Jazz at Clippers Dec 29--8:30

[craig2112]

The problem is, Craig, that such a performance isn't going to work against a contender. I has failed against the Blazers, Mavs, Spurs, and even Warriors, to name a few.

When people are glowing over Jefferson's strong performance tonight, there's nothing wrong with keeping the enthusiasm in check by pointing out the conventional contrast between Q1 and the rest of the game. Besides, there really shouldn't be a need for a big celebration against a team that has barely managed 10 wins. The promising performance tonight (big improvements by Hayward and Okur, for example) isn't good enough against a contender.

It wasn't until the apologist patrol appeared that I laid down the hammer. Sorry that you're a secondary casualty.

Uh, did it work against the Heat, Lakers...blah blah blah

I see you as a glass-half-empty kind of guy.
The jazz are winning games. No I guess they aren't undefeated, and they have lost a few. But this is the first year that the jazz are beating teams on the road like this. 11-4 on the road. Say that a few times. It's AWESOME!
22-10 overall and an easy schedule coming up. This is the good times.
I will be happy that Jeff and Hay stepped up and had great games. Are you only gonna be happy with wins over the best teams?

 

[InGameStrategy]

Why is'nt there anyone on the Clippers named Bass? It is all Sloan's fault.

You're right; lazy posting on my part. Bass, Gomes, Millsap. All undersized tweener forwards. Point remains, though, and it really doesn't affect the argument. What you have really uncovered is another way that the Jazz could attack the Mavs: let Millsap play against the real Bass and let the bigs handle/hack/annoy/frustrate Nowitski. When Dork gets pushed around a bit, he melts quickly. Millsap, although strong, doesn't fit the bill because he can't bother the shot without fouling.

 

[craig2112]

Teams are gonna lose games. If you win 60 games, that is a FANTASTIC season, right?
Well, it also means you lose 22 games. That's like losing every night for almost a month.

The thing is, in years past, the jazz struggled to win 18 or 10 road games. They would cough it up to bad teams and play like crap and show little effort or care.
Now we have a team that is winning most of the games they should. Yes, they lost at home to Porty the other night. But those kinds of losses have been few and far between this year.
Hey, where were we last year at this time? Certainly not 22-10 or anywhere close

 

[InGameStrategy]

Uh, did it work against the Heat, Lakers...blah blah blah

I see you as a glass-half-empty kind of guy.
The jazz are winning games. No I guess they aren't undefeated, and they have lost a few. But this is the first year that the jazz are beating teams on the road like this. 11-4 on the road. Say that a few times. It's AWESOME!
22-10 overall and an easy schedule coming up. This is the good times.
I will be happy that Jeff and Hay stepped up and had great games. Are you only gonna be happy with wins over the best teams?

I'm happy with the win tonight, but I think that some people are too happy about it. It might not be good enough against the contenders.

BTW, those Heat and Laker wins were when those teams were not at their best. Utah's performance tonight probably wouldn't have beaten either of those teams. Just curbing enthusiasm here. If you want to enjoy your win better, then stop challenging my arguments.

And yes, I do focus very heavily on Sloan's coaching, because I look at the game through a coach's (manager's) lenses. Many fans prefer to follow the game more from a player's or GM's perspective. I'm not gonna let Sloan's first-quarter disaster or the starting lineup's sluggishness be swept under the rug despite the favorable outcome. Okur and Hayward were very promising tonight, and so was Jefferson--when he got around to it.

 

[InGameStrategy]

Teams are gonna lose games. If you win 60 games, that is a FANTASTIC season, right?
Well, it also means you lose 22 games. That's like losing every night for almost a month.

The thing is, in years past, the jazz struggled to win 18 or 10 road games. They would cough it up to bad teams and play like crap and show little effort or care.
Now we have a team that is winning most of the games they should. Yes, they lost at home to Porty the other night. But those kinds of losses have been few and far between this year.
Hey, where were we last year at this time? Certainly not 22-10 or anywhere close

I don't have problem with the losses in which the coaching staff implements an effective strategy both before and during the game--and the players don't bury themselves in the first quarter. To me, the number in which both of those things have happened are very few. With better coaching (and player preparation, too) Utah should be a 5 or 6-loss team right now--and that's being conservative.

 

[vj_74]

I don't have problem with the losses in which the coaching staff implements an effective strategy both before and during the game--and the players don't bury themselves in the first quarter. To me, the number in which both of those things have happened are very few. With better coaching (and player preparation, too) Utah should be a 5 or 6-loss team right now--and that's being conservative.

In other words, if Sloan took your coaching 101 classes, we would be on pace to win 70+games and be No.1 in the WEstern conference. Never mind the talent we have. It is all matchups and rotations.

Give any roster to Armchairstrategy and he'll make them contend with just good in-game substitutions.
We all know that already. You dont have to end every argument or dicussion on this reminder.

 

[vj_74]

And if the Jazz DID have only 5 or 6 losses at this point, you'll still be saying that they should have been a zero-loss team if only Sloan had the right strategy.

 

[Harcher]

I'm happy with the win tonight, but I think that some people are too happy about it. It might not be good enough against the contenders.

So most fans have come here to high-five each other after a win and you stand up and refuse to give the high five becuase the win tonight 'might' not have been good enough against other teams?

In real life, we don't ever invite you to the party. Thanks for ruining my trip to JazzFanz this evening.

 

[Zerol]

I was at the game tonight and surprised to find out there are actually quite a few of Jazz fans here in LA.

It was good to be present in a game in which Jefferson and Hayward had their best game of the season. In this night Millsap got into foul trouble early, they turn to Jefferson inside and let him create. As dominant as Blake Griffin was, they had no answer for Big Al.

Great to see Hayward stepping up with AK and CJ out. He was off early but once he got that 3 and the 2 FTs early in the third, he is so much more confident and poised. Hopefully he keeps it up the rest of the season.

 

[Todd]

You're right; lazy posting on my part. Bass, Gomes, Millsap. All undersized tweener forwards. Point remains, though, and it really doesn't affect the argument. What you have really uncovered is another way that the Jazz could attack the Mavs: let Millsap play against the real Bass and let the bigs handle/hack/annoy/frustrate Nowitski. When Dork gets pushed around a bit, he melts quickly. Millsap, although strong, doesn't fit the bill because he can't bother the shot without fouling.

Doesn't Bass play for Orlando? The Mavs start Caron Butler as their small forward... We should probably leave the rotations to Sloan.

 

[Inn Dawn]

Hayward is showing such a beautiful stroke.

A certain Jazzfanz member's mother showed me a beautiful stroke last night as well.

BTW, even if Hayward had a poor game last night, I think he has me sold for good with his play yesterday. He hustled like mad and looked really explosive taking it to the basket on a couple of plays. The kid has no fear and I really love that. Put me in the camp that thinks he could be something special down the road.

Also, 'grats to the Jazz for proving me wrong. I was not expecting this win. Tonight's gonna be mad crazy.

 

[carolinajazz]

Tonight's gonna be mad crazy.

...tonight, in all probability...will be a loss.