Kobe (photo. Chris Sembrot)What excuse could the Lakers-haters use after yesterday’s display? Even against a well-coached team that actually plays team defense and doesn’t have any — as far as we know — significant internal locker-room strife or heart/balls issues, the Lakers looked as sharp as ever: Kobe Bryant (38 pts) was unstoppable, Pau Gasol (18 pts, 10 rebs) looked like he could have taken the game over and dropped 30 himself if he felt like it, and even Sasha Vujacic (15 pts) had a stretch where he looked like a right-handed Manu Ginobili. The Lakers did allow the Jazz to creep back into what was a blowout and make it a close game midway through the fourth quarter, but Kobe and Pau led another run to put it out of reach. And to the question of, “Can you really be a serious championship contender when Vladimir Radmanovic is one of your starters?” the Lakers answered “Yes.” … Kobe and Gasol are playing like they grew up together or something. Their chemistry is amazing considering they just got to know each other a few months ago. Did you see that slip screen play they ran late in the fourth? Gasol had the ball at the high post with his back to the basket, and in the same motion that Kobe came to get a handoff from him, Gasol dove to the basket and Kobe skipped a pretty bounce pass to him. Gasol didn’t even have to look back for the ball; he just stuck his hand out and it came to him for an easy layup … Question: Are the L.A. fans gonna keep chanting “M-V-P!” whenever Kobe breathes after he’s presented with the award? Will they give it a rest until next season? And even then, will they start on Opening Night or wait until after All-Star break? We could be looking at a chant that lasts for however long Kobe plays in the League … At the beginning of the game, you saw what happens when the only legit shot-blocking presence on the court is a small forward. For a while it seemed like every shot both teams took was an open layup or dunk right under the basket. Guys didn’t even have to jump; it was like an instructional video on the Mikan Drill … Once again Carlos Boozer (15 pts, 14 rebs, 7 turnovers) was just OK, but Deron Williams (14 pts, 9 rebs, 9 asts) couldn’t recapture the stroke he had when Utah closed out the Rockets. One time Deron tried to drive and dunk over everybody but Ronny Turiaf sent him packing. And Mehmet Okur slapped up another Dwight Howard-ish stat line (21 pts, 19 rebs) that no one really noticed until they saw the boxscore afterwards … Derrick Rose was sitting front row at Staples, wearing what looked like Nike Air Max’s (that kind of thing has implications right now, you know) and an L-R-G sweatshirt. We heard from one of our industry buddies that Rose, Mike Beasley, Jerryd Bayless and O.J. Mayo all signed deals with L-R-G recently … Getting all the way to a Game Seven just to see a blowout is one of the great letdowns in basketball. It’s like plowing through an amazing holiday dinner, only to find out Grandma isn’t making dessert this year ’cause Oprah told her it wasn’t healthy. It’s probably just over-eating to do the dessert anyway, but you end up forgetting how great the dinner was and you’re left with a bad lasting memory because there’s no sweet potato pie payoff. The Hawks (or Celtics, depending on how you look at it) robbed us of that pie in what ended up being a rout in Boston … The C’s were relentless, making ATL look like a college team on both ends of the floor. Paul Pierce had 22 points and 8 boards, Kevin Garnett put up 18 and 11, and Joe Johnson (16 pts) was one of only two Hawks to crack double-digits … KG should be expecting at least a $25K fine for doing the throat-slash after one of his dunks put the C’s up by about 213 points in the third quarter. But considering he probably should have been suspended for manhandling that referee earlier in the series (imagine if someone like Roger Mason had done that?), the fine is nothing … Despite the blowout, there was still some residual chippy-ness. Marvin Williams hammered Rajon Rondo on a drive and got himself ejected with a Flagrant-2, and KG got back at Zaza Pachulia by planting him on a backcourt pick that Zaza never saw coming … How about some of the Boston fans acting like they just won a championship? Congratulations, you beat a 37-45 team in the first round in seven games. Good job. Are you worried about LeBron yet? … We’re out like ATL …
May 5th, 2008 at 12:11 am
Jerry says:
Great win by Lakers, getting it done at home, could’ve let it slip away but lasted til the end. Need to hit those boards!
Is it too much to ask for the Laker Girls to jump through fire hoops and dunk?
I know i’d pay to see that.
I don’t think Hawks did anything surprising at the Garden, they were just being consistent. Next match up is going to be a great battle, will Wally show up?
May 5th, 2008 at 12:11 am
jay says:
first!
atlanta looked like a high school team to me, not a college one!
May 5th, 2008 at 12:24 am
jwebb says:
weren’t the atlanta hawks 37-45 not 40-42? even a worse reason to chant like you won the ’ship
May 5th, 2008 at 12:26 am
Borgs says:
jay’s a dope.
Boozer has been VERY ordinary since the turn of the calendar. He almost cost the Jazz this one on his own with his no-defense-playin’, jumpshot-missin’, turnover prone ways.
May 5th, 2008 at 12:38 am
Yoooooooo says:
Lakers looked unbeatable. So many weapons around the Ultimate weapon. And just to think this isn’t their whole team… Gotta be scary for the rest of the league. And for years to come at that… Theyre leader is still only 29… Theyre like the 2nd youngest team in the league. That’s crazy. Kobe might end up with more rings than Mike afterall
May 5th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Oscarisalakerfan says:
Utah won the board battle by like a million and still couldn’t pull it off……If I was a Utah fan I would be worried………GO LAKERS WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
May 5th, 2008 at 1:03 am
marcus the great says:
soooo mad i had to work today and missed both games…
May 5th, 2008 at 1:09 am
yoda says:
lakers must fix theirs defensive rebounds. if they could’ve controled rebounds, this would be blowout. but kobe had such sweet first quarter and first half time, overall :O too bad he didn’t cracked pierces record with 21 straight ft made in playoffs
May 5th, 2008 at 1:22 am
Jerry says:
Too many turnovers in the 2nd quarter definitely hurt the Jazz.
The way they’re fouling Kobe i’m sure he’ll get a chance every night for that record, he still hit 21, just not in a row
May 5th, 2008 at 1:47 am
bill says:
Come on Jazz,
Okur channelling Rodman????
May 5th, 2008 at 2:18 am
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Lakers in 5. Just too much mamba and co. Its all love right now in La La land.
My question: If the Lakers keep Kobe, Bynum, Pau, and LO(and they stay healthy) Who is going to stop them from running a 5 year dynasty?
I really hope the Spurs pull this series out so we can see a clash of the Titans VS LA!!!
Holla to all my Laker fans
May 5th, 2008 at 2:54 am
giacomo says:
i think you guys are forgetting how shit utah has been on the road all season. now im not sayin LA wont beat them or that they rnt serious championship contenders but cummon.
its not like utah is anything scary on the road.
May 5th, 2008 at 4:12 am
Reality Cheque says:
Who would you want on your team for a full season in ‘08-09?
Pau Gasol 29 52% of all votes
Yao Ming 19 34% of all votes
Marcus Camby 4 7% of all votes
Shaq O’Neal 4 7% of all votes
Total Votes: 56
Started: May 4, 2008
a little diss for Yao?
May 5th, 2008 at 5:49 am
Dominic says:
Wrestling at its best:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LPlbvPP7O1s
May 5th, 2008 at 6:02 am
jz_smoove says:
i hope CP3 is the MVP. Kobe is the man right now though and there is no more excuses. i like the lakers they were my team growing up, but i hope kobe-led lakers lose to to utah. i am still a shaq fan all the way with regards to this LA-feud from before. at this point, who do u think will claim the championship? i have a bet at work that SA will repeat, and nobody picks them to win. i asked why and the answer i got is cuz they are boring. it doesnt make sense. so i hope they win cuz my $ is with em.
May 5th, 2008 at 6:35 am
Jerry says:
jz_smoove i predict you will be disappointed, twice.
May 5th, 2008 at 6:46 am
YOUNGFED says:
5 year dynasty WTF they gotta do one year 1st.
Also @Dime, LA can chant MVP for the rest of the year because K-HOVA is the MVP for the rest of the year.
PISTONS allday pimpin’
May 5th, 2008 at 7:04 am
kobeef says:
What’s great about the Lakers right now is that they have developed that “two-speed” appraoch you see in great champions. The Spurs are probably best known for coasting when they can but the Pistons are also guilty of having the Jekyll and Hyde complex.
Yesterday the lakers were pounding the Jazz in the first half and then let off in the third. When it started to get close in the fourth you could see Kobe and Pau all of a sudden start to get intense and focused again and they put it out of reach within minutes.
Lakers vs Hornets in the west Final would be insane. Would love to watch CP3 and Mamba duke it out especialy with the MVP debate in the mix.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:06 am
YOUNGFED says:
BTW Yao is better than all those fukin’ lames if somebody says different GTFOH.
Also;
If it ain’t DETROIT it ain’t SHIT!!!
Holla!!!
“Ya Boy Is Back!!!” - Jay-Z
May 5th, 2008 at 7:29 am
GayforRudy says:
I am shocked that Dime is shocked that a bunch of meat head leprechauns named Sully acted like they won a championship yesterday! What else would you expect?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/punkdolphin/2208782767/
May 5th, 2008 at 7:49 am
mambo mamba says:
grama’s pie?! whaaaaat, u guys are seriously more creative than that
May 5th, 2008 at 8:05 am
kobeef says:
@Youngfed
Last time I checked Yao got dominated by Boozer when they played in November with Boozer dropping 30-16 on Yao’s head (Yao scored 11). Last night Booz looked like he was getting all he could handle from Gasol and Odom, so put me on the list of people who would take Gasol over Yao.
It must suck for Adidas to sponsor all these guys (Rose, Lebron, ) when they are up and coming and lose them to Nike once the make it.
May 5th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Suciniac says:
@Dime
CP3 and co blow out the defending champions and you guys talk more about the “Bruce Bowen show”.Now, Kobe blows out Utah and I have to look at Kobe’s face in the thread with a “Hate me now” title and how good Vujacic was,how good a duo Kobe & Gasol are????Needless to say there’s a big time Lakers/Kobe homer at DIME.
May 5th, 2008 at 8:22 am
IGP says:
Hey Dime nice Nas reference in the title.
The Lakers looked good yesterday, but when the get Bynum back they will be nasty. This year is really a tough call as to who will win it, but I do think the Lakers have a great shot. The Celtics are not looking like contenders really, but last nights game was good. I just HATE how they always celebrate like they won the championship. They do it after so many regular wins. And I’m from Boston.
May 5th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Three Stacks says:
Yao doesn’t guard Boozer when they play Utah, he guards Mehmet Okur. Boozer was probably guarded by a Hayes and Scola.
May 5th, 2008 at 8:58 am
GEE...Well im imp da dimp the ladies pimp ... says:
IGP that is a nasty look with Bynum coming off the bench. At least I would have dude come off the bench. That makes that second team that much more potent.
People can say what they want but I love the D that Fisher plays. Sure offensively his stat line was horrid but Sasha Vujacic made up for that.
Lakers look strong, I smell 4-1.
Boston went 7 but to me that is what they needed. I think that will really help them in the long run. Take that as on the job playoff training if you will. Now they are going to be more serious in regards to their next opponent.
Essentially this will be the great 1 vs. the big 3. Got to give the roll player and bench nod to Boston. Hope Big Z is ready to hear it from K.G.
ZaZa at least had the courage to get up in KG’s face, who from Cleve….Ben Wallace ok answered my own.
Young I got to say your Pistons lookin real good right now. Seem like they got that whole “We are on a mission” deal back in em.
Somewhere I think Bonzi Wells is cracking up and thanking Houston for letting him go.
Outside of Cleveland’s coach, we are really about to see some great coaching now.
Hope N.O. leaves the pyro stunts alone.
May 5th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Three Stacks says:
I kinda like the fact that the Boston fans are very vocal about their support. Whenever I go to Staples Center, I get kinda upset that most of the fans don’t seem to be paying attention to the game. I know LA fans are notoriously laid-back, but we can do more than just follow the instructions of the PA guy, yeah?
I’m in no way sticking up for Boston, though. That “nananana hey hey Goodbye” chant at the end was completely overkill.
May 5th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Dennis Castro says:
ahahahahah, Lebron took out Detoit last year, and he’s going to take out Boston this year. The C’s should be very worried right now, because they have absolutely no one that can match up with Lebron.
Doc better not even think of putting Shuttlesworth on Lebron, otherwise it’ll be a 50 spot for Lebron. They might even have to start Posey at the 4, have him guard LBJ and slide KG over to the 5. Also, Lebron should be going to the line at least 14-15 times a game this series.
Also, if I was Mike Woodson yesterday, after the C’s were up by like 36 and still shooting 3’s in the 3rd, I would have had one or two of my guys foul any Celtic HARD.
If I’m Mike Brown, my starting 5 for this series would be Delonte/Boobie, Wally Szerzczclgknasodiu, Joe Smith at the 4, and Z. Just surround James with shooters and let him create the mismatches.
May 5th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Kobeef says:
@Three Stacks
Playing the “nananana hey hey Goodbye” chant at the end of a series you were supposed to sweep is just ignorant.
Any player with any amount of class would give the Hawks a round of applause for taking a young, inexperienced team this deep against the best team in the league. Danny Ainge came within a game of losing his job and the Celtics act like they kicked Atlanta’s ass ?
You stay classy, Boston.
May 5th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
I feel for Boston next round.
You see what Lebron did to the Pistons last year.
If Ben Wallace plays even a little bit of D, and Delonte continues to slash to the basket, and Gibson is hitting shots. The C’s might be in a little bit of trouble.
The Lakers beasted Utah last night, but don’t count on that happening every night, the beauty of the playoffs is one game is just one game.
Jerry Sloan against Phil Jackson. I love it.
Jerry Needs to channel some of that anger from all of those Championships he got robbed of in the 90’s and gear them boys up for battle.
I saw a clip of him talking to Utah in the back and he’s talking all calm.
I would been like you. “You better whip they a*s!” LOL!!
The Pistons will NOT make quick work of the Magic. If Rashard Lewis gets hot, and Hedo and them boys, it’s going to be a series. A long on at that. I was playing Live 08 yesterday, and I played JJ Reddick, I had all of these visions of what he could be on that squad which is built for his skill. If the man would just work on his D!
May 5th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
People are beating up on the Celtics for being excited about moving on, and the fans chanting, but what people have to understand is that Atlanta was just a matchup nightare for the C’s, just like golden state was for Dallas. Plus the refs were controlling a lot of the games. That’s why it was hard for either of those teams to win on the road. There were a lot of bullsh*t calls.
Atlanta is an offensive juggernaught without a good coach. they can run all day, they are super athletic.
The celtics routed every team in the west this year for the most part, so we know they are a solid team they were 66-16.
Cleveland may give them a little trouble, but were talking two defensive minded teams, but Lebron is the X factor. Once he gets going, NO ONE, and I do mean, NO ONE, can stop this guy!!!
And we can’t say one man can’t beat a team anymore. Look at last year.
May 5th, 2008 at 9:27 am
GEE...Well im imp da dimp the ladies pimp ... says:
Yea Chuck. GOD bless video games right.
I can trade trade Yao for Dwight and put Novack in the starting line up and have a great pg who can give o and d instead of Skip.
To think, for many fans a video game is as close as they will ever be to what they would like to see with their team lol.
Can’t wait for the 09 stuff to hit.
May 5th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
I tried my hand at Madden 08, but I just flat out suck at that game! LOL!!!
May 5th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Three Stacks says:
The Cavs will not beat the Celtics. Yeah, the Hawks took them to 7 games, but that was probably the most one-sided 7 game series ever.
Maybe Boston needs to work on their effort on the road, but there’s no evidence to state that the Celtics weren’t just as dominant in the playoffs as they were in the regular season. They won every home game by an average of like 26 points. If they play remotely similar to that caliber in their home games, the Cavs have no chance.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:06 am
YOUNGFED says:
@Chuck
try ya hand at grand theft auto IV. Babes, guns, money, fast cars what could be better. lol
Also the Pistons will make quick work of the Magic.
@Kobeef
Let me guess your a lakers fan.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Dave says:
here’s the difference in coaches in a nutshell:
Jerry Sloan when answering if fatigue was playing a part in his team being down…… A: (laughs) NO, it’s just basketball, they should be ready to play.
Jackson on difference in the third qtr. when the Jazz had cut the lead down….. A: It’s the officiating. (he didn’t really say that did he?….yep, up all game, Kobe shoots 25 free throws and he’s WHINING about the refs?)
Kobe has figured out how to make his teammates better but give me a break, Okur owned Gasol head up and the Jazz shot the worst % they’ve shot all playoffs. Jazz will own the boards all series, not worried about that, and Lakers bandwagoner fans should be scared….all it would’ve taken is a couple of three’s to fall and the Jazz stole game one!
GIVE ME A BREAK! What a p
May 5th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Dave says:
Threestacks.
Yeah Boozer does guard Yao about half of the possesions when they play the Rockets. They don’t like the matchup with Yao on Okur the other way either because he takes him away from the hoop.
With that said if Houston was to offer Yao for Boozer we’d do that all day long.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:41 am
joe says:
LA-utah smells like a sweep. Bring out the brooms!!
May 5th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Dave says:
joe….wish you were my neighbor, I’d make a bunch of money off of you. Lakers got the worst Jazz performance of the playoffs, glad to hear the confidence level is as high as it is. Hope you’re around after game 2.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
@YoungFed
I don’t have a playstation 3 yet. Those things are to expensive!
I graduate pretty soon, maybe I can afford one then, but man with the job market the way it is, I don’t know.
I’m still working with playstation 2 and I don’t even know if Grand theft comes out on Playstation 2?
May 5th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Dave says:
Fisher played as well as I’ve ever seen on DWill, be interesting to see if he has the legs to do it every night.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:51 am
GEE...Well im imp da dimp the ladies pimp ... says:
Chuck don’t trip I don’t have one yet either. The wife is suppose to be getting me on during the summer. So I am just waiting on the government to assist her by sending that extra check lol.
I don’t think it will be a sweep, but Dave I do see the Lakers taking the Jazz out on some smooth quickly, deadly and quietly type stuff.
Dave I will also take that Boozer for Yao also (Health). You can’t be serious in giving Boozer away?
May 5th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
@Dave
Memo has not made a habit of having dounle double games my friend. He will go back to how he usually plays pretty soon. A seven footer hovering at the 3 point line.
Ronny turiaf and Lamar odom will play better on the boards in the second game, and you I would bet my entire paycheck on that.
Derron Williams is a beast, and if he gets going then the Jazz will pull a few out.
But look, Derek Fisher is a great permiter defender and has played for the jazz, he knows there system, and he is very strong for a gaurd. Which is what makes Williams so special, he’s very strong.
Boozer played like crap against the rockets, and he will against the lakers, I mean look he’s going head to head with Lamar Odom, who is taller and a lefty.
Look at all the perimeter shooters the lakers have. They are a complete team from point to center. Gasol may not be a banger, but Memo can’t stop him!
I’m sorry to break this news to you,
but the jazz are going home my friend, just like they do every other year.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:56 am
YOUNGFED says:
@ Chuck and Gee
Get yall paper up homies. lol
knaw just kidding them shits is expensive but look at like this you get a blu-ray dvd player and game console in one.
What could be better.
PS
Get yall paper up. lmao
May 5th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Amar says:
Solid wins for the lakers, the game was not even in contention. Lakers should win like that at home after a week to prepare. I’m amazed at so many lakers fans who suggest that their team was not playing well. If anyone objectively looks at the game they will realize that the jazz played much worse than they are capable of. Outside of CJ “garbage time” Miles, the Jazz made 2 threes. They are better than that, and they missed a lot of open shots. These were not contested shots that they were jacking, these were open shots within their offense that usually go in at a higher frequency.
Okur outplayed Gasol. Gasol didn’t do jack during the game, and only started to play well by leaking out for fast break buckets. Shouldn’t your center be getting the rebounds to outlet, instead of the other way around? Maybe if Gasol wasn’t cherry picking the lakers wouldn’t have been outrebounded by 25?
Kobe is phenominal. You gotta love his game. Both benches sucked (outside of the interesting Kover/Sasha battle of pretty boys). The interesting undercard is the space cadet starting small forward battle of Kirilenko and Radmonovic.
Btw Dime, Boozer looked like he was having all he could handle? He was missing open jump shots, did you not watch it when he dunked it on Gasol off of a post up and got the foul?
Utah’s not dead yet, no one was saying that Utah would sweep. Utah played really poorly, yet they didn’t get blown out to a rested club in LA, after having 38 hours from beating the rockets.
I’m pretty sure that the Lakers are not going to sweep, but they’ll still win the series. (Unless something magical happens, like bad lamar shows up and starts to jack three pointers)
May 5th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
@YoungFed
LMAO!!
That’s why I tried the school thing, but dag, student loans ain’t no joke either. LOL!!
If school don’t payoff, i guess I’ll just have to rob banks!!
LOL!!
May 5th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Amar says:
@ Chuck, you look at memo’s stats?
21/19 — game 1 vs. lal
19/13 — rnd 1, gm 6 (win)
14/10 — rnd 1, gm 5 (loss)
14/18 — rnd 1, gm 4 (win)
12/11 — rnd 1, gm 3 (loss)
16/16 — rnd 1, gm 2 (win)
4/8 — first game of the playoffs, a game he only played 30 mins in and was sucking (win)
11/4 — game utah tanked @ the spurs, he played 23 mins
12/13 — vs. houston (win)
20/15 — vs. denver (win)
19/14 — @ dallas (loss)
22/17 — @ new orleans (win)
17/16 — vs. spurs (win)
22/7 — vs. minny (win)
16/9 — vs. wash (win)
20/10 — @ minny (loss)
24/10 — vs. bobcats (win)
that’s a large enough sample size to indicate a rebounding trend. so fuck off, check the stats before making assumptions that are not supported by reality.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:10 am
GEE...Well im imp da dimp the ladies pimp ... says:
Young that is the whole thing I am trying not to use “My” paper. LOL let the wife get it out of her account.
If she read this she would be on some get it yourself stuff then lol. Shhhhhhh!
Work smarter not harder pimpin lol.
For real you put a taller agile player on Boozer and he has fits all day. Then again that is most NBA players that can’t really drive from the top of the key and beyond.
Still Boozer seems to have more trouble than more “stars” that I have seen.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Amar says:
that’s 13 double doubles in the last 17 games
May 5th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Amar says:
boozer likes to be fed the ball in scoring position. he’s a finisher. he doesn’t like to do the work himself. he’s not a scorer. that’s part of the problem. he has a post move that he sometimes uses, but against taller guys he changes his shot mechanics, which throws his accuracy off. i guess that’s what happens when you’re listed at 6′9, but aren’t, and you’re playing guys bigger than you.
if he was aggressive like he was against dikembe in game 6 in this game, he probably would have gone to the line a bit more.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Dave says:
Chuck, a couple of good points but obviously you are re-gurgitating things you’ve heard on tv. Memo has been like that every game in the playoffs but one where he’s hammering the boards, going to the hole, and when he’s open he’s nailing three’s on top of it.
Boozer is mentally weak I’ve decided after watching him the second half of the season. Talent-wise it’s there, footwork is there, can shoot with both hands very well, but doesn’t have the mind-strength yet to lead a team.
good points on Fish, he knew what the Jazz were doing all game long, and that’s as well as I’ve ever seen him play defense.
So as I stated earlier I’m happy at all of the overconfidence because the Jazz aren’t going to lose on Wednesday.
Okur won’t miss all his threes. Deron will have a much better game, Boozer can’t play worse, and Korver will shoot better than 1-6.
The Lakers feel like it was a great game, the Jazz haven’t played worse and it was an 4 pt game with 5 minuted left, I’d be worried if I were the Lakers.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Dave says:
Amar I might need to hire you for research. Nice info on Memo.
Gasol will implode in at least one game this series, he never has handled adversity very well and once they get down in a game I could see him coming unglued! Galloping goober that he is.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:24 am
K Dizzle says:
Gee
glad you appreciate Fish beyond the stats. Dude’s got a bad wheel too. I’m gonna assume Utah’s gonna play better at home, but they did look a little overmatched yesterday. I’m waitin for a report on some kinda injury to Booze cuz he’s reverted badly since the all-star break
There won’t be a sweep tho cuz the jazz a different team at their crib
Youngfed
Orlando’ll get a game, but I feel you on Detroit ready to turn it on. Think Philly pissed them off
May 5th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Amar says:
Dave — the game was closer than what I expected (short turn around, lakers well rested, in LA, etc), but let’s not be unreasonable here. the last time utah led the game it was 4 to 2. it’s not like we were in it, or that there were 9 lead changes in the 4th quarter or anything. the lakers handled their business, and while we played poorly, they didn’t play their best game either.
at any rate, they are up 1 - 0 on us. we move on, and so do they. we’ll see what adjustments both teams make for wed.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
@Amar
Man you are looking at playoff stats, that’s a subjective way to veiw Memo’s performance, your basing your argument off of 6 games man! and I see you threw a few season stats in there
I’m basing mine off of 79 games and watching Utah all season long. He averaged 7.7 boards a game this season, Memo is not a bruiser and never has been
Ignorance is bliss and hope is a b*itch
@Dave
You made some good points about utah, but all those perimeter shooters the Lakers have make them VERY VERY dangerous, and Kobe is the best clutch player in the league, so no matter how many points the lakers are up or down, they always have a chance to come back in the game. As long as Derron Williams is kept in check, the Jazz are stoppable and very beatable!
I really believe Derek fisher is the man for the job, dude is a savvy vet.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Dave says:
Gee….while Boozer is very talented and good in the community he fell way off after making the all-star team this year and it was disappointing. DWill has carried these guys since mid-season and Booz has been along for the ride.
His health is suspect (he missed nearly two seasons) and we can replace him with Milsap and Okur at the 4 with Yao in the middle…..yep, I’d do it the day the season ended.
plus if he goes to Utah then all the hot Chinese girls will fall for the “I’m from Utah” pick up line that never seems to work.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Amar says:
17 games is less than 79 games, but last i heard, no one cares about how teams were playing in november. oh snap! i’m using playoff stats to support my claims! good thing it’s the playoffs now.
you expect him to revert into a shrinking violet. memo is proving your theory wrong. deal with it. memo was injured and played poorly at the beginning of the season, and didn’t turn it around until after the ASB. he’s also said in interviews played on the radio that he’s stopped letting boozer get rebounds that he should have, so he’s getting more boards, and boozer less.
I DVR’d every jazz game, and memo is an under rated rebounder. he gets pushed to the perimeter on offense quite a bit because he’s a better outside shooter than andrei, matty, brewer and crew, but let’s not be stupid here. 13 double doubles in the last 17 games (the most important 17 games) isn’t something to put your head in the sand for.
grow up.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Dave says:
Chuck, Memo was hurt the first two months of the season, which most of us who follow the Jazz have known. You should look at his rebound stats from last year too if you want that kind of a sample. Frankly I would rather look at how a player performs in the playoffs than the regular season to determine his ability and value to the team.
The Jazz outside shooting is just as strong as the Lakers. DWill, Korver, Memo, AK, Price, and Miles are all in the 38-40% range……you just haven’t seen them enough to realize the reason the Jazz scored 107 pts a game this year was because we were stroking the 3.
Fish won’t be able to contain DWill all series either.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
@Dave
did you say, “suspect health!”. Yao has the most injured feet of any NBA player ever! Boozer has been helthy the last two seasons, and his production did fall a little, but Yao for Boozer? I don’t know, Yao will get you to the playoffs, but he won’t be there to play.
05-06=57 games
06-07=48 games
07-08= 55 games
Not to good of a healthy track record for Ming
And the rockets still never left the first round even when he did play in the playoffs
May 5th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Amar says:
and my sample size is larger than just the playoffs. it goes back to march. if we’re just looking at the playoffs he’s getting double doubles in 6 of the 7 games so far.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Amar says:
I’d rather get a dalembert type of player than a ming. i’m sure Koc and his deep philly connections would be able to make something like that happen in a season or two.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:43 am
James says:
Pau gets all his buckets off everyone elses work- I swear i have never seen someone get the praise he gets off of Kobe greatness and the fact that the lakers are a great passing team, Pau just finishes the play- he is usually wide open
May 5th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
@Amar
You have made some valid point concerning Memo, but dude, the Jazz aren’t winning this series, and when they lose, I’m betting your tact will improve, and all the F*ck off, and grow up insults will cease. Because frankly that’s how all people with false hope behave.
Confidence to unsureness to complete humility!
The Lakers will finish off Memo and the crew and move on.
Memo is a good shooter, better than Andrei, price and miles amd he was injured at the beggining of the season, but underated rebounder?
Let’s look at this dude’s track record.
his highest rebounding season was 05-06 and that was 9.1 rebounds, any season before or after that he averaged a little over or severely under 7 boards.
He has one playoff series averaging 13 rebounds and you wanna paint this n*gga as a Dennis Rodman.
get the f*ck outta here!!
His playoff average for rebounds last year. 7.8
This cat ain’t changes his style of play, he’s just having a good series, even losers win sometimes young’n
May 5th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
@Amar
Are you a Kobe Hater Amar?
You sound like one, smell like one, and look like one and you know what they say about ducks right?
Anyone who praises Memo’s soft a*s has to be a Kobe hater? LMAO
You could have given praise to any other jazz player. Boozerm Dwill, h*ll even Ak who was on the rag during the playoffs last year, but you choose Memo. LMAO!!!
May 5th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
@Amar
Amar where you at? I need some more of you dental floss sized samples you use as support to support the gayest player since John Amaechi. LMAO!! They did play on the same team didn’t they? maybe Amaechi came back and taught him some special box out techniques for this playoff series? LMAO!!!
May 5th, 2008 at 11:58 am
GEE...Well im imp da dimp the ladies pimp ... says:
K Dizz yea I would take Fisher any day. Although I have to think him and Kobe were just meant. This Laker team starting to remind me of Bulls in that 1.you know just about every player. 2. They of course have Phil. 3. Kobe is playing the you know who. 3. Right now you would have to say Pau is Pippen perhaps. 4. Then they got the Kerr types and all.
As my Paw (now that’s country) always says…”Look long term”. I am not so much just thinking now, but with just a few more moves, the Lakers will be hard to match.
Anyway Dave I got to go with Chuck. Outside of your China girl lines working, I don’t see where Yao is going to be healthier for you.
I said this some time ago but him and McGrady pull straws and take turns on who is going to be hurt when. I will agree with Prof. TX I think who brought out, that it’s hard on a (Houston) fan, when you know the possibilities and you always get that minimum ish.
Trust me keep Boozer.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:59 am
YOUNGFED says:
Let me put it to EVERYBODY this way when we were discussing best centers in the league earlier this year only 2 names were mention consistantly YAO and Howard. So now that Yao hurt the haters come out. AINT KNOW BIG MAN IN THE LEAGUE BETTER THAN THEM TWO. Except Tim, Sheed, and KG.
NUFF SAID!
BIG UPS TO ALL YAO HATTEERRRRSSSSS…
May 5th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Dave says:
I’m looking at it from what pieces do the Jazz need to improve and while there may some fall-off with Milsap as the starter I think a big force inside would more than make up for it. You’re all correct as far as Yao’s health so from that angle I’m probably wrong but if Boozer doesn’t get better I think that he’ll be worth a bunch of trade value.
I really think that when we look back at this series it will be very competitive and the Jazz will push it to 7 games and anything can happen in a game 7.
Kobe haters….there are two kinds. Guys like me who hated that he was selfish and wasn’t a team player, but realize that he will be unstoppable if his maturity catches up to his ability. The other ones hate him because he’s so good and cocky and will always hate him.
May 5th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
@Youngfed
Not a Yao hater fed.
Just a realist, dude is one of the best centers in the league
WHEN and that’s a big when, and IF, and that’s a big if, he’s healthy.
But a player who is never healthy isn’t worth jack.
That’s like an impotent porno star man!!
May 5th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Mrbball says:
IGP, Bynum is not coming back this year. Next year it might be nasty though.
Kobeef, Danny Ainge didn’t come that close to losing his job if anybody I would say it was Doc. Ainge supplied Doc with the talent. Its up to Doc and the players to bring them a chip but the ax will fall with the coach over the players.
May 5th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Dave says:
Chuck,
I can’t wait for Memo to nail a three to win a game, I’ll think of his softness as he wins it and how pissed off you’ll be. Or maybe he’ll get an offensive rebound up two in the last minute, get fouled and win the game with two free throws……nah, that would never happen, he’s too soft.
May 5th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
YOUNGFED says:
Hey if Yao is like a impotent pornstar he still be the best atleast for the first 3/4 of the flick. lol
May 5th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
@Dave
LMAO!!
I respect Memo’s perimeter game, just not his interior game. We’ll he hit a 3 to when a game? Possibly
We’ll he get offensive rebounds? Yes
I mean if Carl Landry can get offensive boards, Memo at 7 feet certainly will.
The question is,
Is he a dominant force when it comes to rebounding? And that’s a resounding H*LL NO!!! 8 times
He works very well within Sloan’s sytem, and my man can honestly shoot, which too man players in the league CAN’T do.
But Now Dave picture this, (You are the coach for the jazz and for the last couple of seasons you win in the playoffs but you always fall up short, you have a 6′9 guy who averages more boards than your 7 foot center who loves to hover the perimeter and shoot three’s instead of banging down low, yet he’s talented and the best center you have, so you have to use the pr*ck, seeing as 7 footers and shooters are hard to come by, and you need both)
You can’t tell me, that this candya*s the NBA calls a center doesn’t p*ss you off at times, when he’s 7 feet tall and averages 7 rebounds on a consistent basis.
The funny thing is, I bet you dog Amari stoudamire for not being an effective rebounder, or Rashard Lewis, or anyone over 6 feet 9 who average fewer than 9 boards a game. (Not saying that those two do. really just using examples) Amari at 9.1, rashard at 5.4. But yes it makes me upset to see a seven footer who would rather shoot J’s than bang in the paint.
May 5th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
@Youngfed
You crazy man!! LMAO!!
May 5th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
YOUNGFED says:
The lakers ain’t gone be shit next year or this year!!!
Sike I’m just Hating…
Detroit For President…Why not our my is a pimp
Excerpt from the infamous text message scandel.
Beatty to The Mayor:
“I really wanted to give yot=u some good head this morning but I didn’t know how to say it.”
Mayor Kilpatrick:
“Damn just got out the shower and saw my 2 way, next time just tell me sit down and shut up, and do your thang. I’m fucked up now.”
Damn I’ma vote for this nukka again, he’s way too pimpish. Gotta love that.
May 5th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Dave says:
it’s all perception. Memo looks like he’s soft, talks funny etc, but he bangs and isn’t afraid of contact…I’ve never seen him back-down from anyone and ask Oberta if Memo is soft. Memo drilled him in the mug and then stood there looking at everyone with his hand up like “what you gonna do about it” (of course he’s so goofy nobody recognized he was saying to bring it on).
I can honestly think of only one or two times I yelled at Memo during the season either at the game or on TV, but I yell at Boozer all the time, probably 20 times per game for not being in the right spot or for letting his guy go by him for a dunk or for not catching and doing something with the ball immediately or whatever.
I’ve seen a ton of 7 footers who couldn’t rebound, or if they could rebound they couldn’t shoot, or their footwork inside sucked, or they couldn’t put it on the floor and get by anyone…..and Memo can and does do all of those things.
I don’t understand how you can question his ability inside after the Houston series and the game one 21-19 performance.
I don’t dog on players very often, but understand that some players play over-and-above their abilities and some don’t play up to thier capabilities….and usually height is only one factor to consider. Rahard and Boozer play different games, regardless of their height. Hell LeBron is the same size as Boozer but we don’t expect Booz to do what LeBron does.
Also last season was the first season since Stockton and Malone left that the Jazz have made the playoffs…..lost in conference finals. Seems to me it’s the Lakers who’ve been sent packing early the past few years, not the Jazz.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
GEE...Well im imp da dimp the ladies pimp ... says:
Austin have ya seen this?
Ex-Hoya big man Macklin transfers to Florida.
Man come on what is the deal? Dudes be trippin over playing time for real.
Oh well.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
GEE...Well im imp da dimp the ladies pimp ... says:
http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/8076552/Obama-shoots-hoops-with-Tar-Heels
Nothing big here just Obama going at it with Tyler.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
@YoungFed
LMAO!!!!
@Dave
Very valid points.
But please don’t use Oberta as a reference to prove Memo’s toughness!!
I mean if you would have said Dwight Howard or rasheed Wallace, I would have been all ears, but oberta?
I’m a leave this convo be, because I see you are a jazz lover, a laker hater, and lukewarm about boozer for some reason. (uh dude is a all star dave!!) And Memo is a ROLE PLAYER.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Oscarisalakerfan says:
Umm the jazz only made it to the playoffs last year after being in lottery for a couple of years ……..The lakers have only been to the lottery like once in 10 years……..So whos been packing earlier jazz or lakers …….kind of a rhetorical question isn’t it
May 5th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Austin Burton says:
@GEE — I was never a big Macklin fan anyway. I saw him up-close at the Jordan Classic and just didn’t like his disposition, not to mention his game. He saw the writing on the wall with Greg Monroe coming in that he was never gonna be The Man, so he bounced.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
GEE...Well im imp da dimp the ladies pimp ... says:
Austin I get that, but I still thought if he played his roll, he could make significant noise this coming year. Nice pick up for Florida though. I can’t wait to see Monroe do his thing!
May 5th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Dave says:
Oscar, good to hear from you….not sure if you’re an English teacher but it actually isn’t a rhetorical question but it sounded good.
I was answering Chuck who wanted me to pretend I was Sloan and that I’d been knocked out of the playoffs early the past few years and I was pointing out the Jazz went to the Conf. Finals last year while the Lakers lost for the second time in a row in the first round.
you were right with what you were thinking though, I’d rather be in the playoffs losing than in the lottery.
Chuck you are correct, Jazz lover, Laker hater, and lukewarm on Boozer…..but I am realistic with my views and you won’t find me saying anything I can’t back up.
Oberta was the only example I had for Memo, sorry. I’ll let him know we need to have him crack on someone else’s mug before we crown him a bruiser.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Oscarisalakerfan says:
Dave… no problem just don’t bash on the lakeshow too much…..
May 5th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Austin Burton says:
That’s the thing, though. Macklin probably didn’t wanna just play a role, he wanted to be a star.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Oscarisalakerfan says:
Cuz I know ur Laker hater
May 5th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
YOUNGFED says:
Feels good too have a player for a mayor Kwame is my Idol I wanna be just like him when I grow up. lol
Hip-Hop mayor for real. I forgot to mention I saw the Mayor at the Jigga and Mary J concert. Dude was fully blinged out and had a couple dime pieces wit him. Real talk 101.
Thinking bout running for mayor right about now. I could do it.
YOUNG FIZZLE for Mayor 09′
May 5th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
GEE...Well im imp da dimp the ladies pimp ... says:
Yea no doubt. He had a few times to shine and didn’t come through. I think he really had perhaps 1 really nice game, that I can remember at least, this year against a formidable opponent. Don’t ask me to name who though lol.
Will Kobe become the new Jordan for Utah? Seems like Utah always had that 1 star they couldn’t or can’t get past.
Hey for you Utah fans. Ok I know loyalty is hard to come by this day and age especially with coaching. Still Utah has always had a nice group of players.
So in light of, do you (Utah fans or people period) think Utah might have had a championship by now if say they went after a Larry Brown or Pat Riley type? I am just throwing it out that perhaps it’s the system that gets Utah really far but never …there.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
GEE...Well im imp da dimp the ladies pimp ... says:
YOUNGFED?!?!?!? Yall poppin already???
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/viewcast/2008/05/05/index.html?contestId=23503&vendorId=2008050508&vendorVisitTeam=19&vendorHomeTeam=8&pageType=preview_story
May 5th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
DAPro says:
The Lake Show is scary good right now because of the ball movement.
Gasol can really move without the ball, he sets and a screen and rolls to the bucket to get the easy duece. The bigs on LA understand how set a screen and get open.
UTAH will make this a series, no question. These are two well coached, perfect execution teams. Trust me, it won’t be as sweet in game 2.
May 5th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Dave says:
Gee…..thanks for saying aloud what nobody here in Utah wants to think about…..
Kobe could easily be the Jazz next nemisis if he keeps playing team basketball and stays with LA. If he has truly turned the corner as a “team first” guy the league is in trouble because he’ll always be able to take over games.
I think there are very few coaches the Jazz would hire. If I had to make a list of coaches that would work in Utah here are my top 5 choices and last 5 who would never work.
1- Phil Johnson (Sloans assistant)
2- Rick Adelman
3- Avery Johnson
4- Eric Musselman
5- Rick Carlisle/Byron Scott tie
last 5
1- Ike
2- Phil Jackson
3- Larry Brown
4- Pat Riley
5- George Karl
(I could make this list 20 long)
I don’t think any of these guys would first of all take the Utah job because it’s too small of a market for them, nor would any of them want to answer to Larry H. Miller. We would need someone who didn’t care about anything but winning basketball games to be successful here.
p.s. a little background…..I went to Jazz games the first year they were in SL when I was 10 years old and never stopped. I covered the Jazz and the NBA for 5 years with a TV station in Utah. I covered network sports with CBS for 3 years. I published Player Magazine for several years. I had season tickets to the Jazz for 4 years on row 4 and I haven’t missed a game in years (gotta love Tivo). I am definitely biased but not blind.
May 5th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
K Dizzle says:
Gee
It was Mike. Stock and Malone woulda beat any other eastern confence team in those finals years
May 5th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Dave says:
the Jazz success is definitely due to Sloan and his system. The Jazz haven’t really ever had players who can play one one one like the rest of the league does and they have to rely on their offense. (DWill is the exception).
If you ask nearly any coach in the league, they’ll agree Sloan gets more from him players and is harder to prepare to play against than any other coach in the league.
May 5th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
doc says:
Amar u said u would take Sammy D for Yao?It aint that deep.We need u as a GM.We’ll even throw in Willie Green for T-MAC so he can come up short for us for a couple years.And as long as Bron go to the rack its a wrap for Beantown.After the Celtics lose in the 2nd round they gonna kill theyself in Boston.
May 5th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
GEE...Well im imp da dimp the ladies pimp ... says:
Aight that is what’s up then.
Dave - we will have to see how this series plays out, but the similarities are there.
Also that is a heavy background Dave wooo. So you basically bleed Utah lol. At least you are realistic with it though, I give you that.
K-Dizz - I want to agree and most of me does, still it’s that 1 percent if you will that wonders how they would have done under a fewer pick and roll style and more, Stockton work the floor, and Malone post up and kick out.
You right it was MJ though.
Ok but what about the current roster? They clearly have a 1 on 1 player in Deron as stated before. I honestly could see them running almost any style with the group they have. I could see them doing the Suns run and gun, San An half court or the Lakers Tri.
I am just wondering if at this point, does Sloan need to switch it up, cause after a point can it keep being that you ran into this player or that player?
May 5th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
GEE...Well im imp da dimp the ladies pimp ... says:
Check Post 89 for trash talk time again!
Detroit vs. Orlando.
May 5th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Dave says:
I don’t think changing Sloan would help, I see where you’re coming from though and from your perspective (and even a contingent of people here in Utah agree) that maybe Sloan is the problem. I’d rather keep him knowing what he brings every season, he gives Utah a chance to win it all, and won’t be falling flat on his face like many teams tend to do.
The Jazz have had decent talent over the years but on paper nobody has ever picked the Jazz to win anything…..except 98 a few nationals liked the Jazz to beat Chicago. Yet Sloan is always contending with his teams. The Jazz weren’t even picked to win their division this year. That result is a good comparison to G. Karl and JSlo and why I think he is as good a coach as there is in the league.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
for real says:
suckers to the side I know you hate my 98
May 5th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
@Dave
If sloan isn’t the problem, who is? He’s been to the conference finals 3 times and the finals twice. From 03-06 he didn’t even get them to the playoffs? I don’t understand the steadfast allegiance to Sloan and probably never will. I think it is time for a change, you stated that Utah always knows it’s getting a contending team, well from 03-06 they didn’t make the playoffs. That’s 3 years!!
Heres an interesting fact for you. Phil started out in 89 with the bulls. How many times has one of his teams missed the playoffs? Not one!!! Not one!!!
Every year this man has made it to the playoffs!
Poppovich started in 96 with San antonio and the year he started was the only year that he missed.
Sloan ran into problems with two of his starters one last year and this year, one they traded to philly, and the other the organization basically told him no way your getting out of your contract.
Dude is played out, and Utah ain’t winning a chip no time soon with him behind the wheel, he’s had 19, yes I said it right 19, years to prove himself, and he hasn’t come through once and you want to keep him as the brains of your team.
Imagine trying the same chemotherapy treatment 19 times, and it still doesn’t work, your hair is falling out, you are getting skinny and dying, the repeated treatements.
are killing your cells, and in this case redudancy is killing you. Well my friend Dave, Jerry Sloan is the chemotherapy that’s killing you!
If I were Utah I would go with Avery, he’s young so yes he made some mistakes at Dallas, but it would pump fresh blood into Utah and that organization seems to let coaches coach, so he wouldn’t have that homo mark Cuban breathing down his collar.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
Jerry Sloan is the George Bush of basketball.
“We will rebuild Iraq!!”
He said that crazy mess and gas, eggs, milk and rice when it up in price, the economy went to crap and he’s still trying the same sh*t that got us into this problme in the first place without trying a new strategy.
Now I guess you guys are waiting for the comparison right.
Karl Malone and John Stockton didn’t work, forget all the accolades and the two finals appearances and all that stuff that DOESN’T equal a championship. Yet Sloan sticks to the same formula, all we have in Carlos and Derron with Slaons system is a throwback Sloan team, same formula different substances. Yet he’s still trying the same thing over, and over, and over. Delusional is what I call it
I once heard the definition of insanity is contuing to try the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
May 5th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Dave says:
Sloan has been a top 5 coach for 19 years, he’s only missed the playoffs three times in that span.
You can’t compare Jackson to any other coach, nobody else ever was given championship teams to coach and refused to coach any other teams, great work if you can get it. He quit when he knew the Lakers would suck which isn’t a great quality to have in a coach. I do have to hand Phil some credit for turning Kobe around, didn’t think that would happen.
Sloan actually coaches his players and if you don’t understand all that he brings to the floor as a coach then you don’t understand good fundamental team basketball played the right way.
Say what you want, maybe some of it is right or just opinion, but Sloan rebuilt a team with NOBODY into a Western Conference Finals team from scratch…..show me another coach who has accomplished that on his watch. Seriously, is there anyone else ever?
May 5th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Dave says:
do Bush haters compare him to everyone they hate? I don’t really think Sloan had anything to do with the rise in the cost of eggs or milk, but nice rant there Chuck.
If Bush (or whatever poor sap gets elected) can re-build Iraq in three years they should be awarded the Jerry Sloan medal for quickest, unthinkable turnaround in history.
how’s that for a lame analogy trying to mix hoops and politics?
May 5th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
GEE...Well im imp da dimp the ladies pimp ... says:
Dave I have to side with Chuck. I mean honestly Jordan and possibly Kobe aside, it’s the bridesmaid and never a bride deal.
Then you can’t really use the “if” formula too. Anybody that is a fan of a team that made the playoffs during the Jordan era(s) that is not a Chicago homer would wonder what life would be like without M.J?
I am saying for what Sloan has had and more so for what he has (mind you still in playoff progress but the measly Rockets pushed them to 6) shouldn’t they have had a chip by now?
Chicago
Houston
Detroit
San An
Lakers
Have all managed to get theirs, 1 has to think that Utah should really be in that group. Being in the playoffs a lot and to finals and having star players is great and awesome. Isn’t the main goal to win the chip though? How long do you all rock with Sloan till it’s time to say “You know what, you have been very good to us, but perhaps you need to try something different or we (Utah) need to honor you (with a statue or something) and move on.”
After this year I would honestly have to want new blood, with the players you (Utah) have. It’s to good of a crop to keep doing the same thing and getting the same results (provided you all don’t make it).
I am thinking, what could Rick do with that group…wow?!?!
What could Larry do with that group…wow?!?!
Say Sloany ends his career in Utah by retirement or dying (GOD forbid). It’s going to be real messed up if a new coach comes in and in 1-3 years gets a chip. Messed up in the sense of many will wonder and some will hate that the chip(s) could have come sooner.
May 5th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
GEE...Well im imp da dimp the ladies pimp ... says:
@ Austin, Pat and Andrew do you all have any words on this? We need the knowledgeable in on this one pimpin.
Anybody else “knowledgeable” come on in too?
May 5th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Dave says:
yeah that would suck I guess if the new guy came in and won quick, and I agree a chip is the ultimate prize. Kind of the same dilema people have in comparing Stocton and DWill….what happens if DWill gets a chip, will he be considered better than Stockton?
The way I view the Bulls/MJ thing is that it’s all timing. The Jazz peaked for 2 seasons where they were better than any other years and those years coincided with the years Jordan and the Bulls dominated everyone. If they would’ve peaked in 95 instead of losing to Houston they would’ve had a much better shot to win it.
Look, I want to have the Jazz win more than anyone and have never been afraid to say let’s move on and get rid of whoever it is holding us back. But to say it’s on Sloan that the Jazz haven’t ever won the title is inaccurate and I’m sure he won’t get the credit he deserves unless they do.
A couple of other coaches would probably work in Utah, but at this point I wouldn’t trade Sloan for any of them.
And if they offered him a statue he’d probably sh*t he’d be so mad.
May 5th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Dave says:
Williams
Boozer
AK
Brewer
Okur
Milsap
Harpring
Korver
CJ Miles
J. Collins (the shorter twin)
Price
Now you’re telling me that Jerry Sloan getting the Jazz where they are this year with this roster isn’t overachieving?
How many teams on paper look better than the Jazz? Who picked the Jazz to do anything at the beginning of the season? How is this season not successful if you’re looking at it as whether or not the coach got the most out of his team. I’d love to hear opinions on this to see if I’m the one that’s delusional with Sloan.
Anyone out there a coach, would love your take on Sloan.
May 5th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
GEE...Well im imp da dimp the ladies pimp ... says:
No I think Sloan is excellent. I do think he needs to change with the times some in not living and dying on the pick and roll so much.
I don’t think they are overachieving with that roster.
Come on you got Dwill, Boozer and AK that three alone is very strong. Okur is playing out of his #** and Korver is pure with his shot. That is a team that should be doing exactly what they are doing right now and that is contending.
I had the Jazz making the playoffs this year and around the seed they had too ( I would say higher cause I didn’t expect N.O.).
I applaud Sloan (and the **** on himself because of a statue line is hilarious) but I am just wondering, not calling for his spot. I would ride this year and next out…then I am calling for it lol.
Still he is excellent and more than anything you all have an awesome GM in terms of judging talent.
The future will be interesting.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Amar says:
re: sloan — he is a vet coach in a sitation where the owner and Gm have complete confidence in hiim. so regardless of what fans want, it’s going to end up being what he wants. i’ve been very critical of him, but he has surprised me by being more flexible than I thought he was capable of. the more i’ve looked at it the more ‘progress’ i see. he looked like a great coach back in the 90’s, then when he was running around with carlos arroyo and ben handgloten he didn’t look so hot. part of that was losing a lot of talent. another part was that the rules of the game changed. it took him a while to re-tool his playbook, and it took the jazz GM a while to reload with some talent. the jazz as a team underachieved this year with so many road losses to horrible teams. is that a coaching issue? an issue about veteran leadership? or an issue about a young roster? I don’t know.
he’s a disciplinarian who gets the most out of average talent, and is able to get something out of amazing talent (as long as that individual is on the same page with sloan). someone like phil jax may be better at the psychological aspects of motivation, but jax piggy backed off of tex winter for his system. sloan’s sets are pretty much his own (a slight variation of dick motta stuff).\
sloan is oldschool, and it takes a while for him to warm up to new ideas. he’s not going to give you the keys to the car until he can trust you with it. that’s why it took deron a while to get to the point where he can call his own plays. he rewards hard work, which is why guys like millsap get playing time — and why undertalented guys like harpring get burn over younger guys who have more upside (like CJ).
he does not make good in-game adjustments. he does make fantastic game-to-game adjustments.
he’s a better than average coach who has over 1k wins in the nba. it takes a special type of player to thrive under him. it’s difficult to give him all the credit and all the blame.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Dave says:
Amar, I agree with everything you wrote here, glad you gave him some props for being flexible. His different attitude with AK has been big this year and he has adjusted much of his offense to take advantage of the new rules and his players.
Chuck you are obviously more knowledgeable than most folks and I respect what you said and can see how people would agree with you. The road record this year baffled me throughout the year but as you look at the games they won and lost on the road it’s obvious the Jazz got up for good teams and over-looked lesser teams. I think that’s on the youth of the team as much as anything, they are after-all one of the youngest teams in the league.
Can’t wait for tonights games!
May 5th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Amar says:
last season the jazz had Fish on the team, a guy with a few rings who was a solid vet, a teacher and a locker room leader. he made sure that the jazz kept their focus on long road trips.
this team, with the idea that they could win any game the played, only seemed to get up for the good teams. the team the held New Orleans to 60 some points in New Orleans is the same team that lost to minny on the road 9 nights before.
it comes down to focus and veteran leadership. the jazz veteran leaders are harpring (just turned 30) and jarron collins. if you look at who the jazz lost to it tells a tale of two teams: the losses in december where the jazz looked horrible (memo and booz hurt, internal problems, giricekgate, etc), then after that the only road losses the jazz suffered were to crappy teams that they didn’t “get up for”.
from Jan on, utah was over 50% on the road.
May 5th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Dave says:
part of it was that the Jazz were a surprise team last year and didn’t expect to win many games, so they didn’t overlook teams because nobody knew if they were supposed to win those games or not. This year the Jazz figured they were WCFinalists last year and should beat teams easier than what it really took and didn’t prepare mentally for every game like they did the year before.
I think Fish had some to do with it, but I think they frankly got too cocky.