Jazz must take advantage of the homecourt advantage shift

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

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?

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:

Carlos Boozer's awkward attempt at the hip-hop

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.

Porn Starbury

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.

I hope this doesn't jinx the Jazz.

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

"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!

Do you realize that nothing has really happened?

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.

8 June 2009

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:

Boozer takes a dump on Gasol

Gabe Muoneke

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.