From Deseret News archives:
When will Jazz get the Memo?
Is that him over by the scorer's table? Up in the cheap seats?
How about out in the locker room or down in the kitchen?
He's in the picture somewhere.
Jazz center Mehmet Okur has been popping up in strange places and disappearing from others this post-season. His defense Saturday against San Antonio's Tim Duncan was outstanding or annoying, depending on which team you favor. He was credited with just one steal, but he hit away a couple of other passes and stripped the ball several times, as Duncan ended up with eight turnovers.
Similarly, in the first round of the playoffs against Houston, Okur got the unenviable job of guarding 7-foot-5, 300-pound Yao Ming. That, too, produced some fine defensive moments by Okur.
At the same time, his shooting touch has abandoned him. In three games against the Spurs he is just 7-31 from the field.
Which raises a question: How long can the Jazz survive without their All-Star shooter making shots?
Answer: Quite a while, if you ask Jerry Sloan.
"It's not just offense that gives you a chance to win,"
said the Jazz coach. "That's the thing. People have been pounding that he's gotta score points. These guys have got to just go play basketball. Somebody will score the points. They've got to do the other things. They can't just go out there and say, 'I gotta get my points.' They've got to do the other things that help you win.
"I don't care who scores.
All this other stuff worries me. It's nonsense."
Perhaps, but the Jazz didn't sign him for his defense.
Besides, who couldn't use a 7-foot outside scorer? Besides the Dallas Mavericks, that is.
As Okur's defense improves in the post-season, his offense is on shore leave. Overall in the playoffs he is shooting just 38.7 percent, worst among the Jazz's top eight players and well below the 46 percent he shot in the regular season. His 32 percent from 3-point range is six points below his season numbers.
Okur, of course, isn't one to openly fret over such things. Even though he took just three shots Saturday, on Sunday he was the same old Memo. He spent practice lobbing free throws and laughing as he watched Andrei Kirilenko bounce shots off his head into the basket.
As for whether playing tough defense and making shots are mutually exclusive, Okur replied, "I'm more focused on my defensive end, because I didn't want to really push the ball last night. My teammates do good job, score a lot of points, so I'm focused on defense."
Music to Sloan's ears.
"One thing I try to tell these guys is to go do the job. People keep telling you that you need to score, you have to score. Just go play," said Sloan.
