First thing first, the Jazz. So far in this offseason the Jazz have given up two draft picks who may or may not turn out, a trade exception worth a cool $11 million, a D-league 2 guard named Murphy, and another $9 million trade exception. What they got in return is (in order) Trey Burke (@Trey_Burke3), who in my mind will be the best PG in this draft and already a 4/1 favorite to win Rookie of the Year, and 3 expiring contracts from Golden State worth $20-24 million which include Brandon Rush (@BRush_4), Richard Jefferson (who could provide leadership and length off the bench) and Andris Biedrins (if this 7 footer plays more than 10 minutes a game, we have serious issues) plus two UNPROTECTED first round draft picks (2014, 2017) and a 2nd rounder in there somewhere.
Trey Burke will not, in my mind, be a consistent all star. He can however, stabilize a position for Utah that has been lacking since the D-Will trade. Harris and Mo are good players and natural athletes, but neither one fit the Jazz system. Dennis Lindsay thought the same. This trade proves it. It basically gave the Jazz no room to sign very many of the free agents still hanging out there (more in a minute). If Burke starts from the get go the Jazz could very well, and are predicted to, win less than 20-30 games. I'm not saying I'd be happy if that happens. I like Kevin O'Connor's idea of always building to be better. Sometimes you do have to have growing pains in order to grow however.
If Brandon Rush has recovered from his ACL tear and Richard Jefferson can muster his walker onto the court for some meaningful minutes, this team might not be so bad. I think the starting 5 of Kanter, Favors, Hayward, Foye (please?) and Rush has the potential to be dominant defensively, all the while scoring 50 points a game. With Burke, Burcs (get used to that) and Jefferson coming off the bench, I see this team as maybe a 35-40 win squad. After that, Corbin may lose his job and Lindsay can plug in someone he likes there as well.
The only issue I am seeing is Sloan and Malone, both of which have huge issues with losing to get better. Sloan would coach this team to win 50 games. I don't see Corbin having the ability to do that.
Next year the Jazz will be in a similar position as they were this year with a much deeper draft staring them in the face as well as a much, much deeper free agent pool. They are in a position of strength right now they haven't since the Stockton draft.
With all that being said, let me retouch on where some of the free agents have gone thus far. "Big" Al Jefferson signed with the Charlotte Bobcats for a 3 year $41 million deal. Good for him. Although I disparaged his game quite often (I put a premium on defense, I don't know why....) he is, by all reports a good guy. He showed up and did his job, which is more than I can say about his predecessor as the go to guy in the paint. Al, good on you man!
DeMarre Carroll (@DemarreCarroll1) was a shocker. He signed with Atlanta for a 2 year $5 million deal. I loved the self proclaimed junkyard dog. He was an animal and gave 110% every night. Again, good on ya man. I wish you nothing but success.
Here is the one that really gets me though. I understand it, but I don't like it, nor do I have to. Paul Milsap is one of my favorite players to ever play for the Jazz. He is an undersized (listed at 6'8, probably closer to 6'6 1/2) power forward who was to small to play at the college level. All he did was lead the NCAA in rebounds for four years. Paul was the number 47 pick in the second round by the Jazz and wasn't ever expected to play. He did. He lead the team in rebounds and steals the past two years. Yup, rebounds and steals. Odd combo, but he did it. When the trade for Favors happened, Paul was basically told to take a back seat. He turned around and said "Take the seat from me." With his aggressive play and ability to adapt his game, you couldn't put him on the bench. He has that never say never attitude and was willing to gnaw his way to success. He also signed with Atlanta to join DMC and Kyle Korver with a 2 year $19 million deal. Congrats Paul, you deserve it. I will continue to sport my green 24 Jazz jersey with pride!
Now on to more inconsistent things: Dwight Howard. The man makes Brett Farve look decisive. Early reports today had the Warriors as the leading candidate for the big center, where those came from who knows. Then Houston reemerged as the front runner and it was even announced he had made his decision. He was taking his talents to Houston. Within minutes he told the Lakers he was 50/50 on them or the Rockets. What? Well, next thing I read is that he's looking at that extra $30 mil and licking his lips. So D-12 still a Laker? Nope, as of now (with still 5 days to be official) he is going to follow Yao Ming and the Hakeem the Dream as big men in Houston. Honestly, if that sticks, I fear the pick and roll of the Rockets. Harden dishing to Dwight? Yikes. I'm just glad that he is scheduled for a trade demand in about two and a half years, right when the Jazz should start improving to contention.
As for the Lakers, I hate to say this, but it's better off without him there. Kobe is still the man and when he returns, they could not co-exist. It's much better this way.
To round out the Utah Jazz roster as of now:
Trey Burke-PG,
Alec Burcs-SG/PG, Brandon Rush-SG,
Gordon Hayward-SF/SG, Richard Jefferson SF, Marvin Williams-SF,
Derrick Favors-PF/C, Jeremy Evans-PF,
Enes Kanter-C/PF, Rudy Gobert-C
It looks like Jamaal Tinsley is still on the radar for the Jazz and maybe another veteran or two willing or sign a 1-2 year lower money deal for the PG spot.
All in all, I say go Hawks this year and rooting for the Jazz to show improvement, and the Warriors to lose every game. Go JAZZ!!!
Friday, July 5, 2013
Monday, June 10, 2013
NBA Finals... Then and Now.
Once again the NBA Finals are here and ironically enough, once again it seems to be the ultimate team vs. the ultimate player. I've always held a belief that in team sports it's the team, not the player(s) who make the magic. Austin Caulie's 4th and 18 "magic happens" catch wouldn't have happened if the O line didn't do their job and the QB didn't do his job. It's the team, not the player. I have this argument for everything from paying college players to which teams are more successful. In basketball though, the line blurs often from team to super star player. The Micheal Jordan Bulls were not nearly the same team without him while he was "playing" baseball. They were still coached by the Zen Master, they still had Karl Malone's top 5 player in Pippen, but both years they finished around .500 and got bounced early in the playoffs. The previous three years and the next three years the blew by everyone in the playoffs to win 6 NBA Championships. So does the superstar make the team in the NBA?
For those of you that would answer yes, I would ask which NBA champion can be considered the sole good player on his team? Magic, Bird, MJ, Russell all had all star casts. The only one exeption I would give would be early Wilt Chamberlain who was a superstar athelete in a short white man's league. Pistol Pete never had good teams around him and therefor, never won a championship. So, does the team make the superstar? I would also say no.
I count fewer superstars than many of the pundits. I don't count the Steve Francis, Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook's of the world. They are prolific scorers and demand a lot of attention in that sense. But what else do they give you other than inefficient possessions? Melo doesn't defend, Iverson didn't pass, Westbrook is only just now beginning to learn to be more efficient because of an amazing teammate but still doesn't defend well. As Sloan used to say, defense is all about effort. They just don't care about that side of the court. Who are my superstars in the league today? Kevin Durrant, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant (fading fast) and Tim Duncan. Other than that, I have a lower tier (Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Zach Randolph, Tony Parker), and a scorers list (Melo, Westbrook, Jefferson) and defenders (Chandler, Tony Allen, Ibaka) list. Real superstars though are very few. Even with that being said, where did Lebron take the 07 Cav's. They blew through a weak eastern conference and got beat up in the finals by a very well coached, well developed team. Let's go back to 01. How did the MVP Iverson fair with no one around him? His 76ers imploded and could barely win one game. So in all, I would dare someone to tell me it's still a superstar league
I digress, we have a superstar led team in which they are depending the King to get things done on both ends of the court. It seems as though every year we have this conundrum. Team vs Superstar. Most of the time though, it's more than that. MJ had Pippen, Kerr, Luc Longley and my favorite, Rodman. In one on one, the current Heat roster would blow away those Bulls, in every position but one. The NBA is 5 on 5 though and that was a much better team. However, with Ray Allen, Shane Battier and the Birdman (I love that guy!) coming off the bench, I think Miami is a better team than I previously have given them credit for. However, San Antonio is the most fundamentally sound team in the last 13 years. They have the best coach in NBA history (IMO), led by arguably the best F/C in NBA history and the best pure PG in the current NBA with Manu driving, dishing and shooting. Splitter and Leonard are two of the best young players in the league as well. They all compliment each other perfectly. The only knock I have is they only have player capable (if anyone truly is) of guarding the King. When Leonard is out, the are forced to throw different looks at him using a combo of Parker, Boris Diaw and Danny Green to attempt to hold him under control.
This year, D-Wade is LeBron's Pippen and Bosh has turned into Longley (I won't even give him the credit of Dennis Rodman). The issue is, unlike the Bulls of the 90's, they don't have the same quality coach who can reign and direct the personalities. What you get is a lot of standing around and watching while King James does everything. In Chicago, not as much in L.A. but more so than in Miami, you had a superstar who worked within a system that worked. MJ not only worked the system but he worked within the system. I'll go back to the '97 finals, game six against the Jazz. Coming out of timeout, Steve Kerr has said that though Jackson drew up a play to get Michael the shot, MJ pulled Kerr aside and said, (paraphrasing here) They know it's coming to me, when they double, I'll kick it to you and you'll hit the shot. The play played out just as Michael said it would and the Bulls dashed my dreams.
Game 1 was really exciting. You had a great team effort by the Spurs. They locked down Wade and forced Bosh outside his comfort zone (I would let him shoot long threes all day long). Great individual efforts by all involved, specifically Parker, Leonard and Duncan. And coach Pop controlled the pace of the game with subs. He sat Duncan with two fouls and when it started to look like the Heat would rally, Pop put Duncan back in to get some stops. James put on a clinic. He dominated on both ends of the court and when they needed a stop, he was chasing Tony Parker all over the place better than any one else did. The result: Spurs stealing the advantage and winning game one.
Game 2 was quite different. James did not have a stellar offensive game but played well defensively. Bosh was aggressive and even a bit nasty inside 12 feet, where he belongs. Wade played well without spending to much time on the ground, which surprises me. All in all, the Heat played as a team and the Beat the Spurs handily. The play everyone is talking about though is the Block. I'll say this, it was epic. It was an epic block at a not so key moment of the game which states his newish step on the throat mentality. Every championship style player has that finish him off mentality. However, it was also an epic fail, and should have been a technical foul. It was an arrogant, selfish move to stand there with his chest puffed out like he was a rooster looking for a fight while the rest of his team was down court trying to get a play off. About 8 seconds later you see him running down court by his self. It turned out well, but that was a boneheaded, ridiculous play that should not get rewarded. I think ESPN should show his pic next to a rooster and have THAT be the highlight, not the dunk. Show everyone what kind of player he is. Along with his literal sprinting down court every time a call goes against him, (needs a tech again) and his throwing his arms up like he just got zapped with a taser. MJ would put his hands on his hips and shake his head. That was in the days you were allowed to talk a bit to the refs. If LeBron wants to be compared to greatness, I will compare every step of the way.
The NBA should also hold their "stars" to a higher standard rather than letting them get away with that kind of nonsense. It has always bothered me that they don't call fouls on players like that because fans don't want to see them not in the game at key moments. Well, I say it's up to the player and coach to make sure that happens. Ref's should look at a play, not the player. One way to fix the worst officials in all of sports: call games objectively. Everyone knows they don't. Hell, if they did, Shaq would have been just above average because he committed offensive fouls nearly every time he touched the ball. Jordan wouldn't have scored the last bucket as a Bull the way he did. Not because he pushed off, (and he did) but because he hacked Malone (who flopped to try and "draw" a foul) at the other end of the court. It sets a bad image for the league, who, to their credit, has come a long way from the thug image of the Iverson/Artest/Arenas days. It's just disgusting to see that adolescent crap coming from one of the spokesman for the league. It's disheartening to see the league allows it. And ESPN promotes it with their continuous replay of the full play.
From this point on in the finals, I will be rooting for a less babyish and flopping Spurs team. Who would have thought with Parker and Duncan you could ever say that?
For those of you that would answer yes, I would ask which NBA champion can be considered the sole good player on his team? Magic, Bird, MJ, Russell all had all star casts. The only one exeption I would give would be early Wilt Chamberlain who was a superstar athelete in a short white man's league. Pistol Pete never had good teams around him and therefor, never won a championship. So, does the team make the superstar? I would also say no.
I count fewer superstars than many of the pundits. I don't count the Steve Francis, Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook's of the world. They are prolific scorers and demand a lot of attention in that sense. But what else do they give you other than inefficient possessions? Melo doesn't defend, Iverson didn't pass, Westbrook is only just now beginning to learn to be more efficient because of an amazing teammate but still doesn't defend well. As Sloan used to say, defense is all about effort. They just don't care about that side of the court. Who are my superstars in the league today? Kevin Durrant, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant (fading fast) and Tim Duncan. Other than that, I have a lower tier (Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Zach Randolph, Tony Parker), and a scorers list (Melo, Westbrook, Jefferson) and defenders (Chandler, Tony Allen, Ibaka) list. Real superstars though are very few. Even with that being said, where did Lebron take the 07 Cav's. They blew through a weak eastern conference and got beat up in the finals by a very well coached, well developed team. Let's go back to 01. How did the MVP Iverson fair with no one around him? His 76ers imploded and could barely win one game. So in all, I would dare someone to tell me it's still a superstar league
I digress, we have a superstar led team in which they are depending the King to get things done on both ends of the court. It seems as though every year we have this conundrum. Team vs Superstar. Most of the time though, it's more than that. MJ had Pippen, Kerr, Luc Longley and my favorite, Rodman. In one on one, the current Heat roster would blow away those Bulls, in every position but one. The NBA is 5 on 5 though and that was a much better team. However, with Ray Allen, Shane Battier and the Birdman (I love that guy!) coming off the bench, I think Miami is a better team than I previously have given them credit for. However, San Antonio is the most fundamentally sound team in the last 13 years. They have the best coach in NBA history (IMO), led by arguably the best F/C in NBA history and the best pure PG in the current NBA with Manu driving, dishing and shooting. Splitter and Leonard are two of the best young players in the league as well. They all compliment each other perfectly. The only knock I have is they only have player capable (if anyone truly is) of guarding the King. When Leonard is out, the are forced to throw different looks at him using a combo of Parker, Boris Diaw and Danny Green to attempt to hold him under control.
This year, D-Wade is LeBron's Pippen and Bosh has turned into Longley (I won't even give him the credit of Dennis Rodman). The issue is, unlike the Bulls of the 90's, they don't have the same quality coach who can reign and direct the personalities. What you get is a lot of standing around and watching while King James does everything. In Chicago, not as much in L.A. but more so than in Miami, you had a superstar who worked within a system that worked. MJ not only worked the system but he worked within the system. I'll go back to the '97 finals, game six against the Jazz. Coming out of timeout, Steve Kerr has said that though Jackson drew up a play to get Michael the shot, MJ pulled Kerr aside and said, (paraphrasing here) They know it's coming to me, when they double, I'll kick it to you and you'll hit the shot. The play played out just as Michael said it would and the Bulls dashed my dreams.
Game 1 was really exciting. You had a great team effort by the Spurs. They locked down Wade and forced Bosh outside his comfort zone (I would let him shoot long threes all day long). Great individual efforts by all involved, specifically Parker, Leonard and Duncan. And coach Pop controlled the pace of the game with subs. He sat Duncan with two fouls and when it started to look like the Heat would rally, Pop put Duncan back in to get some stops. James put on a clinic. He dominated on both ends of the court and when they needed a stop, he was chasing Tony Parker all over the place better than any one else did. The result: Spurs stealing the advantage and winning game one.
Game 2 was quite different. James did not have a stellar offensive game but played well defensively. Bosh was aggressive and even a bit nasty inside 12 feet, where he belongs. Wade played well without spending to much time on the ground, which surprises me. All in all, the Heat played as a team and the Beat the Spurs handily. The play everyone is talking about though is the Block. I'll say this, it was epic. It was an epic block at a not so key moment of the game which states his newish step on the throat mentality. Every championship style player has that finish him off mentality. However, it was also an epic fail, and should have been a technical foul. It was an arrogant, selfish move to stand there with his chest puffed out like he was a rooster looking for a fight while the rest of his team was down court trying to get a play off. About 8 seconds later you see him running down court by his self. It turned out well, but that was a boneheaded, ridiculous play that should not get rewarded. I think ESPN should show his pic next to a rooster and have THAT be the highlight, not the dunk. Show everyone what kind of player he is. Along with his literal sprinting down court every time a call goes against him, (needs a tech again) and his throwing his arms up like he just got zapped with a taser. MJ would put his hands on his hips and shake his head. That was in the days you were allowed to talk a bit to the refs. If LeBron wants to be compared to greatness, I will compare every step of the way.
The NBA should also hold their "stars" to a higher standard rather than letting them get away with that kind of nonsense. It has always bothered me that they don't call fouls on players like that because fans don't want to see them not in the game at key moments. Well, I say it's up to the player and coach to make sure that happens. Ref's should look at a play, not the player. One way to fix the worst officials in all of sports: call games objectively. Everyone knows they don't. Hell, if they did, Shaq would have been just above average because he committed offensive fouls nearly every time he touched the ball. Jordan wouldn't have scored the last bucket as a Bull the way he did. Not because he pushed off, (and he did) but because he hacked Malone (who flopped to try and "draw" a foul) at the other end of the court. It sets a bad image for the league, who, to their credit, has come a long way from the thug image of the Iverson/Artest/Arenas days. It's just disgusting to see that adolescent crap coming from one of the spokesman for the league. It's disheartening to see the league allows it. And ESPN promotes it with their continuous replay of the full play.
From this point on in the finals, I will be rooting for a less babyish and flopping Spurs team. Who would have thought with Parker and Duncan you could ever say that?
Thursday, May 30, 2013
The Mail Man gets a chance to help the Milk Man deliver.
Sorry it's been a while since my last post. Baseball is back into full swing and things are right where they should be. The Mariners suck. Again. I am sitting at work staring at my White Sox calender wondering if my childhood love is finally fading. Even though the Sox are 3 games below .500 I find myself drifting towards that team more and more. I digress, let's talk about what everyone really wants to talk about, the Utah Jazz reaching back into history again.
Karl Malone has just signed on to join another former Jazzman Tyrone Corbin in coaching the young Jazz team. He actually signs on to be a part time "big man" coach. He fills a severe need much like recently departed former Jazzman Jeff "Horny" Hornecek (congrats at the head coaching gig Horny, hope you don't beat the Jazz) did with AK47 before become a full time assistant when the Legend stepped into retirement. If nothing else, this is a great sound bite machine. Karl, err, Coach Malone will most assuredly give us wonderful tidbits after each game he is at, which seems to be most home games. I just hope he doesn't confuse Enes Kanter (I had to do that, sorry...) with his Louisiana sayings. However, he has said some incredible things in the past. "Forget technique. Hit the guy across from you. Don't let somebody come in your space." That's the mentality that these young kids need. Even if Isiah Thomas still flinches when he hears Malone coming. Derrick Favors needs some aggression and some nasty that Malone can bring. I also hope that the Jazz can talk Paul Milsap into staying on board as a 6th man just to stay with fellow Lousianan Malone. Think of the nasty picks Kanter could throw and how hard Favors could roll to the basket. I'm drooling to think that this could happen. If this works, this could work really well.
There are some major pit falls though. Malone wants to be the center of attention. Larry H. Miller once said "He's a huge pain in the ass. But he's our pain in the ass." Will the organization put up with him being a pain in the ass when he is not directly putting up 28 ppg and 12 rebounds? What if he and coach Corbin have a falling out over a coaching decision? It won't be quite. Malone will tell the media that he wants the game plan to be an inside out, pick and roll game. Let's face it, because of his history, the media will flock to him first anyway. I would. What if he sees something on the court from Favors or Kanter that he sees as quiting? Yikes. What if he sees the off season routine of these guys and freaks out at them saying "When I was your age". Hell, what if Favors gets injured for 10 games? Malone would be all over him in the media for not preparing hard enough. Until the 1 year Lakers stint where he missed half the season with a knee injury, Coach Malone (that just sounds funny) missed more games due to suspension than injury.
Can you imagine if we can talk the stoic and recluse John Stockton into getting on the bench next to Ty? Man, that would look good. John and Karl on the bench with Ty. It would remind Jazz fans of my generation of why the fell in love with the team in the first place. I'm sure that Mark Eaton could take some time away from his restaurant and Thurl Bailey could come downstairs for a pick up game of Jazz legends vs. Jazz newbies. Wow, I just thought of this, we could field a larger team of Jazz legends that are here often enough than guys on the current roster. Yikes.
Do I think this is a saving grace for Coach Corbin? I don't know, but I think it's more of a blow up potential than anything else. All in all, I think the Jazz will suffer another sub-par year, and Coach Corbin goes the way of the Milk Man and disappears. Who would I like to see coach? I'm not sure, but I don't want to see another Jazz team that lacks an identity offensively and doesn't show the typical nasty I'm used to seeing in a Jazz team. Malone will bring that nasty back, in more ways than one.
P.S. sorry I got a little link happy, but some of them were pretty fun to look up.
Karl Malone has just signed on to join another former Jazzman Tyrone Corbin in coaching the young Jazz team. He actually signs on to be a part time "big man" coach. He fills a severe need much like recently departed former Jazzman Jeff "Horny" Hornecek (congrats at the head coaching gig Horny, hope you don't beat the Jazz) did with AK47 before become a full time assistant when the Legend stepped into retirement. If nothing else, this is a great sound bite machine. Karl, err, Coach Malone will most assuredly give us wonderful tidbits after each game he is at, which seems to be most home games. I just hope he doesn't confuse Enes Kanter (I had to do that, sorry...) with his Louisiana sayings. However, he has said some incredible things in the past. "Forget technique. Hit the guy across from you. Don't let somebody come in your space." That's the mentality that these young kids need. Even if Isiah Thomas still flinches when he hears Malone coming. Derrick Favors needs some aggression and some nasty that Malone can bring. I also hope that the Jazz can talk Paul Milsap into staying on board as a 6th man just to stay with fellow Lousianan Malone. Think of the nasty picks Kanter could throw and how hard Favors could roll to the basket. I'm drooling to think that this could happen. If this works, this could work really well.
There are some major pit falls though. Malone wants to be the center of attention. Larry H. Miller once said "He's a huge pain in the ass. But he's our pain in the ass." Will the organization put up with him being a pain in the ass when he is not directly putting up 28 ppg and 12 rebounds? What if he and coach Corbin have a falling out over a coaching decision? It won't be quite. Malone will tell the media that he wants the game plan to be an inside out, pick and roll game. Let's face it, because of his history, the media will flock to him first anyway. I would. What if he sees something on the court from Favors or Kanter that he sees as quiting? Yikes. What if he sees the off season routine of these guys and freaks out at them saying "When I was your age". Hell, what if Favors gets injured for 10 games? Malone would be all over him in the media for not preparing hard enough. Until the 1 year Lakers stint where he missed half the season with a knee injury, Coach Malone (that just sounds funny) missed more games due to suspension than injury.
Can you imagine if we can talk the stoic and recluse John Stockton into getting on the bench next to Ty? Man, that would look good. John and Karl on the bench with Ty. It would remind Jazz fans of my generation of why the fell in love with the team in the first place. I'm sure that Mark Eaton could take some time away from his restaurant and Thurl Bailey could come downstairs for a pick up game of Jazz legends vs. Jazz newbies. Wow, I just thought of this, we could field a larger team of Jazz legends that are here often enough than guys on the current roster. Yikes.
Do I think this is a saving grace for Coach Corbin? I don't know, but I think it's more of a blow up potential than anything else. All in all, I think the Jazz will suffer another sub-par year, and Coach Corbin goes the way of the Milk Man and disappears. Who would I like to see coach? I'm not sure, but I don't want to see another Jazz team that lacks an identity offensively and doesn't show the typical nasty I'm used to seeing in a Jazz team. Malone will bring that nasty back, in more ways than one.
P.S. sorry I got a little link happy, but some of them were pretty fun to look up.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
All Hail the Utah SPAZZ
Watching the Spazz play Wednesday was a little frustrating. First of all, the national media who can do no wrong could talk about nothing else but the Lakers and Rockets. Second of all, the Jazz themselves run an increasingly frustrating offense. It’s not the inside out model I don’t like. I love that. The inside post is my favorite position on the basketball court and sadly the good fundamental players at that position are becoming as rare as the snow in June. I’m not talking about the Blake Griffins and the lumbering centers. I’m talking about the Tim Duncan’s, the Moses Malone’s, the Karl Malone’s. These type of players are going the way of the dodo because it’s not sexy to watch a big guy defend in the paint like Dennis Rodman did in the 90’s. Nor is it sexy to watch a center sky hook a shot from 4 feet in front of the basket like Kareem Abdul Jabar in the 80’s. It’s more about what you can do to get on Sports Center. I.E. Blake Griffin, Carlos Boozer and Big Al Jefferson. All of which play the Matador style defense so well that I’ve overheard turn styles say they were jealous of those three’s collective ability to have people go by them.
What bugs me about the Utah Jazz offense is the fact that when Al Jefferson is on the floor everything stops around him. He gets the ball and it seems like the rest of the team stops, gets popcorn and watches the show. Not only that, Utah has four good quality big men. Millsap, Jefferson, Kanter (who is out for the rest of the season) and the young phenom Derek Favors. They should not only push the ball inside, but they should push it inside again. After that doesn’t work, do it again. But they don’t come anywhere close. They play a double high post game that drives me bonkers. Imagine Karl Malone playing either 15 feet outside or just at the free throw line. Not that I am comparing any of these guys to the great Mailman, but come on. Even Charles Barkley played deeper than these guys do. With that said, Gordon Heyward and Alec Burks are both very good players and I love that Randy Foye has come on and shot the three really well. I’m OK with all of that. In fact, I love that the Jazz have embraced the fact that a three point line actually exists (sorry Sloan fans, you know it’s true). The high post is good, the double high post is absolutely ridiculous with the bigs Utah has. In fact, I don’t like the double high post with one big and one guy who has no business playing the four. Jerry Sloan realized that even with AK47 playing the power forward position. Think about this: Gordon Heyward is about the same height and weight as Andre and he plays the three and the two. AK played the three but was more comfortable at the four. Sloan played AK at the four because he didn’t have anyone else, and they had Greg Ostertag at the five. So defensively they were really good. Offensively they were really, really bad. They did have however, a plan, and executed that plan. The plan now, if there is one, seems to be get the ball into Jefferson and watch him play and when the lack of movement and rotation bites them in the butt, let Mo Williams do whatever he wants and see what happens. Also on defense, guard the three point and hope Derek Favors or Enes Kanter can defend everything else. Oh oops, Jefferson is there again, so let them score and we’ll try to shot threes until the coach takes out Jefferson and we go back to an what might look like an offense.
I know it’s a simplistic view of what actually goes on, but I honestly think it’s one of two things here: Ty Corbin doesn’t have an offense he is comfortable running or he has zero control of the team. Sometimes I think they will pull it off because Paul Millsap and Gordon Heyward take over the game and run what resembles offensive plays. Then again, sometimes I think they are just following direction and it’s not good direction at all. I loved that they hired a guy who had Sloan ties. I loved that he was a former Jazz player and he seemed to run similar things to Sloan with a more modern twist. Right now, I don’t think it was the right hire. I am hoping they cut ties with him (which they won’t) and the new GM Dennis Lindsey will talk management into hiring long time Phil Jackson asst. Brian Shaw. Not that I’m a Phil Jackson fan, nor am I real fan of the Triangle offense. It’s that he has an offense and a defense he likes to run. From what I’ve heard, it’s not the triangle, but he believes in running plays and playing the right way. Maybe that is what Utah needs right now.
With them not only losing a must win game, but getting embarrassed on national TV again, with this talent, someone needs to be held accountable. Whether that’s the coach, or even the front office because of the lack of movement at mid-season, someone needs to be held accountable. And I reiterate what I’ve said since they didn’t trade him, if they re-sign Al Jefferson, I am a Seattle Sonics fan.
On a side note, come join me and my family at the Red and White game with me and my family this Saturday at 1 pm! GO UTES!!!
What bugs me about the Utah Jazz offense is the fact that when Al Jefferson is on the floor everything stops around him. He gets the ball and it seems like the rest of the team stops, gets popcorn and watches the show. Not only that, Utah has four good quality big men. Millsap, Jefferson, Kanter (who is out for the rest of the season) and the young phenom Derek Favors. They should not only push the ball inside, but they should push it inside again. After that doesn’t work, do it again. But they don’t come anywhere close. They play a double high post game that drives me bonkers. Imagine Karl Malone playing either 15 feet outside or just at the free throw line. Not that I am comparing any of these guys to the great Mailman, but come on. Even Charles Barkley played deeper than these guys do. With that said, Gordon Heyward and Alec Burks are both very good players and I love that Randy Foye has come on and shot the three really well. I’m OK with all of that. In fact, I love that the Jazz have embraced the fact that a three point line actually exists (sorry Sloan fans, you know it’s true). The high post is good, the double high post is absolutely ridiculous with the bigs Utah has. In fact, I don’t like the double high post with one big and one guy who has no business playing the four. Jerry Sloan realized that even with AK47 playing the power forward position. Think about this: Gordon Heyward is about the same height and weight as Andre and he plays the three and the two. AK played the three but was more comfortable at the four. Sloan played AK at the four because he didn’t have anyone else, and they had Greg Ostertag at the five. So defensively they were really good. Offensively they were really, really bad. They did have however, a plan, and executed that plan. The plan now, if there is one, seems to be get the ball into Jefferson and watch him play and when the lack of movement and rotation bites them in the butt, let Mo Williams do whatever he wants and see what happens. Also on defense, guard the three point and hope Derek Favors or Enes Kanter can defend everything else. Oh oops, Jefferson is there again, so let them score and we’ll try to shot threes until the coach takes out Jefferson and we go back to an what might look like an offense.
I know it’s a simplistic view of what actually goes on, but I honestly think it’s one of two things here: Ty Corbin doesn’t have an offense he is comfortable running or he has zero control of the team. Sometimes I think they will pull it off because Paul Millsap and Gordon Heyward take over the game and run what resembles offensive plays. Then again, sometimes I think they are just following direction and it’s not good direction at all. I loved that they hired a guy who had Sloan ties. I loved that he was a former Jazz player and he seemed to run similar things to Sloan with a more modern twist. Right now, I don’t think it was the right hire. I am hoping they cut ties with him (which they won’t) and the new GM Dennis Lindsey will talk management into hiring long time Phil Jackson asst. Brian Shaw. Not that I’m a Phil Jackson fan, nor am I real fan of the Triangle offense. It’s that he has an offense and a defense he likes to run. From what I’ve heard, it’s not the triangle, but he believes in running plays and playing the right way. Maybe that is what Utah needs right now.
With them not only losing a must win game, but getting embarrassed on national TV again, with this talent, someone needs to be held accountable. Whether that’s the coach, or even the front office because of the lack of movement at mid-season, someone needs to be held accountable. And I reiterate what I’ve said since they didn’t trade him, if they re-sign Al Jefferson, I am a Seattle Sonics fan.
On a side note, come join me and my family at the Red and White game with me and my family this Saturday at 1 pm! GO UTES!!!
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