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Jazz captains hope to find spark again

Alright, seriously. The problems Boozer and Williams mentioned are only half the story. Yes, the offense has been pitiful: Boozer does need to realize that he is 6'9" and 270lbs, and stop being afraid to take it inside; Williams needs to lay off the pull-up jumpers; Okur hasn't played since his baby was born, etc. But, again, the offensive woes paint a skewed image of the team. I have been a devout Jazz fan as long as I can remember, but I have had to change the channel a few times this year, even in close games, because of the teams outright refusal to play defense. I mean, they weren't great defensively last year, but this year has been utterly embarrassing, for the team and for anyone that calls themselves a Jazz fan. Nobody stops penetration, nobody shows on screens, nobody rotates to cover open shooters...the list goes on and on. For such a big guy, Boozer is incredibly weak on defense, and Okur? There are no words to describe his defense. The closest thing I can think of is "Nonexistant," but Okur actually manages to help the opponents with his D. Ugh. Go Brewer, and go AK.

Jazz can't find a man as Okur who plays for the team by heart. The problem is to know how to make him to fire. What i mean is, he plays how his teammates want. I want to remind his role vs giants such as Duncan and Yao at last playoffs. If they (team mates) want him to fire up he does, no doubt. Regards

Get that spark back Jazz. I'm rooting for ya

Drew, your right. It all has to start with D. I want to see them create turnovers and get easy layups and dunks. Williams also needs to penatrate more and find the open player or shot. It seems as though AK is the only constant on the team as far as hussle and looking for the open player.

I've seen Millisap played... give him more minutes and he'll show around!

Drew, you read my mind. It seems anyone can get to the basket against the Jazz. I've complained about their all too many moments of defensive ineptitude for years now. You can always play defense in the game of basketball if you're in good shape. Hustle! Hustle! Defense is a mental mindset and the Jazz just don't seem interested enough too many times. I've seen them put up great defensive efforts, so I know they can, they just don't do it enough. Even when they were winning this year, I knew the 117 point games were'nt a recipe for long term success. It's like the Outlaw Jesse Wells said (Cling Eastwood for you youngsters) "Ya getta get mean...and I mean plump maddog mean..."

Jimmy agrees that lack of defense has been key, however, Jimmy is just afraid that other than AK that is just who this team is.

Jimmy is also worried about our bench scoring. Matty isn't the weapon he has been and Gira is such a defensive liability.

Jimmy wonders if maybe it is time to send Memo to the bench and start Milsap. This would give us a better defensive player as a starter and give us a better offensive player off the bench. Memo could be our main scorer off the bench (as long as his shooting gets better) and would become more of a focal point. Whomever of the two has the hot hand could finish the game.

It seems like whenever "Matty" steps in the game he is scoring. The finger pointing shouldn't be at the guy who plays 15 minutes a game and scores "only" 8 points in that time. Perhaps it is his shooting you're criticizing? 54% from the field. Ok, I'm lost...

As stated by many before me, the real problem is defense. At least Sloan gets what he wants with low-scoring games. Too bad the defense can't step up. Additionally, playing Collins for 20 minutes a game is a terrible, terrible idea. Yeah, so Millsap is shorter, he plays big. Plug him in Collins' minutes. I get so tired of seeing Collins mopping himself on the floor from all of his unbelievable flops. The guy has no offense, and his defense consists of crumpling over when a player backs in on him.

It's interesting how the Jazz were playing better basketball when they were running a faster offense (before the losing streak). Sloan changed his attitude with AK, maybe he should push the ball more since the team seems to play better in that situation.

I've seen The Outlaw Josey Wales, but never Jesse Wells. Close enough I guess. Anyway, the truth is Utah has never been a great defensive team. Sure they have their moments (Ak, Brewer), but overall they don't have the size to be a top defensive team. Having said that, they definitely can do a better job and it has to start with the starting rotation.

I've always wondered what it was about the Jazz not being able to defend the 3. They were raining down on us during the Pacers game last week. Somehow we've got to be better on defense. Jimmy's got a good idea here, I love you Memo, but we need strong defense to start out the game, and Millsap has got it all!

Jaron Collins actually did okay in the Pacers game. He drew 2 charges (they were actual charges taken, not flops) and scored a jumper from what I remembered. Nothing impressive but he did his job. He was in a lot longer than anyone would ever desire that's for sure, but no one else came to play that game.

@ Jimmy Wrong Again

Jimmy likes Matty as much as the next guy and wishes Matty still had it, but the poor guy is only averaging 7.8 ppg this year, down 4 from last year. Is it a result of reduced playing time? Probably. That doesn't change the fact that it is happening and our 2nd line scoring has taken a hit because of it.

Jimmy would just like to point out that most of the top teams in the West have solid 6th man scorers to come in and lead the 2nd unit. Phoenix has Leandro, Dallas has JTerry and the Spurs have Ginobli. Who do the Jazz have?

Considering the fact that the Jazz don't have enough shots in the starting lineup to keep everyone happy, Jimmy thinks it would be a good idea to let Memo come in and be our go-to-guy off the bench and let Milsap start the game by defending the opposing teams best big. This might solve our defensive problems and offensive luls when the 2nd unit takes the floor.

Everyones plea that Memo is the defensive problem or at least a liability need to look closer at the games that the Jazz have lost. When McGrady went off it was AK and Brewer guarding him. When Lebron went off in both games it was AK and Brewer guarding him. When Kobe lit up the Jazz it was AK and Brewer guarding him. In games where there were no all star small forwards to guard the Jazz have won. What I don't understand and I was taught this in grade school is that when a player is scoring at will you give him a hard foul. Not dirty but hard, such as a whack across the arms on a shot so that he is conscious that you are there next time and afraid of it next time. Boozer and Dwill take hits like that all the time. I am surprised that Sloan does not coach it being the professed defensive coach he is. No need to mix the lineup yet just a few good whacks or hits on a lane driver and they will think twice about it next time.