to go eat something.

• Shakira at the halftime show. Her outfit is based on this:

• Again, I'll sound like a fuddy-duddy, but this music is really bad. Not just that it's not my thing, but it's not even anything. There's no hook.

• This performance is very ass-centric.

• Alright, let's get Alicia Keys in here to class things up. Wait, that's not Alicia Keys!

• Now they're announcing the players for Team USA for this summer's FIBA tournament. Can we just get back to the game? We already like the NBA, that's why we're watching this. You don't have to keep trying to convince us to get excited about basketball.

• Guys, the second half is never going to start.

• I swear the half-time was forty-five minutes long. I'm not exaggerating for comic effect, I really think it was that long.

• Dwight Howard hammadunk!

• DWIGHT HOWARD HAMMADUNK! That second one was pretty dope. I'd rather see something like that than the silly spin moves that the dunk contesteers tried to pull last night.

• Lebron with two crazy dunks in a row.

• Amare Stoudamire goaltends. That is so embarrassing.

• Deron with a three. He's going to bring the West back into this.

• but not by passing it to guys on the other team.

• Kobe Bryant takes "dis-interested" to a whole new level in this interview with Sager.

• Deron with a steal and an easy layup, after missing a long three.

• Kevin Durant with a long three at the buzzer. At the end of the second and the first their weren't any buzzer beating attempts. No one was watching the clock.

•LEE here. Pardon me, but I need to interject. I want a Sprite so bad right now, and I admit that I rap much better under the influence of Lymon, but this:

Last name: Ever
First name: Greatest

is terrible. COME ON.

• B. back in da house. I didn't know both Lee and I could do this at the same time from our separate locations. This implications of this are staggering.

• I like that Deron is getting his looks, but still being a playmaker out there. That's what at true all-star does.

• Well great now I want a Sprite. I do have a lemon-lime Gatorade here with me right now so that's close.

• Dwyane Wade picks Deron's pocket.

• I want the West to win but I don't want Carmelo to have anything to do with it.

• Big night for the 2003 draft class. Lebron, Carmelo, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosch are all bringing it tonight.

• Deron won't be MVP, but he's a shoe-in for Subway Sub of the Game.

• Tied up with less than a minute left. If this was a real game and not the all-star game this would be really exciting.

• Wince, Deron turns it over, losing the game for the West. Then he fouls and Dirk Nowitski flips out.I think it's because Deron wants to win it on a buzzer-beating three, like Gaines.

• Deron says "my bad" to every man on the bench.

• Dwight Howard fouls Nowitski? Is this thing fixed?

• Oy. Two point lead for the East, five seconds left, West's ball. They're going to give it to Dirk who will take a three that will clunk off the front of the iron.

• Nope, Carmelo airballs it. Fitting that Carmelo would do something lame.

• And the crowd goes mild!

• Alright that was fun. I'm done here. Goodnight everybody and thanks for reading!

2010-02-13T16:20:00.001-07:00

I will say, though, that B should live blog tomorrow's game.

What time is it? Slam time. Uhhn.

2010-02-13T08:39:00.007-07:00

If I made the dosh that Boozer makes, I would go to Cabo this weekend too. Have you ever been to Mexico? I was there a year ago this month, and my only beef with the place is the corrupt cops who tried to drain my savings and the unrelenting revenge that Montezuma exacted on my bowels. It's a pretty place. I bet Boozer will see even more amazing views of it than I saw, on account of him probably staying at one of those resort places with a huge entrance.

I mean, what is keeping me here? There are no Jazz games and the All-Star game is okay, I guess, but I can't remember the last time I watch a big portion of one them. Last year I watched True Hollywood Story: Mario Lopez and True Hollywood Story: The Kardashians during the game. By the way, Mario Lopez is a lame piece of junk. I think I watched a total of two minutes of the game. Baseball is the only All-Star game I can get into.

Will I watch tomorrow on account of Deron Williams playing? Maybe. It's Valentine's Day, and the game probably isn't worth even asking about. If me and my woman aren't doing anything, then I might tune in. But remember how disheartening it was when Malone and Stockton played in All-Star games? All the other players were like, "Yo, these here fellas is wiggity." I wonder if it would be even worse to see a Jazz play along with the shenanigans like Williams likely will.

I will be watching the Slam Dunk contest, though, and only a small fraction of the reason is it being sponsored by my favorite drink of the last six months, Sprite (I just remembered I left a full cup of it in the car last night--score). See, I don't like dunks most of the time. But when they're awesome, I love them, and I watch the Sprite contest knowing that maybe one or two slams will really rock me. I also tune in knowing that I might be left unrocked. But the rocking, or potential thereof, is worth the gamble.

I also hate all of the NBA players piled upon each other on the sidelines watching the dunk contest. To quote myself a few weeks ago:

Players should be banned from watching the Dunk Contest from the front row. They try to steal camera time from the actual dunkers by straight freaking after everything. You know, they put their clenched fist to their mouth as they smile, as if to say, "No he didn't." But he did, doofus. Not only did he, but almost anyone can do that dunk. Are you drunk? Stoned? LeBron James took this to the next level last year when he vowed to compete with Dwight Howard in the next dunk contest (this year's). To no one's surprise, he isn't in this year's contest.

Sprite should sponsor this blog. Don't even get me started on the flavor story of that liquid. I have a feeling that Nate Robinson is going to suck in the contest tonight, but it would be cool if he did a dunk called "Lymon" where he dresses in green and yellow, does a normal two-handed jam, then urinates on LeBron James.

We've been trying to keep track of the best dunks of the season by the Jazz. We will select a winner after the season. Let us know if we are missing any.

The dunks:

Here is one we forgot to post, probably due to the huge shadow of Sundiata Gaines.

More dunk stuff.
These are my two favorite dunks in the history of earth:

1.

2.

Vince Carter is the best dunker ever. No question about it.

Watch the Rex Chapman dunk at :20 and the Shawn Kemp dunk at 2:00

One of the most underrated dunks (because I hadn't even heard of it until last year):

Darrell Griffith's #35 would be the coolest Jazz uniform to own.

B would be disappointed if I left out this one:

My woman might be disappointed if I didn't include the Human Highlight Film:

In honor of the Olympics, this Canadian kid, Henry Bekkering can go off:

I read once that he was also a kicker on the football team.

Williams----->Kirilenko----->Okur----->Super Bowl

2010-02-07T14:13:00.007-07:00

It is time for some apologies, two from me and one from you. Don't worry, I won't make you apologize to Carlos Boozer. You can keep on refusing to forgive him. I advise you to take note that last night he not only showed (again) that he is the best player on the team but also displayed the most genuine concern for a teammate I have ever seen after Laundry Kirkilenko got knocked down by Malik Allen in the 4th quarter.

The first apology goes to Deron Williams. Mostly for trying to get the "Deron Williams is Eric Maynor's Ricky Green" movement going. And for calling him trade bait. And probably for Twitting about he and Koufos's baldspots having a total cranium domination race once.

Listen, Dude. You have to understand. I was really starting to dislike your game. In 2007, I thought there was no way the Jazz should have picked Chris Paul over you. Since then, though, you have been trying to be just like Chris Paul, only you will never be. You were left looking like a poor man's Chris Paul, which was pretty crappy. Then you do this thing against the Lakers in the playoffs where you are terrified to face Derek Fisher until the Jazz are getting blown out. Derek Fisher is nobody's All-Star. Even if he was as good defensively as you think he is, don't you remember how he couldn't hit any shots when he was a Jazzman?

Anyway, it seems like you have finally stopped all that. Or at least the Chris Paul thing. The Derek Fisher thing must still go to trial. Anyway, you are finally playing like a point guard. You have finally learned how to make your teammates better. The way you toyed with the Blazers was incredible. Please don't stop.

Next up is Kirilenko. It is being said you are playing the best you have since the year you made the All-Star team. Incorrect. You are better now, and it isn't even close. You're finally playing smart and physical. My favorite improvement is how you no longer look like you're playing Whack-a-mole when you drive to the hoop. You keep your head up and are determined to crap on any defender who might contest you. It seems that if you don't slam it, you at least get fouled. Atta boy.

Mr. Money O, I don't owe you an apology. A lot of other people do, probably. They were so bent on your lower scoring average. Maybe you were playing hurt. Maybe you weren't scoring as much because your teammates were using up shots you would usually get.

Furthermore, Jazz fans have gotten the need for a shot blocker so twisted. If you watch college basketball, you will see a lot of good shot blockers. Have the Jazz drafted even one of them in the last five years? No. Last year, there was one right under their noses, the University of Utah's Luke Nevill. They instead went with Goran Sutan--not a shot-blocker--in the second round. It looks that the Jazz organization, like Jazz fans, have really high standards for a shot-blocking center. So, they probably won't ever get one. So, deal with it. If the Jazz keep playing good on-the-ball defense, they won't need a shot-blocker anyway.

In 90 minutes, we might see the most exciting end-to-end Super Bowl in history. Both teams are awesome, to boot. Part of me wants the Colts because I want Peyton Manning to be recognized as the best QB ever (this coming from a 49ers fan). If the Colts lose, Manning will probably get ripped up for the next few weeks.

The Saints winning would be great too. Drew Brees is the coolest QB in the NFL. He deserves to get a Super Bowl win under his belt, since every one seems to (wrongly) think players are defined by their titles.

Additionally, both teams have awesome uniforms. I might be more sad for the loser than happy for the winner tonight. If the Colts didn't have a few injuries, I think this would be their game for sure. Since they have the best QB ever, they will still find a way to win. Prediction: Colts, 38-30.

Here is another song that mentions a Jazz player, "The Future" by Guilty Simpson, as recommended by Moni.

I got a cousin that plays for the Utah Jazz
But I don't have to run the two to shoot y'all azz
Peace to Ronnie Brewer
On the mic I'm the manure

(According to Wikipedia, the claims of cousinship are true. How did I not know about this? This is the kind of stuff I'm always hip to.)

More Songs that Mention Jazz Players

2010-02-03T23:11:00.003-07:00

This is an excellent topic that Lee has brought up. Songs that mention Jazz players. He posted two right here and I found a couple more. If there's any more out there send them our way!

Jay-Z - Bring it On

(watch out for strong language. no really the language is very strong)

"You suck pistol like pipe with the cristal
John Stockton couldn't assist you"

Then we've got a whole song about Pistol Pete by an outfit called the Ziggens, who have been rockin' the OC since 1990. I guess the Ziggens were a big influence on Sublime and other bands of that ilk. This video isn't the greatest but the 30 second preview on itunes made it sound like it might not be terrible.

I also found a song by a novelty "white guy" rapper (who seems to be the poor man's Jamie Kennedy?) that mentions Jerry Sloan. But I'm not going to post it here or even mention the artist's name because it was really awful.

UPDATE:

A kind reader points us to "7 Sixes" by the Heiroglyphics.

"Lanky Like Kirilenko"

(again, potentially offensive language)

LeBron James is the lamest person to ever play professional basketball

2010-02-03T13:56:00.007-07:00

This is worse than his appearance on the season finale of Entourage.

James continued his season-long assault on the league with 22 points, six rebounds and one block.

He admits that he can see plays develop before they happen.

"It's the truth," he said. "I see things happen before even my teammates see it. That's why I get some turnovers some times. It's a God-given ability I have. I try to use it to my advantage.

"I try to put my teammates in the best position. I see it before it happens."

Also, are these the only two songs that reference Utah Jazz players?

Porn Starbury

2010-02-03T08:35:00.005-07:00

This, from a SLAM article about Stephon Marbury by Casey Jacobsen is hilarious:

After a game in Madison Square Garden, I saw Steph talking to a very “peculiar” looking girl. When we sat down on the plane that night (Steph sat right in front of me), I asked him who she was. He said it was a friend of his and that she happened to be a successful “adult film actress.” He then reached into his bag and showed me an autographed copy of her latest DVD project. “You want to watch it?” he asked me with a big smile on his face. “No thanks…. I’m good.” Then he put it on his computer and started watching it, as if it were just another episode of 24. That’s the only time I’ve ever seen that on a team flight.

In other news, it looks like the Jazz will be changing their uniforms and going back to the "note" as the full-time logo. I kind of wish they would just keep these green and golds. The word "updated", when used with uniforms, makes me kind of barfy.

Hopefully, the Jazz take heed to this (from the article) and don't update things too much:

There is a belief in the organization that the music note better identifies the Jazz brand than the mountain logo.

The green and yellow throwbacks have been well received, Rigby said, and the Jazz have a 6-1 record in them.

"I've been really impressed with the response that we're getting from the young fans of how much they really enjoy the throwback and the whole look," Rigby said. "The players have enjoyed it, the fans have enjoyed it. There seems to be a real interest in this market for looking at that."

Rigby added that late Jazz owner Larry Miller was a fan of the music note from a tradition standpoint.

Should they return to their old logo, the Jazz would become the second NBA team to do so in as many seasons. The Philadelphia 76ers this season brought back the familiar red, white and blue colors and logo from their championship past.

"We were seeing a lot more of the retro gear before we made the change," said Lara Price, the Sixers' vice president of business operations, "and then we started doing some surveys and the fan feedback was they loved that old logo and they wanted to go back.

"We got an overwhelming response that they loved us going back to our old logo. Our season-ticket holders and our fan base were very happy about it."

The Sixers have enjoyed an increase in merchandise sales, Price added, even during a 16-31 season. She said the team had to begin alerting retailers and phasing out merchandise about a year and a half in advance of the logo change.

How did I miss this dunk?

Players whose pride Boozer has murdered this season: Udonis Haslem, DeJuan Blair.

the power of beard

2010-02-02T00:59:00.001-07:00

Um, guys... the Jazz are the best team in the NBA right now.

Dr. J and St. G

2010-01-30T18:33:00.005-07:00

Did you know Julius Erving, Md lived in Utah for a few years?

Did you know that he almost played for the Jazz in the twilight of his career?

"...in 1986, the late Larry H. Miller tried to sign him to the Utah Jazz.
"I think he's really having a hard time making this decision, harder than I
thought he might," Miller said in a 1986 interview."

I hope this doesn't jinx the Jazz.

2010-01-25T06:32:00.005-07:00

Over the last two-and-a-half weeks, the Jazz have become a completely different team. Everybody knows that, but do they realized that this is the best the team has played since the Malone-from-Stockton days?

What changed? Well, it was Carlos Boozer.

Now, this blog has been on Team BoozBooz since we started, but we can't say, "We told you so." See, as much as I have thought Boozer is the best player on the team--or at least the most irreplaceable--I never envisioned he would play like this.

Remember that weird loss to the Hornets on 4 January? It seemed like an extremely low point. Deron Williams sat out the next game vs. Memphis, and the Jazz straight rolled the Grizzlies in the ESA. (I usually don't like abbreviations, but I heard that Energy Solutions doesn't like when The Arena is called "ESA". I don't like stupid stadium/arena/ballpark names, and therefor I am going to write it ESA. Verbally I think I will switch to "The Arena" since "The Larry" has never caught on.)

After the huge win, Boozer made reference to the Jazz playing better when the ball moves around on offense. He said it was more fun or something.

Jazz fans recalled the win at the 76ers and the near win at Cleveland when Williams was out, and added the Grizzlies game. They started to wonder, "Are the Jazz better without Deron Williams?"

Boozer must have heard this, or at least heard tell of it. Two days after the huge Grizzlies win at ESA, the Jazz next played the Grizzlies in Memphis, again without Williams. They lost, and fans backed away from the better-without-Williams dialogue. Our one reader (besides this new pizza guy) commented here, "I've worried if Williams might qualify for Bill Simmons' Ewing Theory, but then there was last night's game... I'm not sure if I feel better about life or not."

But there was beauty in that game. First, the Jazz slowly came back from a 33-14 1st-quarter deficit. Second, they did it playing physical. So physical, that Boozer got in a bit of a fight after he knocked a Grizzlies player down hard. Then, he kept fouling them hard. I think he was the one who made Marc Gasol cry.

Boozer and Williams seem to have too much respect for certain well-known players (ex. Williams' terrible performances against Derek Fisher in the playoffs). They tend to be too nice, not wanting to become controversial. Plus, Williams worries that nobody will spaz over dunks at the Dunk Contest with him should he ever make it to an All-Star game*.

Bu no more. That Grizzlies loss becamse known as Boozer's Rampage. Look at B's Twits after the game:

-Boozer is on a rampage! He's dismantling the Grizzlies. #utahjazz
8:34 PM
Jan 8th from Twitterrific

-Carlos Boozer has fouled out and is trashing
the locker room. #utahjazz
8:39 PM Jan 8th from Twitterrific

-Boozer
has been escorted out of the building and is in the parking lot eating tires.
#utahjazz
8:41 PM Jan 8th from Twitterrific

-Boozer has broken the
hot wing record at D'Bo's. Forty-nine wings in forty-nine seconds. With the
hottest sauce. #utahjazz
8:51 PM Jan 8th from Twitterrific

-Carlos
Boozer just stole Elvis's gold Rolls Royce and crashed it into the Pink Palace.
#utahjazz
9:08 PM Jan 8th from Twitterrific

-Carlos Boozer has
kicked down Marc Gasol's door, is trying on all his shirts and stretching out
the collars. #utahjazz
9:48 PM Jan 8th from Twitterrific

(by the way, if you do a search for #Boozer, you get a lot of Twits from this gal. I should have known. [The cat is keeping her ass warm])
He was just getting started. Now, the rest of the team was going to join him. The next game they played was against the Heat at ESA. Dizzwaynye Wade got knocked around in the first quarter, and had to go the the locker room for a few minutes. Coming back offered him no respite. Almost every time he drove the lane, and Jazz or two would bump him.

Then there was Boozer's dunk on Haslem. Instead of screaming and heading back downcourt, Boozer was kind of a jerk and stood over Haslem. I usually hate this, but it showed the new Boozer.

A few days later was a game against the Cavaliers. Williams got into the act of playing hardcore. He had a run-in with LeBron James, and seemed legitimately pissed at LeBron, not just this-game-is-so-intense-and-I-am-so-intense-case-in-point-I-just-made-an-awesome-play-but-I-am-scowling pissed. (I call this kind of look "Happiness by LeBron James"). We all know how that game finished.

The Jazz are different. Yes they lost to Denver, but they kept coming back from deficits. Then they beat the Spurs. Then they killed the already dead Nets. Which was maybe taking things too far, but don't worry, the Nets couldn't feel it.

It all seems like Boozer stepped up and took on a different role. Maybe it was because he heard Jazz fans talking bad about what appeared to be a golden cow (D. Williams), or maybe he believed it himself that the Jazz don't really need Williams. Whatever it is, this has become Boozer's Team. Watch the way he plays and the way he kind of encourages teammates. Then take notes of the comments he made about how he wouldn't trade himself, or anybody, if he were the Jazz.

Yep, Boozer is finally becoming a Power Forward/man. Either that, or Sundiata Gaines' arrival is what has made all the difference. It does coincide with all of this.

*=Players should be banned from watching the Dunk Contest from the front row. They try to steal camera time from the actual dunkers by straight freaking after everything. You know, they put their clenched fist to their mouth as they smile, as if to say, "No he didn't." But he did, doofus. Not only did he, but almost anyone can do that dunk. Are you drunk? Stoned? LeBron James took this to the next level last year when he vowed to compete with Dwight Howard in the next dunk contest (this year's). To no one's surprise, he isn't in this year's contest.

Jazz v. Spurs LIVEBLOG

2010-01-20T19:15:00.017-07:00

"Tonite the bro bro @cjmiles34 & the jazz are gonna THELONIUS MONK the spurs"

- twitter.com/ConciseKilgore

• For the first time since the 1993-94 season the Jazz have a chance to sweep the Spurs. Utah has made a mockery of the Spurs this season but this game is in San Antonio and the Spurs are fielding their entire lineup. Also the Spurs are really good.

• The green uniforms are the jam. They are dope. I'm using words I've never used before to describe them.

• Boozer playing hard defense and owning the post. That's how he do. Jazz fans by and large hate this guy, but he's the best player on the team (without question)

• When my blog check comes in the mail I'm going to buy one of the green warmup jackets. So fly.

• We're five minutes in and the Spurs haven't earned a point.

• It bums me out that Lee can't watch this. He was worried that the Jazz would be nervous playing in front of Dick Vitale but it seems the like they're trying to show off for him and succeeding.

• The broadcast team has promised footage of Carlos Boozer doing impressions later. That sounds pretty great.

• I'm watching ESPN's broadcast instead of the local broadcast. I like getting a national perspective but I do miss Ron Boone's patented stammer.

• Making jokes about the French is a sports-talk cliche that I'll not stoop to, but I do want to point out that Tony Parker is what his people would call "les incompetant."

• Actually I don't know how much longer I can listen to Dick Vitale.

• "AK for Three!" is something I never want to hear, ever. But he makes it. Jazz are fired up tonight.

• Oh, Antonio McDyse is still alive. Good for him.

• I like the way the Jazz are playing but I would like to see them make that extra pass. I'll preach that 'til I die. MAKE THE EXTRA PASS.

• First commercial break. Jazz up 21-12

"Well Dick, it looks like the Spurs...

... have fallen off the horse."

• Poor Tim Duncan. He always looks so sad. What's wrong Tim? Do you want to talk about it?

• I'm pulling for Miles. I really want him to succeed. I just wish he was better. Also CJ, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE EXTRA PASS!

• See, the fast offense worked in the opening minutes, but it's not the way the Jazz really know how to play. Eventually it's going to stop working, and that's when they need to adjust and slow it down. Or not even necessarily slow it down, but quit flying by the seat of their pants and execute the offense.

• End of first quarter. Jazz trail, Spurs looking awesome.

"Someone call Antares Audio Technologies, because the Jazz...

... need to be Autotuned."

• Richard Jefferson throws down a 180 dunk. I think he did that just so Vitale could say a bunch of nonsenses.

• Wow the Jazz are playing awful. They're trying to play as fast as the Spurs, but they just look like little kids trying to drive a car.

• Spurs can't miss. This is no longer a game, it's a slaughter.

• 33-22. Boozer takes a late-career Karl Malone fadeaway and makes it. Thanks goodness.

• The commentators are saying Boozer demanded a trade in the off-season. That's not even true. He just boneheadedly said that he'd like to play for other teams. Will we ever forgive him?

• I'm not sure I've ever seen a team play as well as the Spurs have in the last ten minutes. And I've been watching basketball for 47 years.

• If I'm the Jazz I'm getting pissed off right now. The Spurs are winning with style. They're not just beating the Jazz but they're making them look like fools, playing with the greatest of ease and showing flair at the same time. This is like watching a Globetrotters game. The Jazz should start a fight.

• The Jazz starting a fight thing is Lee's idea.

• Deron Williams is growing his beard until the Jazz win five in a row. This is the best thing that could happen to our team right now. The whole team should do it.

• Tony Parker is wearing a contraption called a "Strasburg Sock." That's sick.

• Tony Parker's dad is sitting next to a guy with a disturbing moustache.

• BOOZER! Left hand slam, standing menacingly over the corpse of his enemy. It was a virtual exact replay of this:

• Deron is doing some weird stuff in the lane. He had this bizarre back-handed flip that miraculously went in, and then an out-of-control pass to Boozer that I can't quite describe.

• 47-43.

• Dick Vitale: "If there's one thing about the United States, it's that they know how to respond to countries in need."

• You know how in Toy Story, when humans are near Woody just collapses into an awkward heap, his limbs all askew? That same thing happens to AK when he gets the ball under the basket.

• Dick Vitale has thoughts on the All-Star game.

• Remember when Manu Ginobli won the Oscar for Life is Beautiful?

• 50-45 at the half.

"Looks like the Jazz...

... forgot the Alamo."

• Back from the half! Spurs have yet to score his half.

• I love how Boozer yells "Hey!" every time he goes for a board. It probably only works 1 time out of 20, but that 1 time could make all the difference.

• Something that won't show up in the box score: Memet Okur is running really hard tonight. I don't think it's making a difference, but I like to see the effort. Not that I question his effort, but I've never been impressed with his effort either y'know?

• Boozer with a cute little backward flip layup. Similar to what the Spurs did throughout the first half. He's using their own satellites against them.

• Duncan is poised to become the 35th player to score 20,000 points. When you think about it, that is impressive, but it's still hard to care about number 35.

• Deron is favoring his wrist. He's hangin' tough.

• Tied up!

• The national broadcasts always cover the same ground, talking about Stockton and Malone, maybe pointing out how many coaching changes there have been since Sloan took over. It bores me. They did however just mention that Sloan has only ever had one losing season. That's remarkable.

• These Wendy's spicy chicken nuggets commercials are so disturbing.

• Wow Deron is playing with a real chip on his shoulder. I don't know about this. I like the fire but he's missing shots and playing a little sloppy. The shoulder chip is dangerous. It can be a powerful ally but can just as easily corrupt your jump shot.

• I'm sensing a lot of frustration on both sides of the court. Maybe this will be the game where a fight happens.

• Remember when Manu Ginobli lived with his Cousin Larry?

• Okur tries a hook shot. THROW IT DOWN BIG MAN!

• Makes up for it with the money shot.

• Don't you think Okur should grow a big beard? And let his hair go long, and maybe smoke clove cigarettes during timeouts? Then they'd call him the Mad Turk. How cool would that be?

• Domino's new ad campaign: "Our pizza sucks! All this time you've been eating sucky izza! You're such a jerk!"

• By the way the new Domino's recipe is inferior to the way it used to be. I'm switching away permanently.

• Oh man, Jeff Van Gundy preening in front of the mirror in the Phoenix Gorilla costume. That's great.

• Nice end to the third quarter. Buzzer shot by Boozer, stiff rejection by Millsap, then a cross-court pass out of bounds, then a foul sending Ginobli to the line. I guess it was just an okay end.

• Jazz up 74-70

"I guess San Antonio...

... is more than just the cab driver from Wings."

• Ronnie Price with a fast break dunk and then takes a charge. Kid's got heart.

• Utah's lead is up to ten. They've really taken ownership of this game.

• We've not AK doing a Dick Vitale impression, in Russian. Then Tony Parker in French. Weird. Enjoyable.

• Duncan called for an offensive foul. He looks sad and frightened. As usual. Wow, then a defensive foul on him. Might not make it to 20k.

• Aha! Vitale is talking about Popovich's emphasis on making the extra pass. I told you that's the key to success!

• I gotta admit, I've been impressed with AK tonight. Seems like he's been better every game ever since he came back into the starting line-up.

• Every year, no matter what AK is doing, the pundits say that he needs to do the opposite. As in, "AK is stronger off the bench." Then next season, "AK needs to be in the starting lineup. THAT'S the secret!"

• Both of these teams are being all they can be tonight. Great game.

• The Kobe/Lebron puppet commercials have lost their charm.

• Three minutes left, Jazz up by five. It's close.

• Duncan limited to 12 points tonight. Foul trouble has certainly contributed to that, but how much of it is Carlos "Lazy Never Plays Defense Trade Him" Boozer's defense?

• Big jumper from Boozer, Jazz up by 7, approaching the final minute!

• Deron, ten assists and zero turnovers. Carlos, 29 points, AK 26 points.

• AK airballs a three and Boozer commits a foul. BUCKLE UP!

• Deron to Boozer under the basket total chaos! Duncan has fouled out. Roast. 19,999 points.

• Five point lead with thirty seconds. Boozer pulls down a commanding rebound and we go to the foul game with sixteen seconds left. I am confident of a victory.

• Spurs haven't been swept since 1997-1998. Wow.

• No matter what happens, between sweeping the Spurs and "The Shot" this has got to be one of the more satisfying seasons to be a Jazz fan.

• Victory! Nice. Very nice. I love it.

"19,999? I guess for Duncan...

... it wasn't time to make the donuts."

Yeeeeee-owwwwwwwwwww!

Witness

2010-01-15T00:21:00.002-07:00

You can't see more than five feet ahead. Feels like the worst it's ever been, but you've said that before and you'll say it again. The cold feels colder, the dark feels darker. You're angry and you make that known, on the message boards, the comment threads, the call-in shows. Anyone who will listen, whether they're actually listening or not. You want changes. Your thoughts turn to the drastic. Your misery is unique, your misery is unprecedented. You can't see more than five feet ahead. You can see even less behind. There's a glow, but it can't cut through the fog. The glow is muted, the world itself a cataract. The lights of that old familiar diner. Reliable, unremarkable. You can't quite see it but you'll always know it's there.

* * *

You can't see more than five feet in front of you. All you see is the ball. You see the hardwood, the gloss long since worn off by the footfalls of a thousand shabby soles. You hear the squeaks of today's soles on those trodden boards, you hear the voices of every single person in the crowd around you. The voices aren't the formless drone that you imagined in the driveways of youth. The voices are sharp, distinct shapes. The voices don't want you to forget where you are, but you have to. You can't - you must not - see more than five feet in front of you. All that matters is this, right now.

- - -

It will end. This will end. The seasons always change.

The wind will blow out the fog. One graceful shot can lift it away and you remember what the sky looks like, you can remember how the air is supposed to feel. You've felt it before and you'll feel it again.

* * *

You might get lucky. A block might fall into place that will make another block fall into place that will make another block fall into place that will make you fall into place and you might wonder, how did you get here, but you can't or else you won't be here any more. You can't see more than five feet ahead.

- - -

You've traded it in, just for tonight. You've traded in the smell of our cars and our factories for the smell of spilt beer and overcooked hot dogs.

* * *

More blocks fall into place. Two awkward landings, a call that could have gone either way. Now it's on you and no one else. You can't see more than five feet ahead. You can't see the faces of the 19,000, you can't see the logos all around, you can't see the King, the man who owns every board of glossy, well kept hardwood he steps on with his brand-new sneakers. You can hear the murmur, the one you heard in the driveways of your youth. But all you can see is the ball, and the hoop.

Don't hurry back, Deron Williams

2010-01-09T18:32:00.004-07:00

As shown in his never-ending quest to be an All-Star this year, Deron Williams loves to play in his hometown of Dallas. He does not seem to love to win there, though.

Dallas has perhaps been the most impossible place for the Jazz to win since Deron Williams became the starting PG for the Utah Jazz. They've lost their last five, and the losses always seem to come at crucial points in the season.

Williams loves to do well in Dallas, and he has led the Jazz in scoring the last few times Utah has played there. Could this be more evidence that Williams has a long way to go in learn that him playing what he considers awesome and the Jazz winning aren't necessarily exclusive. Or maybe a motivated Deron is a Deron that tries to hard to win the game himself, and forgets that he isn't good enough to beat good teams when he does that?

Anyway, he has, as predicted, become healthy enough to play in tonight's game.
Big whoop.

----------

Also, caption contest over at Sloan Hands.

The Jazz seem to play better without Deron Williams, but DDP was at his best when Karl Malone was his tag-team partner

2010-01-07T00:09:00.005-07:00

Williams needs to learn to make his teammates better, something Malone displayed his mastery of in this video:

In defense of Mehmet Okur

2009-12-28T20:39:00.006-07:00

One of the most common complaints about recent Jazz teams is the lack of a shot-blocking center.

Fans want a big man who can make up for Williams, Brewer and Kirilenko's inability to guard anyone. They want Dwight Howard.

But they know that Boozer's buddy Superman isn't going to be coming to the SLC anytime soon. So, fans have accepted that all they need is longer center who can block shots and help the defense. Nothing special, just a player to make it more difficult for opponents to score.

Listen to that. They want Greg Ostertag.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Yes. You want a huge presence in the middle. Someone who can block shots. Or at least disrupt drives to the basket. The player doesn't even need to score that much.

Ostertag says: I did all of that. For 10 season. But you all wanted a center who could score from the outside. An offensive presence. Remember Todd Fuller?

The center position in the NBA today isn't very good. How many 5-men are, without any doubt, better than Okur? PFs who play a little bit of center don't count (Garnett, Duncan).
-Howard
-Al Jefferson
-Brook Lopez
-Chris Kaman
-Andrew Bogut
-Marc Gasol

After that, there are a bunch of maybes. Shaquille O'Neal, Andris Biedrins,
Andrew Bynum, Emeka Okafor and Spencer Hawes.

These days it would be hard to find even a Greg Ostertag. And there aren't many options coming up in the draft. The best bet is Greg Monroe from Georgetown.

It would be really nice to have a shot-blocker, but the Jazz have a better chance of learning how to guard people with what they have.

Dunk of the Year----->Sloan Hands

2009-12-26T18:36:00.004-07:00

This is probably Williams' best dunk. He can now stop dunking. Please stop dunking, D-Will.

Also, big (er, huge) high five to my friend Kendo's blog, Sloan Hands, which got linked by Bill Simmons on Twitter yesterday.

You're better than this, Gilbert Arenas

2009-12-19T10:04:00.003-07:00

The nerds are mad at you, Agent Zero.

"Arenas is a friend of rapper The Game and was listed in the booklet for The Game's second album The Doctor's Advocate. He collects a synthetic basketball from each team played, as well as players' jerseys, of which he has more than 200, most of which are autographed.[24] Arenas is an avid Halo player—his Gamertag is Agent Arenas—and officially sponsors Team Final Boss, a professional Halo 3 team.[25][26] However, to the chagrin of many gamers, he exploits a glitch in Xbox Live to cheat, artificially boosting his Halo 3 rank through dummy accounts."

The Jazz need to find such a glitch for not being so weak on the road.

Dunk o' the Year Contender

2009-12-08T22:29:00.001-07:00

in which Deron Williams sends Tony Parker crying all the way back to Wisteria Lane.

Reggie gets his

2009-11-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

That Championship Season

2009-11-23T22:34:00.003-07:00

I'd like to offer a congratulations to Real Salt Lake on winning the MSL championship cup, and bringing the state of Utah it's first professional sports title!

[sound of a record scratching]

Wrong! Though Real Salt Lake's victory was thrilling and extremely satisfying to this non-soccer fan, let us not forget the 1970-1971 Utah Stars of the American Basketball Association. A championship team led by ABA all-time points leader and current Utah Jazz color commentator Ron "The Ironman" Boone.

To learn more about the ABA, the Utah Stars, and Ron Boone I recommend visiting Remember the ABA (dot com)

statutory

2009-11-23T22:23:00.003-07:00

You may have noticed, if you're any kind of Jazz fan at all, that the team got off to a bit of a rough start this season. Losing games at home, blowing leads in the fourth quarter, being smacked around by teams that have no business beating them. For the amount of talent and the (huge) amount of money wearing Jazz uniforms each night, it was hard to explain the losses. Like you, I'd imagine, I was quick to look for a scapegoat. "Who is responsible for this?!?!?" I'd scream to an empty room, flipping open the Deseret Morning News to the night prior's box score, expecting to see that Derron Williams played 43 minutes with one assist, or that Carlos Boozer played only three minutes due to injury, or that Andrei Kirilenko went 0-37 from the free throw line. But the box score didn't explain much. The stats looked okay. But do those stats really tell us everything? Well, instead of writing anything original, I'll copy/paste this bit from an excellent Bill Simmons interview from the Onion AV Club.

One of my favorite things about basketball is that you can’t break it down into some sort of science that makes total sense. And that’s why this current statistical revolution really bugs me. I think we’re figuring out ways now to use stats to try to isolate what players do, but you’re never going to be able to rate players against one another, because out of all the sports, basketball is the one that depends the most on the relationship somebody has with his teammates. And if you judged stuff by stats, you would think Wilt was better than Russell, and you’d make a kajillion mistakes that if you were making those same types of things in baseball, you probably would be right. Baseball is an individual sport that we can measure almost to a fault. In my opinion, it’s not even that fun to follow baseball anymore, because you’re not allowed to have any opinions. You have to look up every opinion you’re supposed to have. “Oh, is A-Rod clutch? Let me look that up. Yes, he’s hitting .356 in the clutch. So I guess that means he’s clutch.” What’s fun about it? It’s like algebra. And in basketball, I think so much of it depends on intuition and understanding the game, and understanding that just because somebody scored 43 points in a game doesn’t necessarily mean he had a good game. How guys affect their teammates is more important. For instance, it really would have bothered me if somebody 35 years from now thought [eight-time all-star forward] Vince Carter was a totally worthwhile player. Those are the kind of things that drive me crazy.

Go read the whole interview. It is worth your time.

Deron Williams: Trade bait

2009-11-13T12:04:00.005-07:00

The Eric Maynor era begins tonight. It is a little bit sooner than I expected, but don't forget where you heard it first.

(images all ripped from a google image search)

looking at rear ends

2009-11-08T00:33:00.001-07:00

Seems like the pre-season has been dragging on forever. Does anyone know when the 2009-2010 season is actually going to start?

Fesenko craps on Carmelo

2009-10-29T12:47:00.002-06:00

I predict this dunk from last night ends up being the best slam of the season for the Jazz.

We'll continue to monitor the 2009-10 Utah Jazz Slam Dunk Contest.

Paul Millsap: Ladies Man

2009-10-28T20:59:00.004-06:00

Two girls not even watching the game:

Girl 1: "Who's that guy? He's cute."
Girl 2: "Is he smiling?"
Girl 1: "I don't know, but he's cute. He looks like a frog."
Girl 2: "Yeah, he has great face features."

EYE ROLL

This is not last year, yet

2009-10-25T15:10:00.011-06:00

With all of the injuries the Jazz have accumulated in the preseason, the world has started to wonder if the injury curse that started last October has yet to wear off.

While it is too early to say it has not worn off, it is too early to even ask the question. Last year's injuries happened to the Jazz's best players. So far, the injuries have been limited to role players.

Role players are important. Crucial. Vital.

But injuries to them are not fatal, because role players are also expendable. Replaceable. A dime a dozen.

Over the years, the Jazz have surrounded their quality players -- Misters Williams, Boozer and Okur -- with fairly high-quality quantity. Whether by creation or picking them this way, the 'quantity' also boasts versatility. Many players can do time at more than one position. In a bind, a few of them could provide service at as many as three positions. Despite my efforts to forget him, I just remembered that Kirilenko can play four or maybe even five positions. (I should note: I would make a deal with a genie that took away his versatility if he could excel at one position [small forward]).

Here is a breakdown of the players who can play more than one position. Alphabetical order:

Boozer, PF: Can also play center, and probably should be unofficially considered the back-up. This isn't a stretch at all, as the center position has deteriorated throughout the league to where it has no identity.

Brewer, SG: Can play small forward with ease.

Kirilenko, SF: Should get a lot of time at power forward, especially against smaller line-ups. Based on match-ups, also able to play some bits at center and shooting guard.

Koufos, C: It is a stretch, but he could play power forward when Fesenko is at center.

Millsap, PF: Must be effective at small forward as well. Will probably be part of a 3-person PF-C rotation with Boozer and Okur. Said Sloan to the Deseret News: "We've got to keep him on the floor as much as possible."

Okur, C: Will see a lot of time at power forward.

Price, G: Able to play both guard spots, but is neither a point guard nor a shooting guard. Anyhow, I'm really looking forward to the one playoff game he makes a difference in.

Williams, PG: When you have a point guard as good as him, why even bother to put him at shooting guard? Have you ever sat in the passenger seat when your friend drives your car. If so, you've only done it once on account of massive awkwardness.

Left off list:
Miles, Korver, Harpring (injuries)
Maynor, Fesenko (can only play one position)
Matthews (too unknown)

Let's paint the injury problem gold:
People always say that Sloan doesn't trust rookies. It's not true. Rather, he makes rookies earn their playing time, just as he does with veterans. This meritocracy fails when nobody play deems them worthy of playing time. So, he is forced to play players that don't deserve to play. These injuries give him less options, which gives the remaining players more chances to gain his favor. This could solidify the core of the team to where he only has to use a 9-man rotation.

Until Williams, Boozer or Okur has a significant injury, though, the Jazz do not have an injury problem.

I hope you are gonna love this season, Baby

2009-10-20T13:42:00.005-06:00

With the baseball playoffs happening, I have no use for preseason basketball and haven't watched one second of any Jazz game so far. Only bad teams can glean anything from the meaningless games of October--and usually they don't. After last year, the only thing I care for is that Williams and Boozer make it through without getting hurt. Or do I care about Williams....

This rookie player Eric Maynor might be something special. Deron Williams might be his Ricky Green.

Williams and Green: Big-10 stars; Williams played at Illinois, Green was born in Illinois; Green helped the Jazz make it to their first playoff appearances, Williams helped usher in the era where the Jazz made it back to the playoffs. Green was a borderline All-star -- even went to one -- Williams is a borderline All-star. There is nothing wrong with Williams and there wasn't much wrong with Green. But with Green, a little-known player from a little-known college came along, unseated him, and ended up being great. Eric Maynor is also a "little-known player from a little-known college came along."

Okay, so I don't really believe that this will happen. Mostly, I just like saying, writing, text messaging the phrase "Deron Williams is Eric Maynor's Ricky Green." But, I will say, I don't completely believe it won't happen. Deron Williams isn't beyond being Ricky Green. He is more Ricky Green that he is Stockton.

I really like that Williams seems to have finally embraced being the leader of this team. Story goes that a few weeks ago when the Jazz were at a food bank (or something), his teammates were just chillin' until Mr. Williams came in and told them where to go help out. Lack of leadership is probably the biggest factor that has prevented the Jazz from playing good defense and winning road games.

If this leadership is real, and Williams is also less predictable with the ball, Eric Maynor might end up being Deron Williams' Eric Murdock.

**********

CJ Miles' injury is a huge loss for the Jazz. With the Jazz making not moves this past off-season, Miles became--once again-- their only hope for critical and consistent scoring from a swing position. He is the only player capable of being both deadly from the perimeter and a force off the dribble

The relationship with Miles is a bit complicated isn't it? After 2007-08, you were positive that he needed more time. By January of last season, it was obvious that something important wasn't right with him.

Despite the disappointing 2008-09 season, Miles, according to the CIs, had a great off-season. (allegedly) He has finally figured out the NBA--the mentality, the work, the type of work, and all that Jazz. (There is no need for this blog to ever write 'etc.' or 'et cetera' when we have such an appropriate phrase fits so perfectly with what Sloan'd is all about in 'all that Jazz'.)

Cross your fingers that he gets back soon, and his new-found sense of self comes with him.

*********

Did you see LeBron James on the season finale of Entourage a few weeks back?
Watch (caution: swears):

What a hardcore dork. Seriously. Why did geek chic become such a thing with younger NBA players?

**********

We really need to discuss Boozer The Man sometime soon.

All That Jazz

2009-09-25T14:37:00.002-06:00

The start of the 2009-2010 NBA season means one thing: puns.

Jazz-related puns specifically. Throughout the year I'll be updating this post with Jazz-pun headlines. Looks like today we got our first, via ksl.com

Time to tune in the Jazz

The person to correctly guess the date of the season's first "Jazz Out of Rythm" headline wins a prize.

Do you realize that nothing has really happened?

2009-07-21T21:42:00.002-06:00

The other day, my dad left a voicemail on my cellular that said, "I need you to call me back and update me on everything that is happening with the Jazz." See, he had spent the previous week-plus in the mountains.

I called him back, and as the phone was ringing, I started to categorize the happenings in order of importance, so that in the case a tragedy happened to our phones or us, at least he would know the important stuff. I was really glad when he didn't answer because, by the time his voicemail answered, I had come to the realization that pretty much nothing had happened.

I finally did get a hold of him about 15 minutes later, and the conversation went something like this: "Hey, Dad. You need the update on the Jazz? Well, nothing really happened. Just a bunch of talking about stuff that could happen. Millsap re-signed, so there's that. There have been a lot of trade rumors about Boozer, but none of them make any sense. So, yeah, nothing happened."

"Oh, okay. Well, thanks for letting me know," he said.

He seemed as embarrassed that he had asked as I was with the answer that I had to give him. It was really awkward, kind of like this off-season has been for the Utah Jazz organization and its fans.

The organization seems to be a mess under the new leadership. I'm making promises to myself that I will give this Greg Miller a chance, despite his Livestrong Bracelet, slimy goatee and spiked 'do that still remembers the good not-so-old times when it was accentuated with frosted tips. And even though I once had an acquaintance who worked under him at a car dealership call him "the worst leader I have ever seen." And even though he has been begging to take over LHM's empire for years, according to an interview I heard with Larry last fall, which has to make one wonder if he respects the position he holds. A smart person might be more hesitant to jump into that fire, or at least approach it with a respectful fear.

I'm really keeping an open mind. But, it has to be asked: Would things be this chaotic if Larry H. Miller was still wearing the crown? Would LHM have let Boozer get away with being on radio shows in Chicago and Miami (and not in SLC), talking about how great those teams could be with him and how much he loves those cities? Would he let Boozer get away with announcing that the Jazz told him they were going to trade him -- whether it was true or not? Would he have allowed the situation to get so nuts that the Jazz now have no option BUT to trade their leading scorer? There's no way LHM would let his team lose their leverage or control of the scenario.

I trust Kevin O'Connor, and I have few doubts that he is doing his best to keep control of Utah's options. Everything else has gotten so crazy, though, that the fans seem to be in charge, leaving O'Connor with little power to make sure the Utah Jazz are still a playoff team. Boozer for Tyrus Thomas? Come on.

It's been awkward for fans too. I'm so sick and tired of having to have Twitter up all day, and refreshing it at least five time per hour, so I can know when a trade happens -- if one ever does happen. I'm now more connected than I need to be. Sure, ?uestlove's twits are respectable and there aren't too many, but I don't need to know anymore about Wale (though his new album will undoubtedly be awesone -- thanks to Twitter, I can tell you that it is called Attention Deficit and it comes out on Sept. 22). Did you know that Kevin Durrant and Dwight Howard, two of my favorite NBA players, do absolutely nothing all day every day? It's true, and they have no qualms about mentioning what they are not doing. And don't even get me started on CJ Miles. (I will mention this: He is joining or starting some kind of club that advocates wearing more socks or something like that. For real.)

Then there's the Millsap deal. Some Jazz fans are devoted to him like he is a future Hall of Famer. Most Jazz fans thought he was the PF of the future until he got significant time last year and wore down, got hurt, played for a contract. No wait, that was Boozer...oh, uh, no, it was Millsap too. These people still like that he's a worker, so they were happy when it appeared the Jazz were going to get him for a little bit more than the mid-level, on account of nobody else making him an offer. Things were looking good. Then, Portland got shrewd and messed things up. They couldn't let a division rival avoid over-paying for a cherish role player. So, they signed him to an offer. This also freed up Boozer, in case Portland wanted to pursue him, which it seems they don't.

Jazz fans were left trying to pretend that paying him that much money isn't a horrible thing.

In the long run, though, Portland's brilliant move will have little impact. I strongly believe that a team should let a role player walk away before they should extremely over-pay him. Millsap is a role player. Millsap is not a $10MIL player. Millsap is about a $6MIL player, and that is about what he will be getting the last three years of the contract he just signed.

But, by signing Millsap to the offer, Portland forced the Utah's hand, and made the world a ton more messy place for the Jazz organization and little more awkward place for the fans. Now that it seems to be a given that the Jazz will be without their one big-time scorer next year, everyone is holding their breath until a trade actually does happen, killing brain cells and thereby making it more and more inevitable that the impending trade will be a terrible one. It isn't because the Jazz don't know any better, it's just that they've left themselves with no choice.

The CJ Miles' sleep cam sensation has begun

2009-07-13T10:20:00.002-06:00

Since B. doesn't post here anymore:

Stop trying to make Hansbrough happen, it's not going to happen

2009-06-14T18:47:00.008-06:00

Greg Ostertag plays hockey, makes cakes, and seems to want to hoop some more [azcentral.com]

Not only was Greg Ostertag a 28th pick in the draft, the Jazz got rid of a lot of dead weight when they brought him back for one more year.

Boozer was at Game 4 in Orlando. With CeCe. Divorce off, marriage on? [Salt Lake Tribune]

The Fesenko Question is answered -- he's coming back next year [Salt Lake Tribune]

A year ago, I would have wanted this and the Miles signing so bad. Both fellows are loaded with athleticism and talent, but neither seem like they aren't going to get it. With Williams, Okur (hopefully) and Boozer (please please) as the core, the Jazz need players who a) are going to work hard and b) know that they aren't going to be an NBA superstar.
What the Jazz need are hard-working, veteran role players. Players who are playing for championships, not contracts. (I know that is what Boozer's about, but he's too good, and I still have hope that he will change.)

The Jazz haven't given up the dream either (Hansbrough!) [Salt Lake Tribune]

But Siler doesn't quite get it yet.

I know Jazz fans hate white guys, but trust in me, this would work out.

Koufos honors his dad [Salt Lake Tribune]

Utah Jazz all-time draft history [Utah Jazz dot come]

Idiotic opinions about 2009-10 Utah Jazz starting line-up [Jazzbots or something]

How The Utah Jazz Should Spend Their Summer Cash [Bleacher Report]

By some dude who thinks that Boozer, Okur and Korver have already opted out and that Morris Almond is coming back next year.

Jazz Dunk Team auditions [Utah Jazz dot com]
Have you seen these dudes? They do some lame dunks and some awesome dunks. They celebrate like a flamboyant K-Rod after both.

Masha is releasing her English single this month [Salt Lake Tribune]

Not content with owning a store that is proud of providing Ed Hardy garb to Douchebag
Dads or once being the supposed Britney of Russia, MK-47 is trying to be a pop star in this country too. The best part is the article is titled "Stepping Out". The second best part is this accompanying photo:

If only she could hate Utah as much as Mrs. Booze allegedly does and CeCeBoo could like it as much as MK-47 does.

Here's MK-47's hit, "Sugary". I'd feel a lot more honest if I knew how to say 'hit' in Russian:

8 June 2009

2009-06-08T15:45:00.010-06:00

It looks like my hopes of the Jazz drafting Tyler Hansbrough are fading (Chad Ford - ESPN Insider)
In his latest mock, Chad Ford still has Hansbrough coming to Utah, but that came before the above column. It makes total sense -- he had one of the world's best college careers in history, and he's tall, tough and athletic. He's the next Matt Harpring, only playing the position might be better suited for someone with the (barf) football geneology Harpring has.

I'm still allowed to be bummed that the rest of the country is finding out that he can jump, despite his skin deficiency. I guess Luke Nevill can wear #50 when the Jazz pull off a huge coup and draft their leading shot blocker.

Free Darko calls current Jazz nbadraft.net mock pick Wayne Ellington the "Most Likely to be the Barack Obama of Utah"
Not the western frontiersman that Karl Malone was (or is, as he's likely shooting at something out the back of his 18-wheeler right now), Wayne is, instead, the sort of mainstream (UNC-bred) African-American made for Utah: articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. He's also the sort of system scorer who could thrive in Utah, where NBADraft.net is projecting he winds up.

Kind of racist, no?

ShamSports is doing an incredible Where Are They Now on every draft pick from 1994 to 2008.
1994 Jazz pick: Jaime Watson (#47)
Watson played 102 games in the league over three years, before exploring a few other countries, such as China, Portugal, Lebanon, Cyprus, Columbia, Domincan Republic, Chile, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia....you know, all the usual haunts. His last stop came in Jordan (giggidy), when he averaged 17.8 points per game for Al Riyadi in 2006. He later played for the Jordanian National Team, believing perhaps rightly that his chance of joining USA Basketball had passed.
1995 Jazz pick: Greg Ostertag (#28)
Ostertag retired in 2006, and with him disappeared any Greg Ostertag news. If I were to guess, I'd guess that he's doing a lot of fishing right about now.

Greg Ostertag was the 28th pick. The Jazz got sure did get a lot out of a 28th pick, eh? (Comparison: 1994s 28th pick -- some fellow named Deon Thomas by Dallas)

Kirk Snyder's incompetence is declared on yet another court (San Francisco Chronicle)

Boozer goes to Africa (Deseret News)
Deron Williams doesn't seem to care where Boozer heads next season (Deseret Morning News)

It's like the words were taken right out of my mouth (Daily Utah Chronicle)

Re-asking the Fesenko question (SL Trib)
The only tougher question for the Jazz is how to trade Kirilenko, methinks.

Bette Midler, who also goes by the unfortunate stage name The Divine Miss M (which isn't quite as bad as Beyonce's 'Sasha Fierce'), is hitting her monumental 100th Las Vegas show performance. The Associated Press marks their worst line ever written in the story about Miss M's milestone:
Bette Midler admits it takes a little work to keep her Las Vegas Strip show fresh.
Yuck.

A beautiful sports/father-son piece (UniWatch)

And music:

Stern shouldn't worry about no LeBron-Kobe face-off

2009-06-01T20:49:00.005-06:00

David Stern isn't worried about the cash he's missing out on due to the lack of a Kobe Bryant-LeBron James match-up in the NBA Finals. Not only is a Lakers-Magic Finals a better series, but Bryant v. Dwight Howard should be a better marketing situation.

Sure, Bryant and Howard won't guard each other like James and Bryant would have on a few possessions each game, but it doesn't really matter. In fact, Bryant doesn't really matter, because Dwight Howard is the NBA's most marketable player, whether the league knows it or not.

Howard not only defeated James on the court with his incredible Game 6 performance, but he dominates James off-the-court. Howard has more personality and more originality and is more fun than James. Howard also wasn't anointed as anything and has had to earn all the love he's gotten since he was drafted #1 over Emeka Okafor in 2004.

Howard has become one of the league's best interviews. He jokes around and has refreshing sense of humor. His cracks won't make him the last comic standing, but he isn't re-telling the same old same old NBA-player jokes.

Howard isn't afraid to be a little bit different than typical pro basketball players, either. Yes, the whole Superman bit was stolen from therealShaq, but Shaq can't even fly, and calling yourself Superman isn't exactly authentic.

It's not just Howard's words that are a bit different. Since the early 90s, dunk contest has been shunned by the big stars, except as an avenue to get some quality face-time by overreacting to a good-but-not-great dunk. Howard goes to perform, and after three years of watching Howard winning people over with his contest dunks, guess who wants in? King James, or at least he declared so in the heat of the most recent contest.

More than anything else, Howard seems like a higher-quality hang than probably any NBA player. A day with him would consist of more than talking about business deals and how he wants to be a billionaire. You might not eat good food, his body being as great as it is, but you'd still have enjoy your playdate.

Despite being silly, Dwight Howard is still respected as a basketball player. The skinny top draft pick with braces has worked his body into an unstoppable force. When he was drafted, scouts, coaches, reporters and analysts weren't making proclamations of deity, but were saying sentences that ended with question marks. We weren't "witnesses", we were non-believers.

The NBA seems bent on making James the next Jordan, it isn't even funny. Seriously, it isn't. It's boring. Howard is much more likable, so much more fun, so much more interesting than James. Not to mention more likely to win a title.

Finally

2009-05-20T11:04:00.003-06:00

Someone realizes that the Jazz would not pass on Tyler Hansbrough.

This would be such a great pick for the Jazz. Not only would he fill the gap left by Boozer or Millsap, but he might also be the next Matt Harpring.

Williams: Be a lil' more like Billups

2009-05-14T14:04:00.002-06:00

LINK: Billups: Best point guard in the league.

Two things from that article that struck me in relation to Deron:
1) Point guards should not be judged by the same standards as every other position on the court. They are like pitchers in baseball, in that the statistics for every other player aren't relevent (though, PGs don't do quite as far Ps do, because PGs do need some offensive stats), and wins should be their main barometer.
2) Deron needs somebody to teach him. I love D-will, but besides his cross-over and a more consistent jumper, what in his game has improved in the last two years? In his defense, he has never played with a true PG that could educate him -- there has been McLoud, Pilacio, Fisher, Hart and Knight. Besides Knight (who might have been able to teach him if he hadn't been so erratic himself), none of those fellows are true points. Oh that Gordy Chiesa were still around. Andre Miller might be able to. Then again, besides Miller and Billups, are their any PGs left who knows how to play the position? Maybe Williams just needs to ask the question to someone like Stockton, "How do you know when to pass and when to shoot?"

Side note: Point guards don't really matter anymore, do they? Look at the season assist leaders and which PGs are still playing. Jason Kidd is the only one, I believe. Here's my list of the best PGs in the league (in no order):
Williams
Paul
Chauncey
Parker
Calderon
Rondo
Rose
Miller
Nash
Kidd (maybe)

Of those 10, eight were on teams that made the postseason.
Three were on teams that made it to the second round.
BUT, point guards SHOULD matter. If they play the role of a traditional PG (distributing, controlling game, improving their teammates, etc.), they WILL matter. Evidence: Andre Miller. He goes to Denver and helps make them relevant. They trade him for Iverson. Philly becomes relevant.

Jazz's biggest mistake has his big day

2009-05-01T11:25:00.007-06:00

Former Jazz draftee Sasha Pavlovic, who did a one-year tour wearing an ugly no. 11 jersy with a mountain range across the front got married in-between the first and second round of the play-offs. He didn't cry.

More than Mo Williams*, and by a lot, Pavlovic is the worst let-go the Jazz have had. Not just because of his shooting, but also because he turned into a physical player who wasn't afraid to start a little fracas or two. (Unfortunately, Youtube doesn't have clips of all the crap he got into with the Nets in the playoffs a few years back).

Then again, he hardly plays for the Cavs anymore. Huh.

*= Mo Williams has turned into a nice player (his All-star selection this year was a joke, though), but not having him made the Jazz notice the necessity of moving up to draft Deron Williams (whose lack of a All-star nomination is an even bigger joke, though he didn't deserve it this year).

2009-04-28T10:31:00.000-06:00

Williams' game-winner puts Jazz back in series

2009-04-24T21:46:00.005-06:00

This blog is being fueled by a Bleu Bacon Burger from Training Table and was typed while watching the Blazers get handled by the Rockets. Two things:
1) I don't get the State Farm commercial with LeBron James where I think he is mocking his friend for listening to Kid 'N Play. I guess I do get it, I just don't get why anybody would think that was a good commercial to make. LeBron will never be the commercial success that Jordan was because he is in lame commercials and he is lame in those lame commercials. Jordan's advertisments weren't great because they were cool, they were great because they added to his mystique. 'I Wanna Be Like Mike' was just another tool that MJ used to get in the heads of the entire world.
2) Van Gundy makes Mark Jackson look silly. He beats him not only in interesting, relevant comments (the quality insight score at the end of the game is usually something like JVG: 21, Mark Jackson: 1), but also in humor. Jackson was better during his year in a Jazz uniform than he is at telling a joke. I'm saying a lot when I say that.

I'm going to throw in a third thing:
3) I hope that JVG enjoys this broadcasting gig enough to not leave it for a team, but not enough that he would turn down the Jazz when Jerry Sloan decides that he's had enough. I also hope that the Jazz would pursue him. If Larry was in charge, I feel confident that some serious consideration would at least be given to hiring JVG, but Greg Miller has a goatee and wears a Livestrong bracelet, which is not only uninspiring, but also worrisome. (Update: Mark Jackson just gave the Jazz nary a chance to win tomorrow night, JVG predicts they will win; see? JVG knows)

(Wow, the Blazers have cut it to four. Oh, Battier just hit a three-pointer to put it back to a 7-point difference)

--------------------

Deron Williams' performance last night paralleled the performance of the entire Jazz team, as a whole: not at all their greatest game, but perhaps their greatest moment.

Williams had a tough time getting good looks, and the few times he did, he had a hard time putting the ball in the hoop. Even free-throws were a tough deal for him, with him missing four straight at one point. But, more than any other time that I can remember, he found other ways to help Utah win. Mainly, he controlled and maintained the tempo better than he ever has, and he did it up to the final buzzer. Unlike Tuesday night and the rest of the season, the Jazz's offense in the final 90 seconds was as well-run and organized has it had been the first 47 minutes and 30 seconds.

Then, disproving my theory that the Jazz can't hit a shot in the last 15 seconds of a tight game, Williams made Fisher look silly and drained a jumper with :2.2 left. I think D-Will finally knows how to finish games.

Another great Williams moment was when he got matched up with Kobe Bryant for a play in the third quarter. The mismatch was obvious, but without hesitation, Williams committed himself to playing good defense and not giving Bryant an easy shot. D-Will anchored himself and put his body on Bryant, forcing him to take a jumper that Brewer came over and blocked.

Speaking of Brewer, he seems to get more and more comfortable playing against Bryant at The Larry. He made Bryant work for every shot he took. When Kobe did get going a little bit in the 3rd quarter, Brewer stuck with it not only physically, but mentally too. A lot of times, Brewer seems to be playing defense with his body, but his mind somewhere else. Brewer's confidence in guarding Therapist at Staples is much slower in growing, though.

Bryant was probably having an off-day, but Brewer kept with him and made sure his shot was never found. It was, by far, Brewer's best defensive performance since he was drafted. He affected Bryant's shots. With Kobe, defenders have to add even the slightest degree of difficulty to his attempts. It isn't easy, because Bryant can score in so many ways, but he can be affected, and continuous pestering can decrease his confidence. Just look at Bryant's heave with two seconds left. Kobe let it go about two dribbles before he needed to. It seemed like a conscious decision too. He took one dribble and realized, based on how Brewer had defended him all game, that the 30-footer was the most open he was going to get.

On offense, Brewer hit enough jumpers and his forays into the paint led to a sufficient amount of points and quality passes to force Bryant to keep tabs on him.

Korver and Harpring both hit gigantic shots during that crucial 4th quarter run that got Utah back in the game. Before the final quarter, both players had struggled. Korver couldn't hit anything and Harpring couldn't stay on the court enough to even get shots on account of foul trouble (he had four fouls in his first three minutes of game action). Both players played through their struggles, and ended up impacting the game in a positive way. The Jazz were +9 when Korver was on the court and +7 when Harpring was playing.

Kirilenko had a typical comeback game for him, which is to say, he was pretty great. He was penetrating the Laker defense for points that he set up or scored for himself. His defense was disruptive at important parts of the game, especially in the first half.

If Jerry Sloan was a New Age Geek Coach, he would give AK the cold shoulder or put him in the doghouse somehow before game four, then forgive him and put him back in the starting line-up in game five. Kirilenko would play amazing, like he does whenever he comes back from injury or is put back in the starting line-up. He never maintains the great play, though. It's funny that Kirilenko is such a numbers-watcher, because he played great last night but only finished with 8 points, 0 rebounds, 3 assits and one block. His impact on the game has absolutely nothing to to with statistics, but he presses on in evaluating his happiness based on the numbers he achieves. One number he should watch is rebounds, but Kirilenko's dearth of rebounds on Thursday can probably be chalked up to Boozer and Millsap grabbing EVERY SINGLE BOARD.

Millsap played awesome, but nobody noticed because of what Boozer did. Millsap pulled down 14 rebounds and finished his lay-ups. Pretty good for someone who probably realized he was seeing his chance of being the Jazz's starting PF next year be eliminated.

Despite Millsap's great game, Sloan probably made a mistake starting him over Collins to start the second half. He set the tone with his physical play and messed with Bynum so bad that Bynum only got in seven minutes of playing time. With Millsap, the defense wasn't quite as stout and a physical precedent for the final 24 minutes wasn't set.

Not only was Thursday night Boozer's greatest moment, it is also in the running for his best game so far. Yes, there were the 23 points and the 22 boards, but he also figured out a way to play defense. Also, his minutes were limited due to foul trouble. (I hope to talk more about Boozer's huge game 3 tomorrow.)

The Jazz offense wasn't as effective as it was in either game 1 or game 2, but the overall game was more productive, and the defense kept the Lakers in check.

(Houston ended up winning. Why are the Jazz the only team that can beat them? If Utah does advance onto the second round, I would want to face Portland, though, because they will be just about spent. Houston is the worst play-off match-up. They play so different from everyone else, and it isn't easy to re-adjust. It takes at least a game. Plus, it is almost impossible for a team to come out of series with them without being at least a little bit beat up and exhausted.)

Boozer takes a dump on Gasol

2009-04-24T09:24:00.000-06:00

Jazz lose, will play L.A. again

2009-04-17T13:25:00.000-06:00

The Utah Jazz’s 125-112 loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles on Tuesday night was an all-too-fitting end to their 2008-09 regular season.

Once again, the team was not at full-strength, with injuries keeping starters Mehmet Okur and C.J. Miles out of the game with a strained right hamstring and a dislocated left index finger, respectively. Sometimes it hurts to be so true to form.

Equally befitting was yet another road loss. With a 15-26 record, Utah once again ended a season with a losing mark in games away from Energy Solutions Arena.

Playing two nights in a row again proved detrimental to the team. One of the surest bets in the NBA this season was against the Jazz in the second game of a back-to-back set. Since the season's tip off in October, Utah struggled without at least one day of rest, going 3-18 in such situations, which was among the absolute worst in the NBA.

More than anything else, in-game lapses were the biggest culprits in Utah's most recent loss, and maybe their disappointing season. They kept pinning themselves in corners that eventually proved too difficult to fight out of.

On Tuesday, when they needed 48 minutes of good basketball to have a chance to increase their playoff standing and perhaps ease their troubles, the Jazz only provided about 30 minutes.

The game started well for Utah. With Matt Harpring starting for Miles and Jarron Collins replacing Okur, the Jazz seemed to have an added amount of toughness. They not only stayed in the game, they led for a good portion of the first half.

Inconsistency made a visit during the second quarter, though, and the Jazz fell behind by nine points. They cut the deficit to 56-55 by halftime, but they were already in a defensive mode, more focused on blocking punches than throwing them.

After the intermission, L.A. again built up a 9-point lead, and the Utah again erased it. The next round of blows, though, was too much for the Jazz to handle.

Behind three-point plays by Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom and a Bryant-assisted three-point basket by Shannon Brown, the Lakers increased a one-point lead to an eight-point margin at the close of the third quarter.

Leading 91-83, the Lakers began the final quarter with a quick 10-0 run that put the Jazz down for the count. Trailing by 18, Utah seemed resigned to their fate as the Western Conference's 8-seed, never mounting any sort of a comeback.

Much like last season, when the Jazz and Lakers faced off in the second round of the playoffs, Utah struggled to defend the Lakers' big men. With Bryant watching from the bench with foul trouble, center Andrew Bynum carried the Lakers' scoring load in a first half. He finished with 20 points and combined with fellow front-line players Odom and Pau Gasol to score 58 points.

Though Lakers leading scorer Bryant had relatively low-key game due to prolonged stays on the bench, he still managed to play an integral part in putting Utah away, scoring and setting up crucial baskets. Bryant finished with 16 points on only 5-11 shooting.

For the Jazz, Deron Williams led all players with 25 points and 13 assists. Forward Andrei Kirilenko scored 20, but countered that output with six turnovers and zero blocked shots.

Despite their incomplete effort and the historic lack of success by No. 8 seeds against No. 1 seeds in the playoffs -- the bottom seed has only beat the top seed three out of 50 times -- the Jazz did provide at least one indicator of not being willing to just lay down and let L.A. roll over them in the playoffs.

In the second half, Williams took exception to Bynum running into him following a dunk by the Lakers' big man. Two plays after the collision, Williams set a pick on the much bigger Bynum that resembled a football hit by a free safety, and picked up a foul. When Bryant came to the defense of his teammate, a discussion between he and Williams ensued and both were assessed technical fouls.

Though it could have been merely frustration for the Jazz's late-season slide or legitimate retaliation, Williams' play can set the tone for the upcoming playoff series between the two teams, and served as a reminder that the Lakers will have to work hard to beat the Jazz four more times before the Utah's season is over.

Utah has until the weekend to regroup from their 2-7 finish to the season. They'll need toughness and pride similar to what Williams displayed if they are going to have any chance of defeating the Lakers in the best-of-7 series.

Jazz shouldn't wait for other teams to determine their future

2009-04-14T20:05:00.007-06:00

It seems like the Jazz almost always play their first-round playoff opponent in the last game of the season. On it's own, a season's last game always brings an onslaught of questions: Should the team give players a rest? Should it play its stars the entire game? How much effort should the team extend to grab an extra win? Should ailing players leave their uniforms in their locker, and instead wear a suit and sit on the second row?

When two eventual upcoming 1st-round opponents meet in the last game, even more questions arise. For instance, the Jazz and Lakers seem on track to meet for a session starting this weekend. Would it be better for the Jazz to lose, so as not to motivate the Lakers, thus hoping Utah can catch LA off-guard in game one? Would a win be better, because it could anger Kobe Bryant, and an angry Kobe is a selfish Kobe? Would a close win by Utah even anger the Lakers?

What about a blow-out loss by the Jazz? That might get the LA feeling casual and increase give the Jazz's motivation a much-needed jump-start. Could a blow-out actually be better?

Even more questions can be raised when you take into account that the Lakers possibly have control over which team they will see in the first round. If they would rather not play the Jazz in the first round, they could ease up and increase Utah's chances of winning tonight, then hope that either Dallas or New Orleans lose, averting an opening-round series with the Jazz.

All these questions can have more than one plausible answer before the final game, and the truthfulness of the answers are rarely known, even over time. It is impossible to say whether the way the final game of the season played out had any impact on the what eventually happened in the playoffs. It is all speculation. Which is why the best thing for a team to do, trite as it sounds, is to expend the capacity of their energy every single game of the season, whether the game is in November, April, or one of the four months in between.

Winning comes down to some combination of three things: being better, being smarter, or working harder. If both teams play fairly even in those three capacities, then a game be decided by which team did the three things best at the end of a game or which team got a fortunate bounce at a fortunate time (over-simplified, it is called luck).

In John Stockton's last or second-to-last season, the Jazz were about to be matched up with the Sacramento Kings, one of the Western Conference's best teams that year, in the first round. The Kings had some injury problems that might be detrimental, which would increase Utah's chances of prevailing. When Jerry Sloan was asked about this, he said something along the lines of, "We want each team's best effort every single game."

He's absolutely correct. Rather than trying to wrap their heads around which scenario could potentially provide a team with it's best chance to advance a round, that team is better served to instead just take care of matters themselves and win, because the time will come when they will need to beat a team on their own. A squad that relies on others for their own playoff successes can only go so far (see: Utah Jazz, 2007 Playoffs). Within the bounds of the rules, it is physically and scientifically impossible for one team to win a championship for another team. Winners have their own merits.

---------------

The thing to watch for tonight is how Ronnie Brewer plays on offense. He has started to play confident when the Jazz face the Lakers at The Larry, but he is more-than-tentative whenever Utah matches up with Bryant at Staples. A confident Brewer makes more plays on defense.

Harpring brings guts to the starting five

2009-04-14T00:54:00.007-06:00

Tom Nissalke, before tonight's game, discusses why he likes the idea of Harpring starting:

"You know you're going to get effort. When Deron sees someone getting after it, he'll do it too, then someone else, then someone else, then someone else...."

Kind of a jab at Deron, but probably deserved. Deron's on- and off-court leadership is sometimes as non-existent as his sideburns.

----------------

It's difficult to glean anything from a win like last night's over the Clippers. The Jazz played like they don't against good teams in the first half: aggressive and attacking the hoop without reservation. Even Millsap was finishing around the hoop. They played in the second half like they usually do when they build a big lead, which is best described as uninterested.

Pehaps the two most important characteristics Harpring brings to the Jazz starting lineup is physcical play and the ability to set a tone for the game. No other Jazz player seems to be able to affect the nature of the game and Harpring's physical approach on the floor could/should serve as a good example to the rest of the team in the playoffs, so long as his body can hold up.

---------------

Have you noticed that Deron has been absorbing some hard fouls lately? Have you also noticed that it never happens when Harpring is on the floor? There's a good chance that it is total coincidence since Harpring hardly plays (only 15 minutes tonight, but they were so big that it seemed like more), but it could also be that opposing teams know they would have to answer for putting Deron on the ground if Harpring were in the game. Boozer, Okur, Brewer or Millsap needs to at least step up to the hard-fouler and call him an effer or something.

There were two incidents in tonight's game where a Jazz teammate should done more:

1) Early in the first quarter, Chris Kaman threw the ball pretty hard at Williams. It wasn't as horrible a play has the crowd at The Larry made it out to be, but someone else on the team could have walked up to Kaman and said something.

2) After Harpring got into it with Baron Davis, Kaman did the basketball equivolent of baseball's throwing at a player who is of equal importance as the player the other team who was initially hit with a pitch. Except Kaman's hit on Williams was much more blatant and violent than Harpring's elbow on Davis. Sure, Deron can stick up for himself, but the opposing team needs to know they are going to receive some pain in return if they don't ease up on Williams.

Teams aren't going to ease up on Williams until his teammates start asking them un-nicely to lay off him.

weird halftime

2009-04-13T22:57:00.000-06:00

Lately, the Jazz have been:

2009-04-05T14:58:00.002-06:00

don't be jealous...

2009-04-04T17:40:00.000-06:00

...but I went to the KJZZ studio yesterday.

yours truly

2009-03-30T23:34:00.002-06:00

[LDS church President Thomas S. Monson was in attendance at Monday's game]

Boone: "Well I want you to know, Thomas Monson's favorite player ever, your truly."
Boler: "RON BOONE!? Oh Ron Ron Ron Ron what are we going to do with you?"

the continuing adventures of Boler and Booner

2009-03-30T23:26:00.002-06:00

Boone: "Is that uh... how long has he been here, four years? I think this is the first technical Deron Williams has ever received."
Boler: "He averages one or two a year."

...

...

Boler: "Bernie just told me this is Deron's sixth technical this season."

congratulations, you're on national television

2009-03-28T15:59:00.001-06:00

Rockets at Jazz Game Recap

2009-03-28T15:57:00.002-06:00

Rested, the Jazz begin a telling stretch of games

2009-03-24T16:52:00.004-06:00

This story that B. shared with me helped me finally get over the horrible El Heat loss, and I am going to give the Jazz another chance to prove to the world that they are worth something.

The team has had a lot of rest since the road trip failures (two games in eight days) and only have three games this week. Three winnable games. Three should-be wins. They play Houston at home tonight, at Phoenix on Wednesday, and after two full days rest, Phoenix back at The Larry. Anything other than 3-0 would point to this year's team not having much of a playoff future. If they go 2-1, with the loss likely coming tomorrow, when the Jazz face both of their usual stumbling blocks (a road and back-to-back games) in one night, then this team is as it always has been. If they go 1-2, then, barring a late-season about-face, the team might as well be in the lottery, because they don't have what it takes to win a playoff series.

By the way, as a look at the standings will show, the #2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs is up for grabs. Houston just passed San Antonio, and the Rockets have only one less loss than Utah does (four more wins, though). The Spurs have two more wins and two less losses, for a two-game lead over the Jazz. Denver has two more wins and equal losses and New Orleans is one better than Utah in both the win and the loss columns. Portland is also in the hunt, being tied with the Jazz with one more win and one more loss. The Jazz have more games left than all of the contenders, giving them a lot of control over where they finish out.

don't mess

2009-03-20T17:25:00.001-06:00

We make fun of Boler and Booner a lot, but it turns out they're made guys. They have friends in high places. Maybe we should lay off.

Bolerjack's St. Patrick's Day Special

2009-03-17T20:50:00.003-06:00

"It's been one of those nights, Mr. O'Boone."

breaking news

2009-03-17T15:29:00.001-06:00

Ronnie Brewer will not be starting tonight because he missed this morning's practice. Chocolate milk hangover?

Utah@Orlando Live Game Blog

2009-03-15T16:09:00.005-06:00

Lee is right. Millsap and AK owe us a big game. Let's hope Korver can keep up his hot streak. Let's hope that riding segways through Epcot Center (assuming that the team did that) cleared their minds of yesterday's brutal defeat.

Boozer introduces the starting lineup: "D-Will. Watch out he's got all these moves. Be careful."

Nice job giving away our secrets before the game, Carlos.

First play of the game, Deron demonstrates the devastating "stand around" defense.

And now the whole team follows suit allowing rookie Courtney Lee to slam it down.

Jazz not looking energetic. I'll try to not be so negative. The Jazz are looking loose and relaxed.

Jerry tossed less than two-and-half minutes into the game. He's right to be irritated, these refs are not playing well together so far. I'm not saying that because I disagree with the calls, but we've already had a call reversed and foul credit re-assigned. Get it together, guys.

I bet when Vlade Divac, Hedo Turkoglu, and Peja Stojakavic played together the air on the Kings' charter plane was filled with really nasty burps.

First time out. Jazz not looking good.

---

Collins is in. That's good news.

Millsap looking sluggish. Ronnie Brewer is exhibiting some heads-up play.

I typed that before he missed a free throw and then immediately sent Orlando to the line.

I was Phil Johnson, this is what I would coach the Jazz to do: MAKE SHOTS!

Commercials. Styx is playing Wendover, but I don't think it's the real Styx.

Kyle Korver's mouthguard has entered the game, with Korver following right behind.

Boler and Booner have a disagreement over whether Deron's slamdunk was a Frustration Slam or an Opportunity Slam.

Collins has a couple of nice fumbles in a three second period. Brevin Knight should never take a shot, ever. Now Collins stands in admiration of Dwight Howard's shoulders while Howard rises for an easy slam.

Korver drops three. Apparently his mouthguard is bothering him.

End of first guarter. Dwight Howard has a double-double. I'm going on break.

---

I love the Ronnie Brewer chocolate milk commercial. So awkward.

That's all I got. I haven't the energy to continue this.

That game was twice in the bag

2009-03-15T15:15:00.006-06:00

Used to be that I would expect a huge win after a loss like yesterday, maybe even a blowout win. With these Jazz, though, I expect a four-game losing streak.

Millsap and Kirilenko owe us a big game or two after what they did at the end of regulation yesterday afternoon. As bad as AK picking up that charging foul (which was questionable) instead of backing the ball out, Millsap trying to dunk over whoever that was was even worse. The lead was only four, and since when does he dunk over people? He isn't even good at finishing a lay-up over another player. Also, did you notice how mopey he looked the exact minute he entered the game. I have never seen a player look so affected by the party they went to or the beverages they downed the night before. Or he was sad that his woman broke up with him. Either way, he did not come to play yesterday, which isn't common for him.

AK wasn't much better. He got called for traveling within a few minutes of checking in, and it affected him until he fouled out (which was like a blessing to Jazz fans). He whined about every call that went against him and seemed disconnected from the game. Maybe he was bummed that he was the fourth player off the bench, and didn't enter the game until the beginning of the second quarter. If he made as many plays as Korver has been lately, maybe he'd play more.

Anyway, AK and Millsap owe us.

Boler, Booner

2009-03-11T15:18:00.002-06:00

CB: "Turnaround jumper... sweeeet."
RB: "Did you just say sweet?"
CB: "Sweeeeet."
RB: "Sweet. You got that from your son didn't you? Sweet?"
CB: "It's big these days isn't it? Sweet."
RB: "Sweet."

random photo

2009-03-08T19:04:00.000-06:00

two of america's finest.

20 games left

2009-03-08T09:42:00.006-06:00

The Jazz finished February with a 10-1 record, putting them back in the thickness of the Western Conference playoff standings. With April being considered a great month if they finish better than 3-5, March is the pivotal month in determining their playoff seeding.

So far, Utah is off to a 3-0 start with twelve games left before deadly April. Though they are on a somewhat impressive 10-game winning streak, most people who talk about these sorts of things think this is where the Jazz come back to earth, crashing, but still surviving (Apollo 13) and earning a playoff berth. These people figure that, although they are now as close as a team can be from the #3 seed without actually being the 3rd seed, they will soon start climbing down the ladder. It isn't unrealistic to feel this way, as eight of the 12 remaining March games are on the road (besides two games, the rest of the current win streak came at The Larry) and four being the rear end of back-to-back games.

Those two things cannot be excuses, though, for a team with the talent that the Jazz have, which is a lot. There's three recent All-stars among their top six players and another who will be a multiple-time All-star and one of the NBA's deepest squads. There's plenty of height, more than enough shooters, and a point guard who runs an effective, efficient offense. Also, they have proven to be good enough to beat any team at The Larry.

Road and back-to-back games are more difficult than games in SLC, obviously, but they are not reason enough that the Jazz should lose to teams like Miami or Atlanta when playing under either of those conditions. If they do continue to consistently drop such games, then the only appropriate reasoning is that this team's toughness does not equal its skill.

I just saw that the Jazz beat the Raptors, so that pushes the winning streak to 11 games and the March record to 4-0. Nice. Getting the road trip off to a winning start has to be perfect for the team's away-from-home confidence.

Here's the rest of the schedule and how they should do. Thanks to utahjazz.com for making this schedule so easy to copy and paste. The rules of the schedule is that the Jazz are not allowed, barrying serios injury, to lose to a team that they are unquestionably better than, no matter the circumstances. Losing to better or near equal teams on the road is okay, but losing to them at home is not. Losing back-to-backs to such teams is less acceptable, but in some cases I might look the other way (but not until it happens -- as of now, it should not occur). Also, sometimes a game is lost that shouldn't be lost; maybe the opponent was on fire, or maybe a team just can't catch a break. Because these games are unpredictable, they will not be predicted, on account of me refusing to take the prefix 'un' lightly. Besides, there are always games that go the other way where a team gets one they maybe shouldn't have. It usually evens out.
*=back-to-back games

March
Tue 10 @ Indiana---Win
*Wed 11 @ Atlanta---Win
Sat 14 @ Miami---Win
*Sun 15 @ Orlando---Loss
Tue 17 vs Washington---Win
Fri 20 @ Oklahoma City---Win
Tue 24 vs Houston---Win
*Wed 25 @ Phoenix---Loss (This game could go either way)
Sat 28 vs Phoenix---Win
Mon 30 vs New York---Win
*Tue 31 @ Portland---Loss
April
Thu 02 @ Denver---Loss
*Fri 03 vs Minnesota---Win
Sun 05 @ New Orleans---Loss (again, could go either way here)
Wed 08 @ Dallas---Win (Dallas, along with San Antonio, is one of the cities that they Jazz can never win in, for whatever reason. Maybe LA, but this history doesn't quite seem to be there. So, even though I don't think the Jazz will win this game, hence the 3-5 prediction given earlier, they should)
Fri 10 @ San Antonio---Loss
*Sat 11 vs Golden State---Win
Mon 13 vs LA Clippers---Win
*Tue 14 @ LA Lakers---Loss

In the 19 remaining games, the Jazz should go 12-7, putting their record at 52-30. Not too shabby. It could go even better if the team can get over their road insecurities. If they can, they could possibly go 14-5 and really set themselves apart from New Orleans, Houston, and Portland, and put themselves in the class of the Lakers and the Spurs -- not only this year, but in the future. The way they finish this season not only improves their playoff seeding, but can be an indicator of the type of team they are going to be next season (assuming they don't lose Boozer or Okur to free agency).

It's all up to March.

the league trembles in fear

2009-03-04T14:15:00.002-07:00

Looks like the other teams in the Northwest Division have taken notice of the Jazz's recent string of success. Denver knows that the Jazz are nipping at their heals and they are obviously panicking, as evidenced by this move. Scary news for those hoping the Jazz could take the division. Let's just hope that Portland doesn't find out about this.

I know they lost every time they wore them, but....

2009-03-02T13:03:00.006-07:00

On utahjazzdotcom today, there is a poll question that asks "Should the Jazz have a throw back jersey night?" with the following response options:
-YES! I miss the old note!
-The new jersey is where it's at.
-As long as they don't wear the short shorts...

I don't know how long they keep their polls up over there, but this is a cause a fellow like me can get behind.

Don't choose the third option, unless you like throwing your vote away on a bad joke.

or, they should go the distance and do these:

I swear I stumbled across this innocently

2009-02-27T11:03:00.013-07:00

Me: "Shania Twain in a Jazz jersey."

B: "ak-47 no less."
Knth: "<3 <3 <3 <3"
Nathaniel: "i wonder if it is for PR or if she really likes them. i figure like 70% of her fans live in/around utah."

jazz players that i have seen at the cottonwood mall

2009-02-26T22:26:00.003-07:00

- Mike Brown, on a payphone.
- Jay Humphries, buying a corn dog.
- Olden Polynice, hugging an attractive mail carrier.
- Jeff Hornacek, pushing a stroller.
- Darrel Griffith, walking swiftly.
- Shawn Bradley, in the bathroom. I know he's not a Jazz player but seeing a giant standing at a urinal is kind of funny.

Gabe Muoneke

2009-02-26T16:20:00.008-07:00

Remember Gabe Muoneke? He spent some time on a few Jazz Rocky Mountain Revue teams and this offseason attended Jazz training camp.

Anyway, at HoopsHype.com, he has been writing a blog for about 15 months. It is infrequently updated and sometimes is a little bit too much like Paul Shirley, but it contains some special moments. He also throws some respect to Jerry Sloan and the Jazz players. There may have even been a time where he declared his love for Sloan.

Here's his Jazz praise:

Unfortunately for me, my plan of signing early in Europe didn’t work out and after NBA cuts all Euro jobs are filled. Sorry, I wasn’t passing up a vet camp with Jerry Sloan for anything. So if I had to do it again, I would. Yes, I knew they had 15 contracts before I went and didn’t care. I went there for longer-lasting reasons. The Chinese say the journey is the reward. I say, that’s if you survive the journey.

and this from a blog titled, Obama in 2008, Sloan in 2012:

Let’s see, I went from France, to San Antonio where the Spurs were working out, to vet camp with the Jazz. OK. It’s official. I love Jerry Sloan. Other than losing more weight than Jimmy Hoffa (Get it?…weight. Waaaayyyyeeet-tuh! Forget it), that was the second funniest camp I’ve been to. Smelled like Detroit 2002. Which leads me to predict the Jazz in the Western Conference Finals this year.

That was the first NBA team I’ve been on in which every player was (in my view) earning his check. What does that mean? Sorry. Wasn’t meant to be. Maybe better put… The Utah Jazz’s hierarchy or players and pay is almost perfect (I think we’d all agree Paul Milsap is tad bit underpaid… for now). And every player on that team is just flat out good. It’s always good when your highest paid players are the best respectively in every basketball (team) category.

Deron Williams is their best defender. And he shows it everyday.

Carlos Boozer is the hardest worker, which in turn equals most efficient player and best rebounder. Check his FG%. I have never checked nor do I know how I’d begin to, but I’m willing to bet he’s top five in the league in points/shot attempts. Even though he made me miss for the first time in a year being 260, he’s the Wolverine of that team. The best there is at what he does. I’m still spitting out chips of teeth… I am very serious.

Most professional had to be Memo. Same thing everyday. When everyone was tired after a hard day’s practice the day before, he was in the gym early lifting and starting practice drills off sprinting. Everyday.

And the last catergory… Best basketball pimp (I made that up; it means you’re just good at everything without really looking like you’re trying) AK 47. Hard to explain if you haven’t been to a game to see him in person. Just really good at everything. I think he may have nephthalim blood in him.

And last but definitely not least, most country. Oh you didn’t know being country is an intergral part of winning in basketball? It is. Cuz country folks are laid back. And them’re attritbutes keeps yuh cool when everyone else is hootin’ n’ hollerin’. Jerry Sloan. He was the same as he was three years ago when I was in summer league. He said, “Morning Gabe.” He laughed at my ramblings and even asked, “You alright,” every time anyone, not just his stars, got hurt. He’s either a great actor or a good man. Both of which only us country folk can really be. Without going into too much further detail, it was a pleasure being around good guys who just so happen to be good at basketball.

I experienced Jerry Sloan and thought, this is probably the same practice John Stockton and Karl Malone did and I’m doing it. The same ol’ same, ol’ and he keeps winning (even with Williams out). And I wonder: How the hell does he do it? Yes, great players. But it can’t just be the coincidence of great players. Sloan keeps winning and has even done it with less. Other NBA teams have great players and lose (very well, I might add). He doesn’t change no matter what firestorm is going on around him and still manages to be human. So the next ref that T’s him, I don’t care how nice he talks to you, you’re mine. Even though I never want to coach or ever be in politics, I still want to learn the attribute I have seen in the past two months. I want to be a chameleon. Just like Jerry. And so far just like Obama.

I feel like I missed out on an opportunity to cheer loud for Muoneke. I won't make two mistakes, so I'm adding his blog to the links.

Live blog: @ Minnesota (2/25/09)

2009-02-25T20:16:00.007-07:00

- Jason Collins cut his hair. Now you can't tell the difference between he and Jarron. Except that Jason sometimes plays.
- Why do I hate Mike Miller so much? His game seems kind of cool. Is it the hair?
- It's nice to have Kyle Korver join in.
- Does Deron Williams sometimes disappear on the road?
- Minnesota might be one respectable point guard away from being kind of good.
- Which made you more sick, the way the Jazz started the first half or how the way they finished it?
- Nothing like a back-and-forth game in the 3rd quarter with the Timberwolves to remind me why the Jazz are only the 8th seed in the West.
- Not only is Kevin Love related to a Beach Boy, but a Beastie Boy made a documentary where Kevin Love was one of the main subjects.
- Better post All-star break tan: Okur or Korver? (or is it just my TV?)
- D-will has a bald spot on the top of his head and two more where his sideburns are supposed to be.
- Maybe white men can jump, but they can't conceal their bruises. I'm looking at your arm, Brian Cardinal.
- After three quarters, the Timberwolves are out-scoring the Jazz in the paint, 45-32. I know they're pesky, but COME ON.
- If you saw Boozer and Millsap walking down a scary street at night, who would you be more scared of? I think Millsap.
- If you were a girl, who would you be more attracted to, Boozer or Millsap? Yeah, totally Millsap.
- But, Boozer is the All-star.
- This will make 10 road wins for the Jazz.
- Name the three teams with the longest current winning streaks(coming into today). Jazz, Cavs and Rockets with five. Only the Jazz played tonight, which puts them in the lead on a 6-game roll. Remember when the Rockets won like 22 straight last year. If the Jazz went on a 22-game streak right now, they would be 51-23 by the time they next lost. Huh.

Ron Boone Quote #2

2009-02-25T20:03:00.006-07:00

Boler: "It's the Ron Boone Fan Club."
Booner: "Scotty Tahatti (sp?). Did you know he asked Britney Spears out? She didn't say no, but she didn't say yes."

Ron Boone Quote #1

2009-02-25T19:17:00.005-07:00

Boler talking about the Tyson Chandler trade getting rescinded
Booner: "You like pizza? Pizza and Diet Coke?"
Boler: "I looove pizza. Bring me some at half!"
(pause)
Boler: "Back to the trade...."