Game #5: Hornets at Jazz, January 2nd 2012, 7:00 PM MST

[Darkwing Duck]

The second unit really gave the team a boost in the 1st/2nd. A lot of energy. Raja and Hayward killed the momentum with their passive play to open the 3rd.

Millsap was also pretty sluggish until the end there. Al single-handedly kept the Jazz in the game for a while. Josh Howard and Burks did a good job of attacking. Earl was relentless on D.

It's nice to see that the Jazz can win some games on talent, as it seems to me fewer players showed up for the Jazz than showed up for the Hornets.

Jack played. Smith hit the usually inefficient 20 footers, Kaman had a quarter. What else?

 

[Cope]

Offense stagnates when Bell is in. He doesn't make noticeable mistakes offensively because he can't do anything with the ball other than shoot when he gets it, and he's not a chucker, so he makes the simple pass out. He's much better suited in a drive and kick offense than a flex offense.

This..... And I may be on a limb here but the same with Jefferson to a point. Jefferson doesn't pass and the offense just stalls. He made shots tonight so I'll give credit where it is due.

 

[Stoked]

This..... And I may be on a limb here but the same with Jefferson to a point. Jefferson doesn't pass and the offense just stalls. He made shots tonight so I'll give credit where it is due.

Jefferson needs to pass more, no arguement there. However the other 4 guys need to move, cut or something so that he has people to pass to.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Offense stagnates when Bell is in. He doesn't make noticeable mistakes offensively because he can't do anything with the ball other than shoot when he gets it, and he's not a chucker, so he makes the simple pass out. He's much better suited in a drive and kick offense than a flex offense.

I can't really say the offense stagnates because of Bell though. I agree with everything else you said though 100%. He is simply a placeholder until someone else proves themselves worthy of starting. I think everyone else is better suited coming off the bench at this point. I could see a case for Howard starting now alongside Hayward, but that is it.

 

[Darkwing Duck]

Jefferson needs to pass more, no arguement there. However the other 4 guys need to move, cut or something so that he has people to pass to.

If you know a guy isn't going to pass to you if you cut, why cut?

 

[Favors Flave]

The Burks situation today was a little weird. I thought he played OK. Someone mentioned that he was sucking air after 5 minutes of play, but I couldn't tell on my LD (low definition) stream. I like how he tries to play pressure defense, but he got absolutely buried on some screens.

I pointed it out. He pulled his arm and signaled that he needed a breather. Maybe this is why he doesn't get a lot of minutes? He never was asked to play D at CU and now he is trying really hard and is getting gassed really easily

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Jack played. Smith hit the usually inefficient 20 footers, Kaman had a quarter. What else?

I felt like Millsap let Smith heat up though. He gave him about 3 or 4 wide open looks right off the bat. Then Smith had the confidence to nail them even with someone closing out on him. Favors was the only one effective in closing on him because of his length.

 

[Stoked]

If you know a guy isn't going to pass to you if you cut, why cut?

Because your boss tells you to.
Because you are paid millions to.
Because it is good basketball

Justiying your bad actions on the bad actions of others is a pathetic excuse.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Because your boss tells you to.
Because you are paid millions to.
Because it is good basketball

Justiying your bad actions on the bad actions of others is a pathetic excuse.

I think the game plan is to feed Al then space the floor with shooters.

Late in the game Jefferson made a nice cross court pass to Howard from the post. Then Howard used the space created by the defense sucking into Al to drive the ball and force contact on defenders closing out on his drive.

 

[Ben10]

Jack scored almost all of his points by screen and rolling with whomever Jefferson was guarding. In the 3rd and 4th they tried the same thing with Favors and he wasn't getting good shots.

I have to disagree with you here Qman. Jack got most of his assists and points with the guy that Sap was guarding on the pick and pop. Jefferson IMO did a pretty good job tonight on the defensive end of the floor

 

[bordelais7]

If you know a guy isn't going to pass to you if you cut, why cut?

If you know no one is going to cut, why pass?

These chickens and eggs are caught in an infinite loop.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I have to disagree with you here Qman. Jack got most of his assists and points with the guy that Sap was guarding on the pick and pop. Jefferson IMO did a pretty good job tonight on the defensive end of the floor

How can you disagree when you are stating a different thing?

Qman said points. Jack was taking advantage of Jefferson's tendency to half close on ball handlers.

You said assist. Jack took advantage of Sap's laziness (or maybe lack of respect for Smith) on closeouts.

He also took advantage of Harris's spotty man defense.