Jazz vs Pistons

 105 - 90  FINAL
http://www.nba.com/games/20120312/DETUTA/gameinfo.html

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2012031226


This was a good game for the Utah Jazz. I was a little worried there for a while. A small part of me, very small, was telling me that Rodney Stuckey was going to win this game for the Pistons. Thankfully in the 4th quarter, the Jazz, along with the play of one Al Jefferson took over. Jefferson was questionable for tonights game after the passing of his grandmother on Sunday, but I'm glad he played tonight. Just go look at his stat line. 14-18 from the line with 12 boards. It was good to see Favors as well. Every game, although he's not scoring a lot, is starting to look better and more comfortable on the floor. He's a solid player when he get the ball and just goes up as high as he can to put the ball in the hoop. I wish I could say the same for Kanter. I know he is a rookie and all, but he looked more comfortable at the beginning of the season. Now he looks lost and uncomfortable, and timid playing just 9 minutes and 2 points and only 1 rebound.

I did, however, feel a sense of relief as I was watching the game. Suddenly CJ Miles decided to show up. I know his numbers are insanely different when you compare his HOME games to AWAY games, but thank you for actually hitting a shot tonight.  With the trade deadline only being 4 days away, I still wonder what the Jazz plans are with CJ Miles. For far too long, people have been waiting for this guy, and for too long we keep telling ourselves to be patient and that he is worth the risk "for now", but I say enough is enough. We have to let him go.

My other big beef about tonights game comes two-fold. We heard about this "internal matter" situation with Raja Bell. My thoughts were he was upset about not getting enough playing time. When was the last time you actually saw him out on the floor at the end of a game? Now you have Corbin saying everything is good, and suddenly Bell is on the court, when the game was close, and he then finishes the game? You have got to be kidding me! Maybe Corbin is wanting to be liked by Raja rather than being respected. At the end of the game you need to either have Hayward in the game or Burks. Those guys will actually do something for you. And some might say he was out there to guard Stuckey, but he did all game long and couldn't do anything.  27 minutes, 0-2 shooting, 0-1 3Pt shooting, 1-2 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 fouls, and 1 POINT was Raja's line. I know we got the win, but I have no clue why Corbin had him out there.  You could have given Burks at least 10-12 of those minutes.

I love this picture of Earl Watson. I have to say, since the change in the line-up, I have noticed a difference in the play from the Jazz bench. I don't think it's where it was at the beginning of the season, but I do feel it has gotten much better the last few games. Is it Hayward, now taking on a more offensive role now? Or is it Derrick Favors looking more aggressive lately? What ever it is, I know a lot of it has to do with Earl and his toughness, and leadership. When a guy is scoring at will on you, he showed its time to dig deep and go after him and rough him up