I hope you're in the spirit of Halloween. Okay, so maybe it is one of those commercial holidays, but isn't it fun to not have to be yourself for one day? Or I guess you could look at it as finally getting to be yourself without everyone thing your weird!
Anyway, the Jazz played 3 very good quarter on Wednesday night against the Denver Nuggets, but somehow in the 4th quarter they managed to slip back into their old road habits and the Nuggets made them look like a L. A. Clippers team.
Oh, speaking of the L. A. Clippers, I look for the Jazz to man handle them much earlier than what Denver did to them. There at home in the confines of friendly fans. Although there is such a thing as being hit by friendly fire, I don't expect that there will be much of that, unless Carlos Boozer has the kind of night he had on Wednesday.
Also look for the Jazz Live crew to have a little Halloween fun tonight. Can you guess what masks DJ, Pace & me will wear tonight. Or better yet, what would you like to see us in? Now, now...be nice to Pace!
Question: Who will be Deron Williams' regular replacement when he takes a break this season and why? Can't wait to read your answers
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
At the ESA with Pace and DJ
There's 8 minutes left in the 2nd quarter and the Jazz have lost a 9 point lead and are up 2 with 5 minutes to go before the half. I like what I've seen so far defensively for the Jazz. They're taking responsibility individually first and then helping each other out as a team. It's not perfect but it's a great effort. Let's hope they don't get amnesia.
All I know is that the talk in the Denver Nuggets locker room is that they feel like they should have beaten the Lakers last year in the Western Conference finals. If you look at the Nuggets roster for this years 2009-2010 season, you won't see much of a change, except for a few role players like Linas Kleiza and Dahntay Jones. That's because Coach George Karl believes that his team kept pretty much intact should be incentivized by the fact that they almost beat the reigning NBA Champs.
So, what does this have to do with the Utah Jazz? Well, for starters the Jazz have some significant similarities to the Nuggets. The Jazz too start the new season with a fairly intact team from last year. Now I know what your thinking, (It's different because Boozer doesn't want to be in Utah.) Well, I beg to differ! Carlos Boozer, regardless of what he may have stated earlier or what you have heard from the rumor mill, wants to be here in Utah. Why? Because he can't be anywhere else. This level of basketball is not so much about loyalty by its players as it is about making the best business deal you can. The loyalty comes when there are no other options and you have a responsibility to perform at the best of your ability to the team in which you are contracted to play for. If a team can trade you at any time they wish without your consent, is it surprising that players in turn try to put themselves in the best possible situation they can?
Now, I'm not defending the way that Carlos when about it, but my point is that, this is the nature of the business of basketball! Okay, enough about Carlos! (I digress)
The match up tonight between the Jazz and the Nuggets will prove to be an important gauge for a few reasons. The obvious being that both are contending for a chance at the Western Conference Finals. The other is that the Jazz for a few years now have really struggled to find the swagger they need to win in a hostile environment. You will hear a lot of talk from the team's players about becoming a better defensive road team. Hopefully not as much as last year where the team had a dismal 15-26 record away from home.
I for one love the Jazz's chances this year to improve their overall record for a few reasons. Deron Williams is the consummate leader. He wants to win in a bad way and knows that with the talent around him, it can be done! Paul Milsap, is the happiest man in Utah and will play like it. (That's the loyalty thing I was talking about) Memo has added some new moves to his inside game...Look for the sky hook to return to NBA basketball!!!! A.K.-47 is 20lbs. thicker and will have a bigger impact on the defensive end, and Carlos Boozer has a huge incentive not just to play well himself but to translate his desire into wins for the team.
The keys for tonight: The Jazz really have to be Proactive and not Reactive. This will be a physical battle with a Nuggets team that feels it has something to prove right away. K-Mart & The Bird Man will be their hit men. Look to see whose butt hits the hardwood first!
I'll keep you posted!
So, what does this have to do with the Utah Jazz? Well, for starters the Jazz have some significant similarities to the Nuggets. The Jazz too start the new season with a fairly intact team from last year. Now I know what your thinking, (It's different because Boozer doesn't want to be in Utah.) Well, I beg to differ! Carlos Boozer, regardless of what he may have stated earlier or what you have heard from the rumor mill, wants to be here in Utah. Why? Because he can't be anywhere else. This level of basketball is not so much about loyalty by its players as it is about making the best business deal you can. The loyalty comes when there are no other options and you have a responsibility to perform at the best of your ability to the team in which you are contracted to play for. If a team can trade you at any time they wish without your consent, is it surprising that players in turn try to put themselves in the best possible situation they can?
Now, I'm not defending the way that Carlos when about it, but my point is that, this is the nature of the business of basketball! Okay, enough about Carlos! (I digress)
The match up tonight between the Jazz and the Nuggets will prove to be an important gauge for a few reasons. The obvious being that both are contending for a chance at the Western Conference Finals. The other is that the Jazz for a few years now have really struggled to find the swagger they need to win in a hostile environment. You will hear a lot of talk from the team's players about becoming a better defensive road team. Hopefully not as much as last year where the team had a dismal 15-26 record away from home.
I for one love the Jazz's chances this year to improve their overall record for a few reasons. Deron Williams is the consummate leader. He wants to win in a bad way and knows that with the talent around him, it can be done! Paul Milsap, is the happiest man in Utah and will play like it. (That's the loyalty thing I was talking about) Memo has added some new moves to his inside game...Look for the sky hook to return to NBA basketball!!!! A.K.-47 is 20lbs. thicker and will have a bigger impact on the defensive end, and Carlos Boozer has a huge incentive not just to play well himself but to translate his desire into wins for the team.
The keys for tonight: The Jazz really have to be Proactive and not Reactive. This will be a physical battle with a Nuggets team that feels it has something to prove right away. K-Mart & The Bird Man will be their hit men. Look to see whose butt hits the hardwood first!
I'll keep you posted!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Hey all you die hard basketball fans! The 2009-2010 NBA regular season is upon us and the Jazz head to Denver for their showdown with the Nuggets. Follow me on my BLOG this season as I bring you and inside look at the 2009-2010 Utah Jazz season. I'll give you my opinion on whatever is going on in that head of yours and keep you up to date on my daily adventures. Here's a taste of what's on my mind today as the Jazz prepare to for the season:
If I had a dollar for every time I heard the question, “Thurl, how are the Jazz going to be this year?” I’d be making as much as Paul Milsap. I wish I did have that Crystal ball to look into the future of this year’s Jazz team, although I’d probably only use it to make me look that much smarter than Pace.
In my opinion there really is only one word that sums up what we all should be watching for with the Jazz this season….HEALTH. As simple as that may sound, to me it is initially the biggest hurdle that this Jazz team must get over. I’ll break it down for you in two parts.
Physical health: Last year Jazz fans anticipated that the Jazz’s nucleus (Williams, Boozer, Kirelinko, Okur, Korver & Milsap) would take the Jazz far in the playoffs and possibly to the Western Conference Finals, but never really got to see all of those players play together for any significant stretch of time because of injuries. Although injuries are one of those factors one can never control, let’s hope that the Jazz have better luck this season than last. Having C J, Matt, and Kyle out…is not a good sign!
Mental health: This is really all about individual and team attitude! Everybody wants to know how Carlos Boozer’s attitude is going to be this year. (That’s the second most asked question I get.) Carlos, is going to have his best season ever! Don’t be so shocked by my answer. I mean, wouldn’t you want to if you were him. First of all, regardless of where he wants to be, (or doesn’t) he’s a great player and the Jazz are a better team with him on it regardless of how you feel about his defensive skills. You know what you get with Carlos and what you get is a guys who makes a 20 point 20 rebound night look as easy as any player I’ve ever seen.
The trick will be whether anyone else besides Deron Williams will step up night after night as a leader. Not just with his play but also with his voice and attitude. Whose going to be the guy who leads the rally on the road to knock someone on their ass and set the tone to start living up the legend of Jerry Sloan coached teams? A 15-26 road record just won’t do.
If I had a dollar for every time I heard the question, “Thurl, how are the Jazz going to be this year?” I’d be making as much as Paul Milsap. I wish I did have that Crystal ball to look into the future of this year’s Jazz team, although I’d probably only use it to make me look that much smarter than Pace.
In my opinion there really is only one word that sums up what we all should be watching for with the Jazz this season….HEALTH. As simple as that may sound, to me it is initially the biggest hurdle that this Jazz team must get over. I’ll break it down for you in two parts.
Physical health: Last year Jazz fans anticipated that the Jazz’s nucleus (Williams, Boozer, Kirelinko, Okur, Korver & Milsap) would take the Jazz far in the playoffs and possibly to the Western Conference Finals, but never really got to see all of those players play together for any significant stretch of time because of injuries. Although injuries are one of those factors one can never control, let’s hope that the Jazz have better luck this season than last. Having C J, Matt, and Kyle out…is not a good sign!
Mental health: This is really all about individual and team attitude! Everybody wants to know how Carlos Boozer’s attitude is going to be this year. (That’s the second most asked question I get.) Carlos, is going to have his best season ever! Don’t be so shocked by my answer. I mean, wouldn’t you want to if you were him. First of all, regardless of where he wants to be, (or doesn’t) he’s a great player and the Jazz are a better team with him on it regardless of how you feel about his defensive skills. You know what you get with Carlos and what you get is a guys who makes a 20 point 20 rebound night look as easy as any player I’ve ever seen.
The trick will be whether anyone else besides Deron Williams will step up night after night as a leader. Not just with his play but also with his voice and attitude. Whose going to be the guy who leads the rally on the road to knock someone on their ass and set the tone to start living up the legend of Jerry Sloan coached teams? A 15-26 road record just won’t do.
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