There is a lot of reason for optimism if you are a Jazz fan. There is no way that Houston is a better team than the Jazz. Yes they have Yao and McGrady, but the Jazz are better at every other position, including the players on the bench.
In my mind, there are two defining reasons to why the Jazz lost game one. First, the Jazz were too hyped up (more on this later), and most importantly, the Jazz got outcoached. There is no question in my mind that had the right personel been in the game, at the right moment, the Jazz would have won that game. I have a lot of negative things to say about Sloan right now. If you are a big fan, I suggest you stop reading now.
Don’t get me wrong, you could do worse than Jerry Sloan for a head coach - a hell of a lot worse - but that does not mean that he does not cost the Jazz victories from time to time with decisions that seem to be based more on personal feelings rather than on pure basketball sense.
No matter the motive, the IJSPD has been in play for years and I believe it has cost the Jazz numerous games this year and more importantly, game one of this series with Houston.
With that intro, I have a few questions on last nights game:
1. Why did Andrei Kirilenko play only 16 minutes? Sloan excused his decision by saying that AK was not playing well, sighting the fact that he had scored only two points. But hasn’t Sloan been saying all year that AK does not need to score to make a difference for this team? Hasn’t he been asked to forget about offense and do the “little” things like hussle, alter shots and play solid defense? I am no coach, but in my mind, not only was Kirilenko doing all of that, but he was having his best game in weeks within those parameters.
With that in mind, I wonder if Kirilenkos struggles this year can’t be totally placed on the shoulders of Coach Sloan. I mean seriously, when was the last time the offense actually ran a play for AK? If you have ever played pickup basketball and never had a pass given to you, you know how much fun that is, and you know how AK feels.
Furthermore, if Andrei is only asked to play defense, why wouldn’t he start the game guarding McGrady? I don’t get it.
2. When McGrady started to heat up in the third quarter, why did Sloan leave Fisher in the game to guard him? Is it just me or does anyone else notice that McGrady is 6′8″ and Fisher is barely over 6′? Fisher did an admirable job in the first half, but you never, ever want a player like him to heat up.
Instead of changing the matchup to Kirilenko, Harpring or Giri, we stuck with Fisher throughout the entire third quarter and McGrady just casually shot over the top of Fisher on his way to 16 third quarter points.
3. Giricek. Tom Nisalke always makes the point that Giri plays solid defense. Yet, Sloan rarely plays him long minutes because he claims that Giri does not play well on the defensive side of the ball. From my perspective Giri is always hustling on defense and really stays in front of his man. On top of that, he hits jump shots. He should be playing at least 25-30 minutes a night on this team.
4. The Rockets only start one guard, Rafer Alston. Why don’t the Jazz start big as well? Why doesn’t Matt Harpring start instead of Fisher, or even Millsap?
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Like I said, the Jazz could do a lot worse than coach Sloan. He has been great. But it is time to win. You do that by playing your best possible lineups.
The humiliation caused Kirilenko to cry
April 22nd, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Every time I have seen Gira play lately, I have been impressed with his defense. He’s taller than Fisher, a worse ballhandler but just as good a shooter, and probably has a better offensive repertoire. If he’s healthy, he should be getting more minutes.
For all the talk about how Fisher’s leadership would help the Jazz in the playoffs, I didn’t see much of it last night. I saw him take a few ill-advised shots, make a couple of turnovers, but most of all, I saw him get absolutely torched by Tracy McGrady. It isn’t really his fault. I love Fish. I’ve interviewed him a couple of times and I think he’s a real class act. I love that he’s on the Jazz. But I don’t think he should be getting the amount of minutes he’s getting. Those minutes should go to a taller defender like Gira in my opinion. If we’re playing the Suns or Mavs or a team with smaller 2-guards, it might be a different story.
April 22nd, 2007 at 8:48 pm
Tough call. I agree that Kirilenko should have played more minutes, but had assumed he was injured as anyone else that watched the game probably did, having said that, I don’t think that defense, or personnel was the major problem.
The fact is, you can’t shoot 35% and expect to win a game. Boozer and Okur shot 6/31 between them and these are the guys who are meant to be our biggest offensive threats. Combined they made a miserable 20% of their shots, and totalled 17 points. Utah can’t win when Derek Fisher is the leading scorer.
The third quarter was not a great defensive showing admittedly, but at least some of that has to be attributed to great play by McGrady. He looked good from the start and made some unbelievable shots towards the end of the third.
I don’t know that you can really say that Utah were outcoached, or that Sloan cost the Jazz the game when key players put in such a poor performance. I also dont think that Kirilenko’s problems are purely an issue with Sloan. Maybe we do need to see more plays run for Kirilenko, but I cringe every single time I see him putting up a jumper. He isn’t the offensive threat that Boozer and Okur usually are, in fact, this year he isn’t as big an offensive threat as Matt Harpring!
Giricek put in a good effort last night from a defensive point of view, not sure if he is a 25-30 minute player though. This year he is probably our best option at shooting guard though, so i would like to see a bit more of him, and a bit less of Fisher.
Speaking of Fisher, you have to wonder if the Jazz could have held on had he made that Layup. It would have put them up by three instead of down by one, and although the momentum had started to swing already, after that moment it was well and truly with Houston.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:57 am
Sometimes I think that Sloan is his own worst enemy. Two IJSD during this game that I think could have both helped the Jazz.
#1 Why are we walking the ball up the floor every possesion? Yao Ming is notorious for not wanting to run up and down the floor. One way to establish an inside game which was non-existent Saturday night is to allow are bigs to beat him down the floor and get layups. I also believe that this would allow Andrei to be more productive. Everyone knows he plays better in more free flowing offense. Let him get into the open court and finish at the rim instead of shooting jump shots. It was pretty obvious in the game Saturday that our game plan was to grind it out with half-court possesions. Sloan has got to rethink that one.
#2 You have to let AK guard McGrady. Certainly in the thrid and fourth quarter when he starts to warm up. Make an adjustment. Do something different. I know Andrei is frustrated with his minutes and I don’t blame him. I can’t imagine sitting on the bench watching McGrady go off and not be able to do anything about it.
If you speed up the game. It benefits Andrei which in turn benefits the Jazz.–PUSH THE BALL!!!
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Normally i am a huge Sloan supporter, however he blew that game bad. Benching AK for not producing offensivley is the stupidest thing i’ve heard him say. Everyone knows that AK is defensive, and a slasher on offense. thats all that should be expected of him. IN my opinion (means nothing to anyone) Ak stays on t mac as long as t mac is in the game. Game three of the regular season series is a perfect example of what AK can do against him. Derek Fisher needs to come off hte bench. In order to diffuise YAo, bring in Arujo for 15 minutes a game to beat him up down low. Arujo will get boards while he is in, but he, if anyone on the Jazz can definatley beat down the very soft Yao, and he’s totally expendable.
What is Sloan thinking??!?
April 23rd, 2007 at 3:59 pm
I expect the Jazz to bounce back at some time, hopefully in Game 2, and make a run at the series. We shouldn’t be calling it hopeless after just one game, and I think that only a few minor adjustments need to be made. Once our shots start to fall and we play 48 minutes with our best players on the floor, the Rockets shouldn’t intimidate us.
Kirilenko should be back in near full-stride tonight, and maybe even play with some added fire.
Start Brewer, Giricek, or Harpring in place of Fisher. I think Derek Fisher could lead the “bully brothers,” even if Coach Sloan still wants him on the floor at the end.
Keep feeding Boozer and Memo. They’re bound to make shots over Yao eventually. One more thing! Bring in Hoffa when the Jazz are already in the bonus, and can spare the fouls. I think the Jazz did a solid job wearing him down in Game 1, making him play on both ends of the floor.
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:15 pm
This paragraph
With that in mind, I wonder if Kirilenkos struggles this year can’t be totally placed on the shoulders of Coach Sloan. I mean seriously, when was the last time the offense actually ran a play for AK? If you have ever played pickup basketball and never had a pass given to you, you know how much fun that is, and you know how AK feels.
is spot on.
I thought Fish did well in the first half (he made some key shots and McGrady was somehow held without a field goal). but I was scared to death of what he would/wouldn’t do in the second half. Turns out my fears were realized.
This paragraph, though is likewise spot on:
The fact is, you can’t shoot 35% and expect to win a game. Boozer and Okur shot 6/31 between them and these are the guys who are meant to be our biggest offensive threats. Combined they made a miserable 20% of their shots, and totalled 17 points. Utah can’t win when Derek Fisher is the leading scorer.
Let’s hope tonight goes like the first half and not the second.
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Also, have you ever tried to guard a guy who is at least as quick as you (if not more) but who is also 8 inches taller? Fish was in a no-win situation.