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Utah Jazz: Millsap creams hometown team

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Bench Boozer | 1:48 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
I would love it if Millsap made to the All Star game, as a coaches addition, over Boozer. Wouldn't that send a message.
leonard | 2:50 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Awesome!
Time To Get Something For Boozer | 3:33 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
The way Paul is playing right now, I think every Jazz fan would prefer him to Boozer. I feel KOC and the staff feels the same way. Before the trade deadline is here, it is time for the Jazz to trade Boozer to a team of his choice. I realize they can't get exactly what Boozer is worth (although with the frequency and the way he gets injured, and the recovery time he needs everytime, there might not be too many Boozer fans who happen to be GM's left out there)he will walk away at the end of the season while the Jazz get nothing in return. How about a pair of conditional first round picks?
Comments continue below
Anonymous | 3:36 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Amen!
JACK | 4:29 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Paul is proof that there is still guy that are thankful for the chance to play and not complain
and prove himself with actions not words.
He remind me alot of Tim Duncan you cant tell how he feels because he is so level headed. Keep it up
Paul. Thanks for the example your reward is coming.
GOOD LUCK JAZZ
Welome to "the family" | 6:46 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Time to let Boozer go "so he can take care of his family", make Millsap a permanent "Jazz family member" and with the left over change sign a top athletic 5 spot.
Bob2 | 7:05 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
A pure GEM!
jazzfan | 7:26 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Carlos who?
Sloan | 7:42 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
What do you mean, "I don't know what we're going to do with Millsap. He keeps getting better every game it seems like." Of course you know what your going to do. Your going to play him as much as you can and as long as he produces give him the opportunity. It is to bad that Miles 1.5R/G, Almond 1.5R/G, of late Harpring 1 R/G and some of the others have not learned to come to work ready to play defense.

Ah well I guess Life is good when you make millions and don't have to contribute.
YO | 7:55 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
As a former Louisianian, I am glad to see my adopted home state of Utah playing in the Sugar Bowl and the Jazz drafting my home skillet P-Mill.
Beware the Quiet Ones | 8:12 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Millsap obviously came into the league with a chip on his shoulder for not being taken higher in the draft. He didn't cry about it to the press, though, and has been working hard ever since, doing exactly what the coaching staff tells him to do, hustling and doing the "dirty work" on the court. Now he's added more offense to his game, and in Boozer's absence he's proving he's far more valuable than a 47th pick in the 2nd round. I think he'll continue to work hard and improve all the way to All-Star status. Paul doesn't trumpet his own growing prowess as a player, but Sloan and the rest of the Jazz management obviously know his worth. I'm confident they'll do whatever it takes to keep Millsap in a Jazz uniform for many years to come!
chris burkley | 8:23 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Get rid of Boozer, we don't need him. Milsap is better, plays hurt, plays defense, and is not a prima donna. Koufos is tough also.
CJ...sorry about | 8:34 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
the sprain,take your time getting well,maybe you could be back around June?
Jazz MVP | 8:54 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Hands down it is Paul Milsap this year! We would be lottery bound without him.

@ Magnus, I don't think the Jazz will miss CJ that much. He usually doesn't play crunch time minutes anyway. Plus with CJ and Brewer, I think the Jazz have to much youth on the floor in the starting line-up. I'd look for the Jazz to get off to quicker starts if Korver or Harpring start. If Jerry goes with Almond, I think it will be more of the same. However, I'd like to see Almond get CJ's minutes for two to three weeks to see what he could do?

Still I wonder where the Jazz would be after watching CP3 last night if they would have drafted him? (Turnovers are killing us, especially on the road)
Really? | 9:03 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
As much as it pains me to say it...yes...we do need Boozer. We obviously do not need Booz for his lazy effort on defense but we do need him for his offensive skills. He can finish with both hands and he shoots a higher FG% than anyone on the team. Why? Because he makes shots and even when he is double-teamed.

Not having Boozer also affects our depth. Instead of a high quality player like Millsap playing behind an offensive force like Boozer we have who coming in to fill Millsaps shoes? See what I mean?

If we could get everyone back I think we could make a serious run simply because of our depth.

Millsaps only likely deficit yet, and this does not mean it will not get better, is that the other players FG% around him is not improving but rather has decreased. What this means is that he is not drawing the attention of enough defense, like Boozer did, to give his team mates higher % scoring opportunities.

You will also notice that we rarely come down the floor and run plays for Millsap to score. He is better at "cleanup/rebound-putback" than running offensive plays for him.
Milsap-What A Man | 9:15 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
This guy has what most players in the NBA don't have-Pride. A hard working, self motivated, person filled with integrity and honesty. What a breath of fresh air. Now please don't start beating the drums about him going to the All-Star game please. That game is all about something Paul isn't. It is nothing more than a media hyped, spin about what is wrong in todays sports. Let him get a break from the rigors of the season and prepare for the 2nd half of the year without all of that crap that an All-Star game doesn't give him. His reward for this season and the hard work he has put in this past 3 years will come this summer here or elsewhere with a contract that will give him and his great family some security. Way to go Paul, you deserve what you will get..
Miles | 9:34 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Can anyone tell me how you all come to the conclusion that Korver and Harpring are an upgrade over CJ and Brewer? Did any of you watch the playoff series last year against the Lakers? I like how you all mouth off but can not back it up with any reasonable comments. And Millsap did not come into the league with the chip on his shoulder, he was an animal in college too. He has always been a hard worker. It didn't happen when he showed up here. You can't find 10 guys in the NBA that work as hard as Millsap, yet you expect everyone on the Jazz rooster to be like him. Get real.
Barnyard Ruckus/Go Jazz | 9:44 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Wow! It was as clear as clear can be when Rocco Mediate came out with a thunderous sand blast dunk over David Bowie. If the Jazz don't sit down and talk to Clyde Drexler and try to get the Washington Bullets office on board with a trade involving the 8-time all-star TReE SkullZ who now is stuck in a binding contract with Walter Kronkite's team in the North Stake there is no hope in winning the Stanleey Cup. Hopefully the two franchizes that involve Mark Yubank from the channel 2 news and gary mccord can set aside there differences and let the course run itself out...If you have to, give 'em lanny wadkins and roger maltbie
magnus | 10:09 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
@ Miles

I'm not sure why you keep throwing Brewer into this conversation, most people are just talking about CJ. Brewer is a proven commodidty, I think he has been taking to many jump shots and not going to the whole as strong as he used to but he still provides spark and energy whenever he is on the court.
All-Star Millsap | 10:13 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
It won't happen this year, but you can bet if he continues to work hard in the Sloan system, Millsap will become the next Utah All-Star. Who needs Boozer?
Millsap is cool! | 10:25 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
I would watch the Jazz just to watch Millsap in action. He defines good basketball.
BoOoO | 10:48 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
@ Barnyard Ruckus/Go Jazz

That wasn't funny the first five times it was posted. Guess what? It's still not funny.....
Miles | 10:59 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Magnus.....Everyone wants more Korver, Harpring and Almond. Last time I looked that means Miles and Brewer would play less and less. So that's why I throw Brewer into the equation as Korver and Almond take his minutes away. But perhaps I missed something? Are Korver and Almond 3's now? I am sure they are 2's, same position as Brewer.
Wild Willy | 11:11 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Everyone is an expert, so here's my thoughts. 1. Let Boozer go. We have no way gotten our money out of him. Leaving off the fact that he doesn't play defense (it's dangerous; he might get injured.. oh, wait, he IS injured) we have not gotten our money out of him. 2. People who are talking about "get a 5" are really overlooking Koufos. The kid is working hard and his performance on the floor shows it. If you look at pictures of him when he first came to Utah and then look at his shoulders now, you can see that he is trying to improve his "NBA body." 3. All the hoopla over DWill vs CP3 is balloon juice. They have dramatically different styles; it's like comparing Kobe to Duncan. If you could only pick one of those players, who would it be? DWill is right for Utah. Besides; all that matters is which TEAM wins the games, and the last time I looked, Utah is 9-2 against NOLA since we got DWill.
real line up | 11:16 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
1-D-will
2-RB
3-P-mill
4-Booz
5-Okur

defense in zone

Offense using Okur as a wing
Brewer is a hard worker | 11:26 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Miles is lazy,not a good effort,and btw,Korver,Miles,Brewer,Almond and even Harpring to some degree all play the swingman role,2/3 pretty much interchange,I thought you knew a little bit about bball,I quess not
Miles | 11:49 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
To Brewer is a hard worker.......So now the 2/3 are the same position and are interchangable? I thought you knew something about basketball. If that were the case then why not start AK at the two? He would make a great shooting guard....whatever. Using your logic we should start Price at the 3 since he can play the 2. Love your logic.
Anonymous | 12:21 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Since there's likely no way of trading Bloozer, I for one am hoping that he provides a great spark and fills in nicely as Millsap's backup when he returns.

Now that would send a message-

The difference is that if Boozer would've been playing last night he would have had similar numbers to Millsap's on the offensive end, but West would've 25 and 15 or better for the Hornets instead of the measly 13 he put up because someone was defending him.

Way to go Paul- you're the man.
Shat | 12:31 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
@Miles

Your tantrums are old. Nonetheless, CJ is listed at 6'6 and so is Almond (Korver is listed as 6'7). The way the Jazz utilize the 3 position, how is it so hard to believe they would use Almond at the 3? Almond is a physical body, is athletic, shoots well, loves to drive to the hole and can defend (he has started to show this in his minutes this year).

You seem awfully closed minded to position change and versatility and have claimed CJ is really a 2 guard in other posts. Do you have one idea you can stick with? I thought you said on another article blog that you were done until CJ comes back. Can you start that vacation now?
jking | 12:37 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Yes......we want to see more Korver.....glad to see he's getting his shot back! He had a super game against the Hornets....he did it all! He brings alot of energy and enthusiasm to the Jazz Team. He is a real
team player...
magnus | 12:37 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
@ Miles

Actually it's called a 3 guard offense and yes the 2/3 are interchangeable. It's fairly common, surprised you havent heard of it?

Let me enlighten you on the subtleties of the Jazz personell and line-up options, I'll check my spelling and grammar so you won't get confused.

The following players are capable of playing the folloing positions:

Price PG/SG
Almond SG
Brewer SG/SF
Korver SG/SF
Miles SG/SF
Harpring SF/PF

Each of them has a "natural" postion that best suits their abilities, I would say that for everyone on the list above, except Harpring, their natural position is SG. The Jazz don't need 5 SGs so they moved Price to point and Miles to SF.

For Miles, Korver and Brewer the SF and SG positions are interchangeable because they can play either.

So bottom line is that unless the Jazz start Price and Almond together, all of the other lineups make just as much sense player/position wise as starting Brewer and Miles.

As far as how much better it would be...I personally would rather see CJ playing and playing well. But lately he has not been palying to his potential and has been outplayed by Korver every night.
Brewer | 12:43 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
earned his starting spot,and has played well,Cj miles was handed a starting spot,unearned,and has been spotty at best....is that such a difficult concept to comprehend ???? must be!!!!
Miles | 12:47 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
sorry guys,I`m really so confused,I don`t know what position I took on the last post,I really don`t know anything about basketball,is there no difference between a SG/SF,how about a center and a Point guard,are they also the same????
Hollywood | 12:51 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Well said, Anonymous. Booz is an offensive machine, but he usually gives up almost as many points as he scores.

I wish we could trade Carlos now so we could get players and/or picks in return. But he won't be back until after the trade deadline. So we're stuck.

It will be exciting, though, if we finally get everyone healthy. With Boozer as the starter again, Paul could still get 30+ mins off the bench. Our 2nd unit of Millsap, AK, Korver and Knight was, IMO, the best in the league. And now add a rapidly improving Koufos to the mix.

There's no doubt in my mind that re-signing Millsap is the #1 priority in the off-season. Just let Booz go to Miami. Hard to get nothing in return, but it does mean Utah would be under the luxury tax threshhold.



Don't trade Boozer | 12:53 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Let him walk at the end of the year. Or better yet, mutually agree to dissolve the contract now, like with Fisher, and be done with it. I'm sure Carmani would like to be closer to his doctors at home in Miami, or is he there already? At any rate, we don't want to tie up the salary with a player or players in return for Boozer. Take the money and cap-space. That's worth as much as we're getting from Boozer now, anyway.
Jazz Oldtimer | 12:55 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Not many years ago,we had 2 guards,2 forwards and a center,put 5 hardworking, unselfish, good players together,you win!!!! call em what you want,MILES,2-3-4-52-48,,,,you really know very little about the game,oh and btw,John Wooden could out-coach,and out smart most of todays coachs,and he`s about 95!!!!
Sloan Lover @ miles | 1:00 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
I don't know what Miles is going to do now that he can't watch CJ play and then try to bust anyone who is critical of CJ's play of late. Miles have you seen CJ's miller metric rating lately? the one that the jazz use to rate players? He is usually in the negative category in most games but I'm sure you have something to say as to why CJ isn't scoring better with that rating system as well. The Jazz have 5 guys plus who could either play the two or three position depending on matchups. CJ is like a side salad, who cares, you are really looking forward to the real meal anyway. I've posted in the past that the jazz will only go as far as young players can take them. You pretty much know what to expect from AK,Memo,Booz,Knight and D-Will each night. Brewer and Milsap are more of the wild cards production wise, however, Milsap closer than Brewer in that what to expect category. CJ, Koufos, Almond, Fess are more of the whatever they can give you is a bonus category!! They are all a year or more away from consistent production.
Re: BoOoO | 1:05 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Listen here, we are stuck between a rock and hard place! We can't waste anymore time letting the front office dink around playing twister. There is a time for diplomacy and a time for action...well, now is the time for action. Let's side aside our differences and get this 8th ward all-star signed so we can start running our spread offense and free up the post with our middle-linebackers. If we have to, we may have to dig deep into our dugout, but until then we have to write a petition to Barry Switzer and tell him to release Vijay Singh or we can't trade Daryl Dawkins.
S.G. Spot | 1:14 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
When Boozer comes back and with the emergence of Kosta Koufos,getting enough minutes for Milsap might mean putting him in at the 3 for stretches during the game. If so, minutes for C.J. Miles, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Price, and Morris Almond ( the S.G. spot ) will be few. Maybe Brewer and C.J. will wish they had taken more of an advantage of their opportunity. Milsap and Koufos are definately going to command their minutes.
Miles | 1:24 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Shat....I didn't know that heighth had anything to do with your position on the court? Thanks for enlightening me on that. So Millsap should really be a 2/3 since he is only 6'7" at best. Now I understand it. And CJ is a two. My stance hasn't changed on that. But he has to play the 3 due to our oversigning of inferior guards.
Magness: I though you were going to use spell check? Mine reads "following" not folloing". And Harpring at PF. Are you sure on that one? I think that Brewer should play the 3 and Miles the 2 to start the game.
Jazz Oldtimer: I thought we discussed yesterday that we are not in New Orleans. We moved.....
Sloan Lover: Well your name explains it all. No comment.
Re : Oldtimer | 1:28 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
how right you are old wise one!!! I`d put the old Lakers lineup,Gail Goodrich,Jerry West,Elgin Baylor,Rudy La Russo,and Wilt Chamberlain,up against any team today,point guard,small forward,power forward...who cares
thizz | 1:34 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
trade boozer
Miles | 1:38 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Sloan Lover, Magness and Shat.........How far did the Jazz go in the playoffs last year? We have the same team playing this year with the expection of Miles. If he doesn't play and improve our team. How far will we go this year? And don't give me your, well Millsap is better than last year garbage. He doesn't make up for Boozer being out and him coming off the bench. I haven't seen Korver play better this year. Harpring is definitely worse than last year. So where's our improvement outside of Miles? Brewer and that's it. That's not enough to compete with San Antonio and the Lakers.
Miles | 1:48 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
oh one more thing,heighth???? I`m really clueless,a moron,can`t spell,and lastly yes,Harpring can easily fill in at the PF,when does that vaca start,hope it`s a one way ticket!!!!
Shat | 2:06 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
@Miles

Kufous, Knight, Price and Almond. injuries have caused several (now CJ) to lose a little ground gained, but add those listed above. Close your questioning of how we have improved until after the playoffs, we will reconvene and discuss then.
@ Miles | 2:06 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
...about that vacation you said you were going to take...
page | 2:08 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
i love the way milsap plays but some credit has to go to the system they play. Boozer will not be as good in another system
Shat | 2:10 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
@Miles

My point was that size does not matter, your posts on two blogs have stated you think it does. Several of us have tried to let you know your understanding of positions and NBA offense is lacking. We can only judge this by your posts and your posts state you have relegated Jazz players to positions based on height and their listed position. That's an outdated notion for such an underage blogger.
BigJazzFan | 2:15 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Everyone know boozer must go.

Everyone knows boozer is going to go.

The question is: When?.

And will the jazz get anything for him?

They way things are going the answer to the latter is: no.

Boy aren't the jazz management and the coaches great!?



magnus | 2:15 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
You make a good point, even though you are now redirecting the argument, probabaly because you know that everything we all said is true, and redirecting is what prideful people do when they know they are wrong.

But to answer your question, because it was a good one.

I had hopes that CJ would be the guy, and I supported the Jazz resigning him. He could be the athletic swing man that the Jazz need to replace Harpring and allow AK to spend more minutes playing inside where he is most effective, a guy who could shoot the 3 and slash to the basket, who used his athleticism and length to improve the Jazz team defense, who would put a good Jazz team over the top to elite status.

Unfortunately CJ has not been that guy, he just hasn't, even you can see that.

The guys who have stepped up and have possibly made the Jazz better are Okur, AK, Millsap, Kosta and Knight. They have all performed better than either they or the guy-who-played-their-position did last year. I say possibly because we still haven't seen a full strength Jazz team, who knows how good they are.

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Utah Jazz forward Paul Millsap (24) finds himself surrounded by the New Orleans defense in the first half in the ESA.

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