Game Thread May 12, 2021 07:30PM MT: Jazz vs Blazers

[LogGrad98]

Ouch. This game was absolutely brutal from midway through the first quarter onward. Will we be able to consistently make threes in the playoffs? Having Conley and Mitchell back should help, but I'm starting to worry.

Bogey has had such an up and down year. It felt like he had turned a corner against Denver, and now he's suddenly struggling again.

Struggling again? This was his first rough game in maybe the last dozen. 1 bad game (and frankly it wasn't even that bad) in a dozen is more than acceptable.

 

[MTS]

You mean TORCHING Portland by losing 140-129? By Losing by 17 with less than 3 minutes to go? By scoring a bunch of points in garbage time against Portland's scrubs like TJ Leaf, Keljin Blevins and CJ Elleby? Have you heard about garbage time?

Talking about reality....

And arguing disingenuosly....

A 126 offensive rating is torching somebody, yes. They scored 100 points in the first 3 quarters - well before garbage time.

You are arguing disingenuously yet again.

 

[fishonjazz]

Ouch. This game was absolutely brutal from midway through the first quarter onward. Will we be able to consistently make threes in the playoffs? Having Conley and Mitchell back should help, but I'm starting to worry.

Bogey has had such an up and down year. It felt like he had turned a corner against Denver, and now he's suddenly struggling again.

As for the bogey part of your post. I think he is fine. He has been good for a long time now.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using JazzFanz mobile app

 

[latin jazz]

Ouch. This game was absolutely brutal from midway through the first quarter onward. Will we be able to consistently make threes in the playoffs? Having Conley and Mitchell back should help, but I'm starting to worry.

Bogey has had such an up and down year. It felt like he had turned a corner against Denver, and now he's suddenly struggling again.

I think having Mike and Donovan reduces the likelihood of poor shooting games. Donovan also gives the team more options in offense. In poor shooting nights he could get to the FT line, bend the defense and create opportunities for his teammates.

Sure, I can see us having the eventual 6 for 39 from 3, but we will have more weapons. And it's very unlikely we will have 3 or 4 games like this in a 7 game series.

Bogie is fine. He scored 27 against GSW. I am bit more concerned about integrating Mike and DM during the playoffs, and of course, our ability to defend the perimeter. Not so much about scoring.

 

[latin jazz]

A 126 offensive rating is torching somebody, yes. They scored 100 points in the first 3 quarters - well before garbage time.

You are arguing disingenuously yet again.

Well, if torching a team means scoring points while losing big time, I'm not sure who is the one arguing disingenuously...

 

[MTS]

Well, if torching a team means scoring points while losing big time, I'm not sure who is the one arguing disingenuously...

Torching a team means having a terrific scoring night against them.

Not really sure why you're turning this into a semantics argument, especially since the entire context of the argument has to do with Utah's performance on offense.

 

[latin jazz]

Torching a team means having a terrific scoring night against them.

Not really sure why you're turning this into a semantics argument, especially since the entire context of the argument has to do with Utah's performance on offense.

Because context matters and you brought the Rockets into the discussion. Portland scored a franchiste record 50 points in the 1Q against the Rockets. They relaxed (like any team would do) but decided to play hard again in the 4Q.

Utah's offense sucked big time this game. We disagree in that you view it as a choking or mental weakness. I just see a team that is tired and is really missing two exceptional players. The last couple of weeks I've kept my expectations low, and to be honest, I've been surprised by some of the games they have been able to pull off. For me all these games are a bonus, can't wait to see the team healthy again so I can judge them fairly. Having Mike and DM will help in closing out games (right now we only have JC or Bogie when they are on).

 

[Elizah Huge]

12-40 from 3 for 30% is the reason we lost. Off night. It happens. We’re 8-6 without Mitchell and 6-3 without Mitchell/Conley. To be above .500 without them would be impressive let alone a 66% win percentage.

We’re going to go into the playoffs with the 1 seed and a fully rested Mitchell/Conley. For the people scared of the Lakers... If we can’t beat them in the 1st round with a hobbled AD/LeBron we aren’t good enough to win the championship. The best time to play them would be in the 1st round. I don’t think they fall to 8 but the point still stands.

 

[MTS]

Because context matters and you brought the Rockets into the discussion. Portland scored a franchiste record 50 points in the 1Q against the Rockets. They relaxed (like any team would do) but decided to play hard again in the 4Q.

Wait, they played hard again in the 4th? But you just said Houston only scored a lot because of garbage time?

Since you're getting really hung up on the Rockets example, let's wipe it, because I could bring up a ton of other examples of bad offensive teams breaking 100 against the Blazers. Like, literally all of them, except one other time the whole season.

For the people scared of the Lakers... If we can’t beat them in the 1st round with a hobbled AD/LeBron we aren’t good enough to win the championship. The best time to play them would be in the 1st round. I don’t think they fall to 8 but the point still stands.

I'd agree if we were fully healthy going into the playoffs, but we're going to be bringing a rusted Conley and Mitchell back up to speed. Going from no NBA basketball in a month to suddenly an intense playoff series against the Lakers probably isn't going to be an advantage for the Jazz.

 

[Isaiah 1:13]

12-40 from 3 for 30% is the reason we lost. Off night. It happens. We’re 8-6 without Mitchell and 6-3 without Mitchell/Conley. To be above .500 without them would be impressive let alone a 66% win percentage.

We’re going to go into the playoffs with the 1 seed and a fully rested Mitchell/Conley. For the people scared of the Lakers... If we can’t beat them in the 1st round with a hobbled AD/LeBron we aren’t good enough to win the championship. The best time to play them would be in the 1st round. I don’t think they fall to 8 but the point still stands.

The only way the Lakers fall to 8 is if they stay at 7 and lose their play in game with Golden State or Memphis and then survive their game with the 9/10 winner. I'm rooting for Dallas or Portland to stumble and the Lakers to win out to move up to 6 to avoid the possibility of that scenario but don't want both Portland and Dallas to stumble because at 5 the Lakers re-enter our side of the bracket. Also, I think the Jazz organization has been far too cavalier in continuing to rest Conley and Mitchell. We needed to approach this game with a far greater sense of urgency. (I say this because Conley has already expressed publicly that his injury is minor - and over a week ago, and watching Mitchell walk around the court tonight there was absolutely no hint of distress.) This loss could definitely come back to bite us in the azz.

Mark my words, Phoenix will prevail against Portland tomorrow narrowing our lead to one measly game. Are people really that confident that San Antonio can beat Phoenix and that we can handle OKC and Sacramento on the road ostensibly without Conley and Mitchell again. Those young teams would just love to play spoiler roles - especially against the Jazz (the way we seem to be perceived). We are not out of the woods yet!!! Why are we so nonchalant about this #1 seeding thing!

And personally, I don't ascribe to the earlier is better theory when it comes to playing the Lakers. You probably didn't see how a short-handed Lakers squad manhandled the Suns on Sunday but I did. It brought back memories of JV/Varsity scrimmages in High School, you know when the pre-pubescent boys play against the young men. Better to meet them later when those nagging injuries have a chance to have flared up again IMO.

 

[MTS]

Also, I think the Jazz organization has been far too cavalier in continuing to rest Conley and Mitchell. We needed to approach this game with a far greater sense of urgency. (I say this because Conley has already expressed publicly that his injury is minor - and over a week ago

Wow. I assumed Conley was still pretty hobbled, but I looked it up and yeah, the sentiment among multiple reporters is that Conley, at least, would be playing if it was a playoff game right now.

If that's true, then that's just bad decision making on Utah's end.

Like, I get that getting to the playoffs healthy is the top priority, but at some point you have to look at the standings and go, "Hey, winning this game probably gives us a pretty easy path to the WCF where we'll play a bloodied up Lakers/Clippers/Suns, whereas losing this game means we're a hot Curry shooting night away from playing LeBron/AD in Round 1 with a rusted Conley/Mitchell".

If Conley is hobbled, then you obviously don't play him. But if he's fine and they "would have played him" if it were a playoff game... like, that's just failing to recognize the importance of the damn game.

Hoo boy.

 

[The Jazz Wonderbra]

My problems with tonight...

1. Nurkic man handled players and had 2 calls through 3 quarters. It rattled us. We need to handle punk basketball better.

2. When we are missing shots its contagious. Their defense frustrated us but then we just got in our heads on open looks. That really limits us.

3. There are almost no other options besides keep shooting. The alternative of going in to gobert has worked. But we need guys that come off the bench and make a couple of shots because that too is contagious.

4. If we win tonight then we need 1 meesly win from 2 games against bottom dwellers to secure #1. Given the tough path for the #2 seed, we really should have gone for it more. Now no margin for errors to control our own destiny.

5. When missing shots, we start to miss layups, free throws, and every 3. We get in our own heads too much.