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Timberwolves giving Jazz nightmares

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playoffs? | 12:36 a.m. March 31, 2008
So much for all the talk about winning the last 10 games of the season. If the Jazz players say they are treating every game now like it's a playoff game then Jazz fans should be pretty concerned. Losing a "playoff game" to a Minnesota team that doesn't even have 20 wins is pretty pathetic. Basically, if the Jazz do not get homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs (if they even make the playoffs) then Jazz fans better pray they get lucky in Game 7 like they did last year in Houston because right now it doesn't look like the Jazz have found an answer for their road woes.
dave | 6:24 a.m. March 31, 2008
Not the worst loss. Look at the fact that the Jazz didn't have Memo or Kirilenko. If you take the top two guys off any team and go on the road versus the T-wolves and I think it is a loss. Besides the T-wolves aren't in the playoffs and the Jazz will be. Not the end of the world.
GO COUGARS!
Jimmy's Sneakers | 6:42 a.m. March 31, 2008
Jimmy saw this coming from a mile a way.

One big difference from the Stockton-Malone era and the DWill-Boozer era, is that Stock and Karl would not let the Jazz lose important games like this. Yet for this Jazz team these losses have become all to familiar. Sloan can only do so much motivating from the sideline, and it is up to this teams leaders to ensure these losses don't happen on the floor.

While Jimmy realizes this team has as good as a record against the West's other top 8, Jimmy sees this team shooting itself in the foot if it cannot at least get 1st round home court advantage.

Right now Jimmy is hoping San Antonio and LA keep winning but don't overtake New Orleans and that Houston can hold on to the 5th place seed. That would give the Jazz 1st and 2nd round matchups against the Rockets and Hornets (although both road series), which Jimmy thinks is their best route back to the Western Conference finals.
Comments continue below
Kevin in Texas | 7:41 a.m. March 31, 2008
I get sick of seeing the Jazz play down to the level of lesser opponents and lose, then play up and beat the top teams. What would happen if the Jazz played up every night? They would likely have home court advantage for most of the playoffs.
RR | 8:05 a.m. March 31, 2008
The T-Wolves know how to get up for bigger teams for some reason.
Oh, Well | 8:20 a.m. March 31, 2008
Can anyone say 52 and 30, one game out of the playoffs?
Mike's Moccassins | 8:15 a.m. March 31, 2008
Mike thinks CJ really let us down again!
magnus | 8:25 a.m. March 31, 2008
I think there is alot more at work here than just playing down to the level of the opponent.

Granted they should have won this game. but the following factors have to play a part in this loss

1) They where missing two starters, without either one I think they are ok but without both it causes a problem.

2) Practically the whole team has had the flu, and...

3) they have had alot of days off. I think that when you combine this with the fact that alot of guys have been not practicing becasue of illness or injury what you get is a team that is a step slow and a little out of sync. I think that is what they showed yesterday.

This team is still an enigma. I am exited for the playoffs, it's going to be a wild ride.
20 more years | 8:56 a.m. March 31, 2008
Why does the desert news continually censor this blog to show a certain bias?

Coaching | 8:56 a.m. March 31, 2008
This is exactly why I CANNOT get exited about a Jerry Sloan coached team, jerry does nothing to help this team. It would be nice if Hall of Fame coach jerry sloan could figure out a way to actually coach.

Jerry has done nothing for Milsap, the guy can't even play 30 minutes without fouling out because he fouls his man 30 feet from the basket 4 times. Jerry needs to teach these guys some basic skills to improve their game, but he really doesn't know how, which is sad.
20 more years | 9:00 a.m. March 31, 2008
lets get a coach who can coach his players to some defense.
Re magnus | 9:12 a.m. March 31, 2008
Magnus I like your playoff excitement, but if this group finishes this year like last season there will be no playoffs. Andrei got hurt and sprained his ankle when he slid on the ice using his free pass from Masha last night. He is out indefinetly. Magnus lets just hope they win 8 of 10 or now playoffs. Maybe we will get lucky in the lottery and get tehe number 1 pick and get Beasley.
Phx Jazz Fan | 9:35 a.m. March 31, 2008
I have to laugh at the nut jobs who keep calling for Sloan's head. Sloan is an excellent coach who gets more out of his players than most coaches are capable of. As far as teaching and developing talent go, how many times have we seen players excel when they were with the Jazz, only to languish on the bench when they left for supposedly greener pastures. Remember Shandon Anderson? Howard Eisley? Blue Edwards? All players who thrived under Sloan's tutelage, but who were never heard from again once they left. Try thinking before you post an inane comment next time...
re:coaching | 9:40 a.m. March 31, 2008
When will Jerry Sloan ever be held accountable by the fans or Larry Miller. On KJZZ telecasts, they often show the graphic detailing how Sloan is the longerst tenured coach in all of pro sports, big deal!! What has he actually accomplished besides a lot of REGULAR SEASON HOME wins. I would be embarressed to have the longest tenure in sports and nothing to show for it.

Just being the coach for a really long time, is not an accomplishment, but since Sloan has none, they market to the fans about his longevity. Our players do not get better unders Sloan, most of the time they get traded or get worse.
Jazz Fan (The Original) | 9:52 a.m. March 31, 2008
Eight games to go; five home and three road. I see roadies at NO, Dal, and SA as all losses. If the Jazz don't get Memo, Kirilenko, and Brewer back for all of the home games, they are in jeapardy of losing even possibly Was tonight, and more than likely even at full strength, the SA and Denver games. They should win the Hou game....but the way things are going, they could go 1-7 or 2-6 if they don't get better bench play. They only hope of finishing ahead of Denver is to go 6-2....because Denver could sweep their games if they continue on the roll they are on now. These injuries and flu are killing the fluidity of the Jazz play. The bench is not taking up the slack. I honestly have my doubts that the Jazz can finish the year with at least a first round home court advantage. Losing 3 roadies to Min was a crock; also 2 roadies and 1 home loss to Por was shocking. 10 losses on the road to NY(1), Min(3), Por(2) Cha(1), Chi(1), NJ(1), and Mia(1)....take those away and they have 18 losses, and the best record in the west.....come on!!!!!!
NOT COACHING | 9:59 a.m. March 31, 2008
For all you idiots that think that it's on sloan and his coaching you people are about dumb as it gets, if you don't look at the players (ie. Boozer and williams) super stars of the team that can't gaurd their own shadow, what do you want him to do, bench the so called leaders then what do you have? tell boozer and the rest of the clowns to sit there butts down move there feet and play "D".
re:Phx Jazz Fan | 10:05 a.m. March 31, 2008
Do you even watch the games?? Do you have any clue as to what you are TRYING to say?? The jazz have failied with Sloan in at least 15 of his 20 seasons. Have you ever looked at his carrer playoff record or his regular season road record??? Nevermind the fact that he had the 2 greatest players at thier position for more than a decade. Sloan has been here for 20 years and we consistantly underacheive, what more should I need to say?? He has never been voted coach of the year, or asked to coach team usa, he has never even coached in an All Star game.

The jazz lost 4 first round series on their home court with a higher seed during his carreer. Jerry has no accountability, he never gets blamed for anything, even if Boozer blames him for every player in the league seeing jerry calling out the plays from the sidelines. Jerry sloan is the most overrated, most foul mouthed underachiever in the league.
Coaching | 10:13 a.m. March 31, 2008
Here's an idea, how about actually coaching your team to play better defense. Everyone keeps saying what a great coach sloan is, well lets see it. He doesn't have Stockton and Malone anymore, who didn't really need coaching. The truth is, jerry doesn't have the first clue how to coach in this league, he just puts the blame on everyone else.

I agree that this team is awful on defense, but what are we paying jerry to do??? Defense is more than just effort, it takes scouting and preperation and gameplans, schemes, of which jerry provides nothing. By his own admission, he doesn't watch gamefilm, he doesn't motiviate his players and he isn't going to change. Jerry has admitted to all of these things. Nice attitude!! The fans and players deserve better!
CCJAZZ | 10:17 a.m. March 31, 2008
RE:Jazz Fan
Do your research; NO team ever plays "3 roadies" against the same team. The Jazz only play MInnesota 4 times. Do you pay attention to the structure of the schedule or just get on here to run your mouth? Let me spell it out to you: since they are in the same division the Jazz and T-wolves play exactly 4 times each season 2 in SLC and 2 in Minnisota. The Jazz won their home game against the wolves and lost the TWO roadies. They play one more time in SLC.
Other than that you are right; the Jazz have lost to really bad teams on the road; NO EXCUSE FOR THAT.
However, the jazz going 1-7 when five games are at home yeah right! they only lost 4 games at the ESA but you are right they are going to blow 4 of the last five. GOOD LOGIC.
Re jazz fan | 10:25 a.m. March 31, 2008
Get with the program before you post. The jazz only lost 2 on the road to Minnesota. They only play division rivals 4 times 2 home and 2 on the road.
TRADE BOOZER | 10:28 a.m. March 31, 2008
If this team wants a championship they better learn to want to play defense. Boozer has no desire to play defense, Duncan plays defense. The spurs, though I hate them, play defense. That's the constant on their team. One of our team leaders plays no defense. Brewer, Millsap, Korver, Harpring, Ak, Price, all play defense. Watching Boozer's constant lack of defense is pathetic. Is this team watching film and seeing the problems? If Sloan really doesn't watch film then he needs to go. That's a JOKE. Fix the defensive breaksdowns by seeing the problem. Maybe Boozer has no idea how bad he is because he never sees the embarassemnt that he is on film. This team needs something.
Dave | 10:35 a.m. March 31, 2008
Boozer's defense is pathetic. He never moves his feet, reaches all the time, and gets out of the opponents way to the basket. Even my 8 year old son recognizes how bad he is.

If all he did was play defense half as well as Karl Malone did we wouldn't lose these games. In every game where the Jazz have lost to a sub 500 team Boozer's guy has killed us. He never helps on D when someone gets beat. For his salary he needs to step it up instead of always being worried about his numbers. Pathetic!
magnus | 10:40 a.m. March 31, 2008
I highly doubt the Jazz will miss the playoffs, not that it couldn't happen but at this point I think it is very highly unlikely.

Don't forget that the are 2 1/2 games ahead of Dallas, GS, and Denver and if they end up better than any one of those teams they are in.

Conversely, In order for the Jazz to miss the playoffs all three of those teams will have to make up 2 1/2 games on the Jazz. So, even if the Jazz do finnish 2-6, all three of those teams would have to finnish 5-4 or better in order for the Jazz to be out.

I think the Jazz will hold on to 4th but they will not have homecourt in the first round.
Calgary Jazz | 11:01 a.m. March 31, 2008
Boozer can't play defence at all, it is just painful to watch anybody just driving past him and Boozer avoiding any contact. Ditto to Okur - but at least he can play position defence against slow big centers. Harpring is so slow after his injuries, and when you have both him and Boozer on the floor opponents can turn into driving into the paint/layup clinic. Unless Jazz get some shot blocker ( why we never picked up Ratliff just for this playoff run? ) we are going nowhere.
Experts | 10:58 a.m. March 31, 2008
TALK TALK TALK how about EFFORT EFFORT EFFORT. Blame the right people bloggers--its the players not management fans.
DEFENSE | 11:02 a.m. March 31, 2008
Almost every time down the court, Minnesota went right to the basket. Every other team in the NBA knows that the way to beat the Jazz is to take them to the rack time and time again. This is not news to the Jazz (or any of the rest of us) as the Kings scouting report from the preseason detailed it player by player. Please Jerry...mix things up by playing zone a couple of times down the court. Make the other team beat us by making something other than a lay-up or a wide open three pointer!!!
byron | 11:06 a.m. March 31, 2008
Is this a typo? did the jazz really loose to the timberwolves- again? there goes home court advantage.
Never understand... | 11:19 a.m. March 31, 2008
I don't understand mathematically why Sloan has never realized that an open three hurts worse than a contested 2. There are a number of players at local gyms who can easily hit three pointers like free throws. Yet Sloan's defensive strategy for years has been to give up those open 3s. Does fundamental basketball theory support contesting each and every shot. The Jazz players need to watch the David/Kansas game several hundred times to be reminded what playing good defense is. Talking about hard fought-tenacious defense!

One major problem this Jazz team has is the absence of an Eaton-Ostertag type of stopper to stop all the cheap 2s. Have the Jazz got any blocks this year from anyone but Millsap and perhaps AK at times? The Jazz can outscore anyone but if you attack them defensively and also offensively going to the rack they tend to fold. Minnesota pressured on both ends of the court and the Jazz couldn't take it.
Larry | 11:40 a.m. March 31, 2008
Right now the Jazz are just "Pretenders" and not Contenders. They talk about being All-Stars and being "slighted". They have great potential but have not learned how to be consistant. All-Stars know how to win games!
Miami Jazz | 11:49 a.m. March 31, 2008
Never understand, look into your stats a little bit please. AK leads the team in blocks with 100, Millsap only has 67. Don't knock AK "at times". He is still the best defender on the team by far. Millsap and Boozer (#2-3) combined have 100. The bigger problem is turnovers and fouls. Boozer is #2 behind Williams in turnovers and leads in fouls. He needs to take some of the offensive energy and put it into his defense. Same with Millsap. He's #2 in fouls.

The Jazz (Boozer in particular) need to attack the rim more often, instead of settling for fade away jump shots. But chances are their shot will be blocked anyways, since they have had more shots blocked than they have blocked. The only player who's shot is blocked more than Boozer was Brian Grant!!!
magnus | 11:54 a.m. March 31, 2008
Re: Never understand

I keep hearing this accusation you are making about the Jazz defence, and I'm pretty sure it is totaly bogus.

To the Statistics!!!!

Jazz opponents shoot 35.7% from the three point line, they are 12th in the league in this category, Boston is first with 31.4%.

Jazz opponents shoot 46.2% on two pointers, they are 21st in this category, again Boston is first with 41.9%.

...thats kind of the opposite of what you just said.

I think that you are so fixated on Sloan and so dtermined to blame him for this problem that you have made up this idea.

You are absolutely right about the absence of a defensive stopper in the middle though. Having a person that just stand in the middle and indimitate anybody who comes in the paint instantly makes the whole defense better.
re:miami jazz | 12:03 p.m. March 31, 2008
You are right. Milsap fouls way, way too much. A large part of his problem is his perimeter defense. Anyone who watches jazz games knows that he often times "bodies" his man 20-25 feet from the basket and always picks up "cheap" fouls and then Milsap can't stay on the court and the other team gets in the penalty. To me, this is obviously a coaching/philosophy problem. Sloan has done the same thing with many players.
everyone just needs to | 12:17 p.m. March 31, 2008
calm down. We've got uncle Fester back.
re:magnus | 12:35 p.m. March 31, 2008
The stats are helpful in showing that the jazz are a poor defensive team, and we can all agree that much of the blame should fall on Sloan.
ZEKE | 12:39 p.m. March 31, 2008
Worst defence I`ve ever seen. The TimberWolves kept taking the ball inside and the JAZZ just let them. I think I could have scored on them. These players get paid big salaries what a poor effert.
Anonymous | 12:53 p.m. March 31, 2008
DEFENSE. Why are such a poor defensive team. You would think that someone as tough as Jerry Sloan could teach defense. Why can't Brewer, with his jumping ability, guard the top shooting guards of this league. They always seem to have a big night against him. Do we play team defense very well?
Lee
Coaching | 1:05 p.m. March 31, 2008
Its good to see that everyone agrees that Sloan is a big part of our defensive problems. I just wish he would put his ego aside and start coaching. Jerry takes more pride in being ridgid and stubborn than he does in actually winning.
Anonymous | 1:48 p.m. March 31, 2008
I'm just wondering why it is that "coaching" isn't employed with the Jazz right now? Since "coaching" seems to know so much, I just don't see how the Jazz can afford to allow him to keep sitting on his duff at home watching the game. Did it ever occur to you that Sloan has been coaching for 20 years and is one of the most respected coaches in the game.

Get a life.
AK Fan | 1:42 p.m. March 31, 2008
JAzz will win with Sloan tons of game but championship. He cannot motivate his players and cannot adjust game time situation. Jazz have talent to win get that title. Need just new coach who can give energy. Did you see half time lockerroom. Mourning ...somebody died literally...End the and great Hall of fame coach who never win championship have to step down.
magnus | 1:43 p.m. March 31, 2008
Maybe you can all agree and blame it all on Sloan but don't include me in your club.

The Jazz defense is not that bad, it's not great, but it's not that bad. According to Holligers efficiency ratings (espn) they are 14th in the league in defensive efficiency. For not having a single guy on the team who you could consider a "defensive stopper" I'd say that's actually pretty darn good.

...but since we are blaming things on Sloan and calling the Jazz soft, did you know that the Jazz are 6th in the league in rebounding differential, 6th in the league in Turnover differential, and 2nd in the league in Assist differential?

So Jerry Sloans teams rebound well, take care of the ball, force turnovers, and play as a team by passing the ball but for some reason he just doesn't know how to get a team to play defense even though in the 90's the Jazz were always among the best in the league defensively...I'm not buying it.



re:mangus | 2:03 p.m. March 31, 2008
They were the best in the league because they had stockton and malone, who jerry inherited from the laydens. You will rarely hear anything postive fror either stockton or malone about jerry sloan. They don't say much, but it is obvious that neither really like him. Not to mention nearly every other player that has been here. Jerry doesn't really coach, he just acts like he does. Just becasue he has been here a really, really long time, doesn't mean that he has accomplished anything. Longevity itself is not an accomplishment when the owner and the fans (like yourself) really don't care about winning.
Shouldn't have done that | 2:06 p.m. March 31, 2008
They shouldn't have underestimated the T-Wolves. Seriously, T-Wolves are vicious, but they didn't listen and they got devoured.
Coaching | 2:11 p.m. March 31, 2008
Just so you know sloan lovers, everytime you mention something about jerry coaching here for 20 years, you are making my point for me. So please, by all means, keep telling everyone how long jerry has been here, and how he is the longest tenured coach in pro sports because it is actually quite embarressing that this franchise would keep a coach who hasn't won anything and wasted 15 years of stockton and malone by getting knocked out in the first round half of the time they were here. But hey, if you are happy with it, thats your choice. But no self respecting fan could possibley be happy with what sloan has produced with such great players.

I bet sloan lovers are were also ron mcbride fans, just buy whatever is being sold, then one day you make a change and find yourself in a BCS game- the same would happen for the jazz if they got rid of sloan.

Longevity is is not an acheivment. As soon as the jazz either miss the playoffs, or get bounced in the 1st round, jerry should do the honorable thing and retire. Please give the players and fans this gift.
Coaching's whining | 2:31 p.m. March 31, 2008
Saying that Sloan hasn't been successful or "won anything" is ridiculous. We all know that the Jazz haven't won the championship, but saying that they haven't had success shows how petty you are. I want to win as much as any Jazz fan, but saying that the lack of defense is somehow entirely Sloan's fault is putting too much on Sloan.

Go back to coaching your kids Jr. Jazz team.
magnus | 2:37 p.m. March 31, 2008
So when the Jazz play good D it is the players but when they play bad D it is the Coach? You're tripping all over yourself here.

Re: Coaching

If you are a "self respecting fan" then I want no part of it. You say he hasn't won anything, but in reality the only thing he hasn't won is a championship. You say he wasted 15 years of two of the greates players of all time, I say he made two of the greatest players of all time who they are, and they were lucky to have him.

I've got numbers, records, statistics and the words of people alot smarter than you or I to back up my claims... what have you got?

...20 years and no championship?

ya, that's what I thought you were going to say.
Wed. is day of reckoning | 2:35 p.m. March 31, 2008
I guarantee a Jazz victory on Wednesday night when the T-wolves come to SLC. The Jazz will be up for this game more than any others in the past few weeks. Revenge is sweet. The T-wolves are in for a thumping; mark my words!

LOOK OUT BSC.....HERE COMES BRONCO AND HIS BOYS IN 2008!
re:mangus | 2:51 p.m. March 31, 2008
20 years no championship!! Here are a few tidbits:

Jerry's first season the jazz are #2 seed, they get swept by the 7th seed. Can you believe this, it has never occured in the history of the NBA, except for Sloan.

Jerry is the only coach in league history to be up 2-0 in a best of 5 and lose both.

Never even once coached in an all star game or head coach of a team USA, because the committe knew no players would show up and "wanted a different style than what jerry offers" exact quote from Stu Jackson in 2001.

Only coach to be suspended for more than 2 games (jerry got 7) for hitting a ref and embarressed the franchise and never apologized.

Drops "F" bombs on wired up in the locker room and never apologized.

3 times in the history of the NBA an 8 seed beat the 1 seed, jerry benefitted on 2 of the 3 and was up 3-0 on Denver and then got pushed to 7 games.

Missed the playoffs 3 straight years.
Eliminated by a lower seed 4 times on the jazz homecourt.

The most distliked coach in the league.
Hey Magnus | 3:00 p.m. March 31, 2008
Get the BBQ ready, you know, that backyard cookout you are planning. The one where you give Jerry an honorary NBA championship ring, because jerry will never earn one, but he is so great that he can't possibly go into the hall of fame with just a few division titles. I'm just wondering, are you going to pour like diet coke, or apple juice and his head to celebrate.

When you write jerry's induction speech, don't forget to mention how stupid all the fans are for not wanting a new coach, and don't forget to blame all the players for not listening, or the refs for not liking jerry.

When someone says, jerry hasn't won anything, they are saying he hasn't won an NBA title or a gold medal of any kind, he hasn't won coach of the year or any other awards, he has never won an all star game for the western conference- ya know like he hasn't won anything, get it.
Ty | 3:07 p.m. March 31, 2008
Proves to me that when Kirilenko is hurt... START KORVER OVER MILES!!!!!!!!!
re:magnus | 3:18 p.m. March 31, 2008
I do like to engage in the type of argument you are involved in here, but I have to speak up and say that you are disrespecting 2 of the hardest working atheletes in any sport. To say the "jerry made john and karl what they were" is abosolutley crazy and you are just speaking out of anger and emotion. If sloan made them what they were, then why can't he do it over and over? The answer is obvious, he can't.

John and Karl gave everything they had to this team and community, they played through incrediable pain and put in more time off the court than most of us can imagine. They were totally committed to doing everything they could to win.

For you to disrespect their dedication in the name of heaping praise upon Coach Sloan is just plan wrong and you should recind your comments. Sometimes it is better to remain quiet than to make such truley ludicris and inaccurate comments.

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Tom Olmscheid, Associated Press

Minnesota's Corey Brewer (22) battles for a rebound with Utah's Carlos Boozer, left, and Kyle Korver, right, Sunday in Minneapolis.

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