I was hoping my maiden post would be on a happier note. It isn’t.
I was hoping that Carlos Boozer’s herculean effort in Game 2, combined with Matt Harpring’s continued gritty play, would be enough to overcome the implosion of Andrei Kirilenko and the disappearance of Mehmet Okur. It wasn’t.
I was hoping that the Jazz would be coming home to Salt Lake City with the series tied, after shooting ten percentage points better than Houston in Game 2. They aren’t.
I guess that’s what I get for hoping.
Here are a few things the Jazz need to fix for Thursday’s game:
1) We cannot allow Houston to get to the line so much. I know that the Jazz routinely shoot fewer free throws than their opponents — it isn’t all home-court officiating, although I do feel there has been some of that. But it’s getting ridiculous. Whether that means double-teaming Yao and McGrady more or even going to a zone at times, we have to defend the paint better and stop penetration. Less penetration means less ticky-tack fouls on drives to the basket (see also: McGrady, Tracy). The Rockets have not shot the ball well from the outside in either game thus far. Until they do, we may have to leave Battier and Alston open at times to prevent easy points at the line.
2) Though it may be a result of the Irrational Jerry Sloan Personnel Decision, Andrei Kirilenko is a broken husk of a man. This situation is eerily similar to the incident earlier in the season when Kirilenko complained about not getting enough touches. As has been said in other places, Kirilenko doesn’t necessarily need the ball — he really needs to be in the paint, on both sides of the ball, to be effective. Using him on the wing is next to useless (remember his what-the-hell 3-pointer he bricked last night?), and he’s a far better defender when he can come help-side rather than face-up. It’s unfair that he was saddled with so many fouls in Game 2, but that’s a bi-product of sticking him on the perimeter. Let him roam the paint, and he’ll be far more effective defensively. Offensively, I’m wondering whether it wouldn’t be better to use him more when Boozer isn’t on the court, so he can establish himself on the low block and draw some fouls. And if these things don’t work, Andrei’s going to have to ride the pine. The playoffs aren’t the time to work out deep psychological issues. Bottom line — AK-47 can turn the tide of this series, if he toughens up and gets angry. We need the real Andrei, not Richie Tenenbaum.
3) Let the broken record play on — Derek Fisher can’t guard Tracy McGrady. Giricek does a far better job defensively, and has a decent offensive repertoire as well. And where have you gone, Ronnie Brewer? Let him pick up those fouls AK was stuck with last night, if nothing else.
4) Memo needs to shoot more, especially at home. I don’t care if he’s had a horrible first two games. He WILL start making those shots. Jerry Sloan has repeatedly said that he doesn’t mind Memo shooting, even if he misses, as long as they’re open looks, because Memo is a good shooter. Nine times out of ten, in a post-game interview with Memo, he will say, “I have confidence in my shot.” He’ll make them, eventually. Let him take them. (My father’s advice to Memo: “Grow your goatee back.”)
The Jazz are not dead — not yet, although the national media has more or less written them off. The Jazz have always been far better at home than on the road. If they can make this a best-of-three series by winning the next two games, and solve at least two of the issues above, I like our chances. I’m just afraid we’ve dug ourselves too deep a hole.
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Layton Shumway is the copy chief for Brigham Young University’s Daily Universe. You can reach him at lss83@byu.net.
April 24th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Amen to that, especially the 2 guard spot. Ronnie Brewer is offensive minded and can play D. LET HIM PLAY!
April 24th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
A commenter yesterday made this same point, but I think we need to put Araujo into the game for the last few minutes of the first three quarters. I know you’re going to lose some offense with him in the game — as if Collins is an offensive powerhouse — but let him beat up on Yao for a few minutes, and give Memo a rest. A somewhat rested Memo has to be better than an exhausted Memo.
I think if AK can’t crack double figures in scoring or rebounding at some point in this series he’s going to be wearing a different uniform next season. If there’s anything Larry H. Miller hates more than whining it’s not giving your full effort.
April 24th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Please say it with me on saturady night RON-NIE ..BREW-ER! RON-NIE ..BREW-ER! RON-NIE ..BREW-ER! RON-NIE ..BREW-ER! RON-NIE ..BREW-ER! RON-NIE ..BREW-ER! RON-NIE ..BREW-ER! RON-NIE ..BREW-ER! RON-NIE ..BREW-ER!
As much as i love Fish, he is a Bench Player for this team, Let Ronnie fulfill his potential, we are lacking Athleticism, then put in our most Athletic player, he can handle big name players, he did agains Carmello. He can out jump T-Mac, and easily follow him everywhere on the court. Who cares if he doesn’t have any experience, the only way to get it, is if you play! If the series is “Lost” then let some of the young guys play, they’ll be that much more prepared nest year! Ronnie is our best option at the 2, i’ve been saying it all year (literally go check) ha ha. But we need a win, what sloan is doing now will not cut it, he’s proven that…Twice now! Mix it up!
I’ll be there Saturday, let the chants begin! Let’s do it on thursday, let Sloan know how we feel, Jazz Fans we’ve got to be louder than we’ve ever done before, our team needs the home court, we can give it to them!
GO JAZZ!!!!
April 24th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
I have to say, I’m frustrated with Jerry Sloan. His stubborness is going to cost the Jazz success in round one. Brewer ended the season well, why not play him? Can he really hurt us more than Fisher has with his irrational threes, defensive mismatches and offensive blunders? Also, a logical solution, or at least an ATTEMPT at a solution to Kirilenko’s woes and McGrady’s dominance, would be to put AK on McGrady on defense. There were a couple of times when AK got in his face a little; the result was missed shots by McGrady.
Now i’m not blaming it all on Sloan; free throw attempts and the failure for some Jazzmen to step it up and help Boozer out definitely play a role.
But Sloan shouldn’t blame it all on his players, either. I wish there was some way someone could get to this guy.
April 25th, 2007 at 11:09 am
I have to preface that I hate Araujo–being a true Ute–so my ideas may be tainted. The problem with putting him in the game, especially late in the quarter when the Jazz will undoubtedly be in the bonus, is that he will immediately get fouls. These fouls will in turn put Yao on the line where he has been basically automatic. With Hoffas reputation he will pick up a lot of no respect calls and I truly believe his presence will hurt us far more than it will help us.
I still believe the way to neutralize Yao is to make him run. We have got to push the ball. The Jazz cannot match up with McGrady and Yao in the half court. We have to push the tempo
April 25th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Check out http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2007/04/24/game-two-preview/ for the following comment from jonesonthenba:
On another note (although I hate to get away from the playoffs), the Lakers should try and get Kirilenko from the Jazz. And I think that they should resign Walton and package him with Vlad Rad to do it. Vlad Rad is the shooter that Jerry sloan is looking for out of that three spot and Walton (like Fisher) is the heady player that Sloan covets. I love Luke, but I think AK-47 is under utilized in Utah and would be great in forum blue and gold. The best thing about him is the fact that he would help vastly improve our defense.
April 25th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
With all due respect, Vlad Rad wouldn’t last a week under Sloan. He is basically Giricek in a SF body. Now, I think that is a good thing, but Sloan clearly does not.
April 25th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
pzzy43zzy: Good point, you’re right that Hoffa does seem to generate fouls at an outstandingly high rate. (I’m fairly certain he can generate them from the bench). But, Memo has to get some rest sometime, and there’s no one else on the Jazz that could possibly match with up him. (As you may have guessed, I’m not a big Collins fan).
I do like the idea of Luke Walton in a Jazz uniform, but Radmonovic? Jerry would kill him, and Larry would skewer him in the press for his lack of effort whilst being killed. If we’re making up dream trade scenarios I say we trade Kirilenko straight up for Ray Allen. It works under the cap, but AK’s contract runs a year longer than Allen’s, so we would have to find someway to funnel them an expiring contract or two.
April 25th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Great discussion, guys — keep it coming!
I’ll tell you from first-hand eyewitness experience: Rafael Araujo has NEVER been able to avoid foul trouble, even back at BYU. That might be an asset against a poor free-throw shooting opponent, but against Yao, it’s signing the Jazz’s death warrant.
As has been said, Radmanovic would never work on the Jazz. The Giricek comparison is spot-on, except I think Gira works harder than Radman. Vlad is a classic example of the Tim Thomas Contract Year Syndrome — play your butt off to get paid, then sit back and watch the money roll in. Besides, I’d just as soon keep Utah’s slopes Vlad-free in winter.
I like the Ray Allen trade idea. Some genius of a Suns fan on another message board suggested a trade for Shawn Marion in exchange for Kirilenko and a first-rounder. Pure madness — no way does Phoenix agree to that (although I’d jump all over it — Williams, Marion, Boozer, and Okur = sick). This topic — trade possibilities for AK — may be the focus of a future post (and it’s already been suggested in this space that Kirilenko’s contract may be holding the Jazz back).
April 25th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
The Suns would never trade for AK for the same reason that there’s a nearly continuous stream of Shawn Marion trade rumors - the luxury tax. As it stands now PHX has a 69 million dollar payroll, more than two million over the luxury tax threshold. (Source: ESPN/Scouts, Inc) Marion’s contract runs for two more years, and more than 34 million dollars. If they traded for AK, they would be adding 63 million over four years to their payroll, and wouldn’t see any relief from the luxury tax.
If Marion gets traded it will be for a player in the final year of his contract, or several players with smaller, shorter deals. Unfortunately, that eliminates the Jazz unless you want to start concocting a trade involving three or more teams.
April 25th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
Great info. Precisely why that Suns fan didn’t know what he was talking about.
April 26th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Vlad Rad… is an idiot, he’s lazy.. he shoots everytime he touches the ball… plays no defens..and is WAY overpayed. Thats exactly what we need for the Jazz… Come on guys!!
Maybe Luke Walton, but i like the Ray Allen deal the most. Williams..Allen..Millsap\Harpring..Boozer..Okur Thats a championship team. 3 powerhouse scorers and a floor general who can do it all, along with the rebounding\defense\hustle of the Paper Boy… YEs please!
Or i’ll take Luol Deng.. (dreaming of course) give em AK, and anybody off the bench!