Okay, he may not have originally been chosen as an NBA All-Star, but Mehmet Okur has definitely scored some clutch buckets while leading the Jazz to the third-best record in the league. Is Okur more valuable to the team than Boozer or Williams? It’s hard to say, but Okur has won several games in the closing minutes of games.
“The Hype Guy”, from NBA Basketball and other Unrelatedness (what a name!) has created some “Memo 4 MVP” t-shirts, now available on his website. “In lieu of yesterday’s announcement of his All-Star joinage, and after thinking long and hard about this: I’m starting an MVP campaign for Okur… surely Boozer deserves more consideration, but eff-that, I’m not going by that logic.”
While Okur may not be a contender for the MVP award unless the Jazz rip off a 30-game winning streak, he’s definitely the MVP of the Jazz this season, in my opinion. Okur (along with Fisher and Williams) seem to have grasped the team’s need for a leader on the court, and his play rarely falls short of expectations.
UtahJazzBlog readers, who’s your Utah Jazz MVP for the season?
La287 is a contributing writer for UtahJazzBlog.net — while also maintaining Daily Basketball, a round-up of the latest NBA and NCAA sporting news.
February 14th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Thanks guys for the pub!
Memo clearly is clutch and obviously he’s my pick for Jazz MVP, I think Boozer is the one that should get it (I don’t knock on his injuries.. look at Yao before being out)
February 15th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
I’m giving my Jazz MVP vote to Deron Williams. HE has taken on his back the entire team. He now commands the floor like a general. He makes key passes throughout the games, giving our scorers (Boozer and OKur) the opportunity to be scorers. He isn’t afraid to either take the big shot, or give it up (usually to Memo) In the closing minutes of a game watch how he looks, he does is it as well as any veteran PG in the league, calm and collected. Without Boozer we have been fine, without AK-47 we’ve been fine, Memo needs Deron in order to take the pressure off of himself. Take out Deron Williams, and the Jazz are in BIG trouble. Making him the most valuable player for the Jazz this season.
Anyway you cut it, its been a great Season for the Jazz, and all of our players have something to do with it!
February 15th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
BY the Way, is there anyway i can get a discount on a “MEMO 4 MVP” t shirt “TheHype” ??
February 15th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Before we get carried away, let’s keep in mind the Jazz have had the shooting performances of their lives since Boozer went down. Hot shooting like that overshadows holes in post defense and rebounding (which were glaring last night), but once the hot hands cool off, the absence of Boozer’s steady presence will become more obvious.
Rebounding and defense never slump, which is why Boozer is invaluable. Over an 82-game season, he’ll bring more to the table consistently than Okur. Okur is human, so he’s bound to have an off night eventually. When he does, let’s not pile on him too hard and remember a lot of us are annointing him now.
February 15th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
–Testifyan_JazzMAN: Hi! re: discount code, I’m not totally sure on it, but I’m looking into it right now, so as soon as I know anything I can either post back here or drop me a line at [thehypeguy@gmail.com] with your email and I’ll let ya know there!
I’m so happy you’re interested, tell ya friends about it!
And great point about Deron, for the few games I’ve seen of the Jazz, dude is always in control, running the show. I’m impressed how poised he is down the stretch offensively (defensively I have no clue, how’s he doing in that department?)
February 15th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
It is definitely nice to be arguing about more than one candidate on the Jazz as a team MVP. Having said that Deron Williams is without question the Jazz MVP. His control of the team, management of the offense and ability to get the ball to Memo, as well as others, in clutch situations is the key to the Jazz success.
The Jerry Sloan system does not work well without a great point guard. The years the Jazz struggled were because they lacked someone that could do this. Memo scores points and makes big shots no question but if you take Memo off this team they still win games. If you take Deron Williams off this team they don’t.
Wonderful discussion to be having but DW for MVP!!!
February 16th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
So i Just read a rumor that the Jazz may be after Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, or Nocioni, while Chicago is after Gasol. IN order to get Gasol, Chicago will have to give up their stars. I ran some scenarios through the trade machine on espn.com and this is what i came up with.
Utah Acquires- Both Luol Deng and Ben Gordon
Memphis Gets Nocioni, Tyrus Thomas and Matt Harpring,
Chicago gets Gasol, Giricek, and Utah’s 2010 1st round pick (from Knicks)
The Jazz add Bench depth, more offense and athleticism.
The Bulls get their inside presence, and a decent shooter to come off the bench, along with what may be a decent pick for the future.
Memphis gets Hustle, promising young Big man Athletic, and a couple of all around players in Harpring and Nocioni.
Seems like a good deal for each team to me.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Memot has been bomb - such is straight nails in the clutch. But for MVP the man is D-Will.