All-Star Weekend

http://youtu.be/uh9uAorTzgM

http://youtu.be/40cylAlXZSg

http://youtu.be/UfSeQ2YquBg












http://youtu.be/99Od-U5IF4s

http://youtu.be/iWBJSqcCzoI

http://youtu.be/BBiwciokrO0

http://youtu.be/mk7RGRlE04A








http://youtu.be/1HNqS0YwU28

http://youtu.be/Y8Hqw1DL4mo

http://youtu.be/bw96rsIH0Dg

http://youtu.be/qJPS0Y996J4

http://youtu.be/vGggGD-l34I

Jazz vs Timberwolves

http://www.nba.com/video/games/timberwolves/2012/02/22/0021100495_uta_min_recap.nba/index.html

Jazz 98
Timberwolves 100
Final

There's not much to say about this game. I am as speechless now as I was after watching the game. I will let the following articles do all the talking for me.



Yahoo Sports:  http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap;_ylt=AqokvwlY59vM.gPgy83euT28vLYF?gid=2012022216

Deseret News:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865550671/Utah-Jazz-Minnesota-Timberwolves-Report-card.html

Salt Lake Tribune:
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/jazz/53569974-87/jazz-timberwolves-utah-minnesota.html.csp


Although Luke Ridnour hit the game winner, I feel this could have been prevented in 2 ways.
1- His shot at the Buzzer, our big men didn't even attempt to put a hand up to disrupt his shot at all.
2- Maybe Ridnour wouldn't even have been in the game if the Jazz would have realized who he was guarding while in the game and go right at him on the offensive end.

Some positives to take away from this; The Jazz are a better offensive team when Josh Howard is the starting 3 and Hayward moves to the 2 spot. Paul Millsap continues to show that he has Kevin Love's number.

I still feel the Jazz need make a huge change after the All-Star break. They still have the trade exception from the Memo trade. I don't really care if the Jazz make the playoffs this year, but I still want to be more competitive than they have been as of late. They need to let Millsap go. I want to show a conversation I saw on Facebook where some people think the Jazz need to keep Millsap because of his work ethic and hustle. Before the game against Minnesota, I haven't seen any hustle, just getting out hustled. I haven't seen his hard work ethic either, just someone who has been getting frustrated and letting his opponents get in his head. You are an idiot if you think the Jazz should let Jefferson go.  You don't get rid of a 20 and 10 guy. You need a solid big guy if you want to win in the NBA, and lets face it, skilled big men are basically extinct. I know everyone is a Millsap fan, but pull your head out and let the emotions go and think about what you have sitting on the bench who needs more minutes (Favors).

• Name Deleted:Epic fail. Team can't defend the point guard position, it has no closer, and it can't hit the side of a barn from the perimeter. Major problems. I say we start giving the young bigs major minutes since we're going nowhere fast this season and we look for a way to deal Jefferson to find some perimeter shooting or to find a point guard who can play defense.

  14 hours ago via mobile ·  ·  1
• Name Deleted: We need to showcase the vets up until the Mar 15th trade deadline, or until they are moved.

  14 hours ago via mobile · 
• Name Deleted: Good point. I hope they move Jefferson. I think we still need millsap's work ethic and defense.

  14 hours ago via mobile · 
• Names Deleted: - Millsap's contract is more affordable and desirable for other teams. He will bring back more now then I think Jefferson will. While he probably is a more valuable player to our teams success now, his numbers can easily be replaced by Favors, who needs the minutes to develop anyway.
  
  Next season Jefferson's contract will be expiring so I think the market for him will heat up in the offseason or by next trade deadline. Same for Devin Harris, who from now on should just be called Devin Harris' s expiring contract.

  about an hour ago ·  ·  1

Jazz vs Spurs

 http://youtu.be/75UsbQXceoc



Utah Jazz 102
San Antonio Spurs 106   Final




I just feel like I need to get something off my chest about a conversation I watched between Matt Harpring and Thurl Bailey and Coach Phil Johnson during half-time of the game versus the Spurs. There is always this discussion between the NBA "experts" about who is the best power forward to ever in the NBA. This conversation usually comes down to 2 candidates. While Matt Harpring, who by the way played with Karl Malone while in Utah, will argue Tim Duncan is the best ever and gives him that honor solely based off the number of rings. Then you have Thurl Bailey, who played with Karl, while Karl was in his prime, and Coach Johnson, who was his assistant coach Karl's entire career say by far the Best PF to ever play the game is Malone.
Below is a list of why I think Karl Malone is the best ever and if you can think of some more, feel free to share.

1- Tim Duncan is not a PF! He is just lucky that the Spurs, once David Robinson was lost for the year, purposely lost games and the season to get the best odds of winning the #1 pick that year.

2- Tim Duncan gets credit about how strong he is, but when he goes up against guys with a lot of bulk, he struggles and then uses his quickness to get past the guys. Put Karl Malone back in his prime, now he has to go up against a guy who not only is much, much stronger than he is, but now a guy who is just as quick or even more.

3- Tim Duncan never guards the PF on the other team (see pic on left). For the last 6 or 7 years, he is listed as the PF for the Spurs because that way he can make the All-Star team every year. Funny how he is listed as the forward, but then you have DeJuan Blair, who is 6' 4" listed as the Center. It would be nice if it were possible that you had to guard the guy listed at the same position as you. NO switching on D!


 4- If you put Karl Malone in the same position as Tim Duncan, meaning let him play along side a dominant Center named David Robinson, would Karl have the same, less, or more rings?

TIM DUNCAN:  He also gets away with a ton. He claims he never fouls anyone. Once you get the reputation as a "great defender" or "good defender" then you pretty much get away with what ever you want as a player. Look at the picture to the right. If you watched the game then you had to of seen this play. Loose ball and Millap, who hasn't gotten a single call to go his way as of late, gets pushed and there was no foul called. This is a classic example of how the little guys in this world just get pushed around and don't get the credit they deserve, or get what's rightfully theirs because they worked hard to get it, but they gave it the guy with the "reputation".  I am going to say that Tim Duncan is one of the greatest PF's ever, but not the greatest, because that belongs to Karl Malone.

Jazz vs Rockets

http://youtu.be/zCcfAsfByL4

Utah Jazz 85  Houston Rockets 101  Final


Two things I knew going into the game against the Houston Rockets. First, I knew that Al Jefferson was going to get his numbers. He's playing so well right now, and that's on both ends of the floor. The second thing I knew, the Jazz were going to let someone have a career night. I figured it was going to be a nobody like Patrick Patterson, or Sam Dalembert. We did a pretty good job against Kevin Martin, but I really should have known it was going to be Kyle Lowry. Look at how many point guards are eating up the Jazz. I am getting sick and tired of watching the Jazz let the point guards on each team just take over the games like this. Scary to think that the next game they play the Spurs with Tony Parker. Watch him go for 50 tonight!

As usual, the Jazz keep the game close, but then half way through the 3rd they just let the other team punch them in the mouth over and over to where they don't know what to do. CJ Miles decides he wants to foul the same guy (Courtney Lee), in back to back positions, in the same spot.

Is it just me, or has our bench play gone way down? I watch them, and I just don't see the Jazz having that edge against other teams anymore. The Jazz could get a lead, and the bench could come in and either contain it or build on it. I feel they haven't been able to do that in some time.

I feel the Jazz need to trade Millsap now! He had a great offensive game last night, but Louis Scola took him all night long. Millsap could not stop him. I know everyone out there is a huge Millsap fan, but if you are a Jazz fan, then it's time to start getting Favors and Kanter more minutes and develop them. Right now Millsap could get the Jazz a lot in return. I will make this the new poll.

Utah Jazz vs Washington Wizards

Utah Jazz 114  Washington Wizards 100  Final

The Utah Jazz hosted the Washington Wizards. This time, unlike the game versus the Hornets, the Jazz took care of business.

I made a 12 hour trip up to North Idaho/Spokane Washington area to come and see family. We gathered at my brothers place to watch the game. During the game, there was a lot of debate about what we were seeing during the game, and what we thought about certain Jazz players.

We all agreed that Alec Burks needs to play more. Raja has been shooting better, but he only takes about 5-6 shots a game. Burks gives them a player who can get the team just as many points as Raja by getting them from the free throw line. He is more explosive, creative, and better in the open floor than Raja.

We can't be too excited about this game because the Jazz had 2 days off and they played another horrible team. One thing we do know, Al Jefferson needs to be put on the "untouchable" list as far as trades go. Even before this game, he has been putting up, not just consistent, but great numbers for the Jazz. I know Jazz fans want to pull their hair out sometimes because he doesn't always pass it when he's double teamed, but even then he still scores better than anyone else in those situations.


On a side note: I was listening to sports radio on 1320 the other day, and they did a text poll about wether or not the Jazz should make a move before the trade deadline or just keep the roster how it is? They were claiming they had 70-30 in favor of the Jazz to keep the roster how it is. What do you think?

http://youtu.be/lW00M642VXU           Jazz 85 vs Thunder 111    Final


This was a total butt whoopin! They hung in there for a bit, but then you could tell they got tired. CJ Miles officially needs to stay on the bench. It seems  he couldn't care less, as it looks like he holds a grudge for not getting more playing time. I also think it's time for Favors to jump back into the starting lineup with Jefferson. Millsap could give James Harden a run for his money for 6th man of the year. Unless we get 1 or 2 guys on the team who can shoot the ball, Millsap is going to struggle with the taller, bigger forwards he goes up against.


For the Utah Jazz, I feel there were 2 guys who deserve players of the game. That is Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter. I know Jefferson scored more than Favors and had more rebounds, but Jefferson missed a lot of close shot attepmts. Kanter had 6 offensive rebounds. These 2 were out there and played hard.

I don't know what to say! Did we really lose the Hornets last night? How could the Jazz let a team, who were without 4 of their main players, beat them? I know how, let scrubbs like Vasquez dribble around our point guards all day long and pick you apart. Question: Didn't Jazz fans want the franchise to draft Xavier Henry over Gordon Hayward? I think that's a true statement. While Xavier Henry can only get playing time when too many players are injured, you have Hayward, who along with Kevin Love, is trying to become the next great white hope in the NBA. Good call KOC on drafting Hayward.

                                                        Look at this next picture. What is this telling you? Does it tell you that Millsap played soft last night? Does it tell you that Millsap had only 4 points and got out hustled by people who were on a 10 day contract. Or can this picture tell us that they let anyone, even Bellinelli, get the rim anytime they wanted to?  Millsap, I have just a little advice for you. If you are having a bad game, then you need to send a message and this picture should have been of you knocking him to the ground.  How long should it take for Tyrone Corbin to see that Millsap should come out of the game and to get Favors in there? By the way, did you see some of Favors dunks last night? Just ignore the stuffing he got by the big Mexican Gustavo Ayon. 

These next 2 pictures tells it all. These 2 bigs for the Hornets are who beat the Jazz. They got to all the loose balls and out hustled the Jazz big men. While Chris Kaman was shooting outside and scoring, Gustavo Ayon was busy smashing it on Kanter and Millsap. There's not much more to say about this game except that Alec Burks now needs to take over as the back up 2 guard and CJ Miles needs to stay on the bench. His outside shooting is so bad right now.