is getting interesting. Watching the hornets and CP3 demolish the spurs so far is interesting. I love DWILL's game, but after watching CP3 do what DWILL could not I am starting to think that DWILL is not even in the same league as CP3. KOC and Sloan made the wrong pick, but at least we still got a good player and not Bogut or Marvin Williams in the draft. Go Jazz and Go Sinan and Memo

The Jazz played a good game Sunday. The dominated the boards and had some good looks. They just were not hitting them. Hit some of those short jumpers that no one was hitting and we would have at least made it a one shot game. Wednesday will be a different game now that we have our legs under us a bit and have adjusted to the lakers style of play. If Booz would just step it up that could be the difference alone.

"DWILL is not even in the same league as CP3. KOC and Sloan made the wrong pick"

This is a flawed assumption. For one thing, D-Will IS in the same league as CP3, in fact he is even in the same conference! :) For another thing, it is a mistake to assume that if the Jazz had picked Paul that he would have been as dominant here as he has been in NO. Different teammates, different coach, different systems = you cannot just take CP3 out of one system and plug him into another and expect the same results. Same goes for D-Will.

I will agree with you on one point, however: CP3 has taken his game to a higher level and D-Will needs to follow if the Jazz are going to get past the Lakers (it CAN happen!). D-Will has played extremely well but he needs to take it up one more notch in the playoffs against a team like LA. Boozer needs to take it up about five more notches!!

i have noticed that boozer is not having sucess because he is not making a move toward the basket like he did all of last years playoffs. i only saw one dunk from him sunday and he should get more than that he can still take the little jumpers but instead once and a while pump fake and go slam it down in someones face.

When D-Will and CP3 have been on the same court at the same time, D-Will has usually had the best game. CP3 would not fair near as well under Jerry Sloan. D-Will was the right pick. I would like to see that match-up in the conference finals.

It's not William's fault - it's Boozer's. William's never steps down, he always steps up - he just had an off night. Boozer on the other hand has taken a huge step backwards during this playoff run. Heck, even the "softy" Okur understands what needs to be done, and has stepped up his game. The Jazz would be so very good if Boozer would man-up and be the superstar that he was during the regular season. He is small for a power-forward, but he can beat most people to the basket - he's quick. And, when he does go to the basket he is difficult to stop because he can go strong - right or left.

Head-to-head is not even close. Dwilly dominates Crystal Paul the 3rd. 8 wins to 2. That is utter domination.

Cp3 is great. DW is great. It's tough to compare stats and team records. Head-to-head is a pretty good comparsion since they both guard each other and have to face each other. Dwilly dominates wins and the stats in the head-to-head.

I think both of these point guards are the real deal. I agree that Paul is, so far, having a great series, but DWILL is also a fine player. They both belong on the Olympic team instead of Jason Kidd. Deron has had his way with Paul in most of their head-to-heads. It is a shame that Deron was not an all-star. Given the draft pick, I would take Deron because he is bigger and stronger -- and pretty quick, which makes hiom a defensive threat as well as offense.

Boozer isn't taking it inside because he doesn't want to get stuffed, as he has been doing all playoffs. He needs to get some aggression and be tuff, because he has not been at all. Also, when he isn't playing good, Sloan needs to put Milsap in there. Milsap did good against the Lakers. One more thing Sloan needs to do, keep AK in the game more often with more minutes. AK did get his triple double against the Lakers in the season and he was doing great in game 1. AK showed that he was there to play, and play hard. AK did that, so then Sloan takes him out and puts in the biggest detriment on the Jazz team this year, Matt Harpring. Harpring is a Sloan fave, it doesn't matter if he fouls 4 times in a row and gets you in the bonus, throws the ball away 4 times in a row, or misses 10 times in a row, Sloan always puts him in for AK and splits their game. GET A CLUE SLOAN!

I'm not sure you guys where watching the same game I was. In the game I saw Boozer made some incredible post moves in the second half, they were strong moves to the basket and unbelievably quick for a man his size.

He was also getting after it on the boards, I mean you don't get 14 boards, 6 offensive, just standing around waiting for the ball to come to you.

Defensively I thought he did a decent job he was stepping over to help with penetration and doing a pretty good job keeping his man in front of him, he does have a tough time getting out to guard Vlad on the perimeter but perimeter D is not exacly the strength of any PF.

There where two things I saw that Boozer needs to fix right now but neither of them have to do with his effort, first is turnovers and second is his jumper. The problem with his jumper is not that he is shooting it, it's that he is fading, leaning, and rushing it even when he is wide open. Now that he fixed the free throw problem he needs to fix that jumper.

If the Jazz lose this series please don't turn your hatred toward Boozer. Your used to blaming the refs, the other teams players and in the end you turn on your own just to blame someone!.

The D-Will/CP3 comparisons crack me up. Head-to-head, D-Will wins most of the time. That's why if the Jazz can get by the Lakers and N.O. gets by the Spurs, the Jazz will be facing Boston in the finals, where they won an away game, BTW!

Expect the Jazz to play an entirely different game Wednesday night because of two factors: 1) D-Will will be ready (he never has two bad games in a row), and 2) the team will have had time to properly prepare.

Look at how well the Jazz played in the second half. That 2nd Qtr flop was directly related to a lack of preparation time and rest. The lack of rest had a lot to do with so many missed shots (no legs).

Unless Kobe and one other Laker player have a REALLY great game, I expect the Jazz to take game 2. (It'll take two of them--Kobe by himself can't do it.)

"It's tough to compare stats and team records." That comment might be the dumbest thing I have ever read on this board. What else do you want to compare??? Dwill is a nice player, CPS is a franchise by himself.

Booz needs to use his quickness in the post and not try to shoot over the 7 footers. he is faster and stronger he just need space.

I keep hearing the comment about how Boozer is small for a power forward. I just don't get it - he's almost EXACTLY the same height/weight as Karl Malone (who is arguably the reason the position is called POWER forward in the first place). The reason everyone keeps thinking Boozer is small is because he PLAYS small. Karl would drive on ANYBODY. Watch replays of Malone going to the basket against every one of the league's big men then, and compare that to Boozer's "two-step" AWAY from the basket, turnaround, fade-away jumper, and that's why Boozer will always seem "small", despite being 6'9" and 266 lbs. Karl? 6'9" and 250 lbs, but it was all muscle and heart.

"[A]fter watching CP3 do what DWILL could not I am starting to think that DWILL is not even in the same league as CP3. KOC and Sloan made the wrong pick..."

That's a pretty ignorant statement. CP3 is playing against an old and slowing spurs team. When was the last time TParker was accused of playing defense? DFisher was braught in by the Lakers to play defense and run the triangle. DW is just as good if not better than CPaul.

Head to head Williams and CP3 are almost the same player with a slight edge to CP3 in stats. Either way, both players are phenomenal and will be amazing for years. Gotta love the NBA!! Of course, I threw in Kobe's stats for all the Kobe haters. . . Everyone uses stats to show how great DWil and CP3 are but when you look at Kobe's stats . . . they don't count. No double standards here - Kobe is amazing too (6 assists / game isn't exactly selfish player territory). The "selfish-Kobe" hasn't played for a couple years now - watch a game or two and pay attention.

Playoffs:
DWil = 20P (48%), 8A, 4R, 0.4S
CP3 = 25P (50%), 12A, 5R, 2.0S
Kobe = 35P (50%), 6A, 5R, 1.4S

Regular Season:
DWil = 19 P (50%), 11A, 3R, 1S
CP3 = 21 P (49%), 12A, 4R, 3S
Kobe = 28 P (46%), 5A, 6R, 2S

Comparing D-Will and CP3 is comparing Bird and Magic. Each are great players and I expect both to exceed the next few years. Everyone should be happy we didn't end up with Bogut (As I recall half of the state was hoping he would be our pick).

DWill dominates cp3, as good as he is, every time utah plays NO. And the Lakers don't have anyone that can stop Carlos if he decided to post up or drive to the hoop. I predict Carlos will come unglued and have the best game of his career once they study the tape and discover that he can dominate inside. If we would have shot any kind of decent percentage from the floor we would have wiped the floor with Kobe and the Lakers.

Comparing CP3 and DWill is cool, and it's an interesting argument. They came out of the draft together, they are both budding superstars leading elite quality teams, and they are good freinds, what more could you want in a comparison?

I think it is interesting that during the regular season their numbers are almost identical in all but two categories, turnovers and steals, and Paul holds a big advantage in both. For a point guard those two categories are huge so I'll give Paul this season, he clearly was the better player...this year.

However, talk that taking Williams was "making the wrong choice" especially if that talk is comming from a Jazz fan, is pointless, embarrassing, and stupid.

WILLIAMS IS OUR GUY, and that is no mistake. You wanna be a Chris Paul fan, that's fine, but don't pretend like the Jazz would be sooo much better if they had Paul and don't pretend like you are actually a 100% Jazz fan if you think the best player on the team is a "mistake".

Watching the hornets and CP3 demolish the spurs so far is interesting. I love DWILL's game, but after watching CP3 do what DWILL could not I am starting to think that DWILL is not even in the same league as CP3. KOC and Sloan made the wrong pick

this is the dumbest thing ive ever heard, if you recall d-will dominated the spurs last year in the playoffs, he was only player to show up for the jazz, he averaged around 26pts 11asts vs the spurs last year, the spurs did everything they could to stop him but couldnt come close to slowing him down, even though the jazz lost hte series 4-1, d-will proved that he is the BEST pg in the nba with how he played, he transcended to another level, remember the facial on oberto, he played game 4 with the flu and dominated and played game 5 with a fractured foot

This series is over in 6 games. LA 4 Utah 2.

"I keep hearing the comment about how Boozer is small for a power forward. I just don't get it - he's almost EXACTLY the same height/weight as Karl Malone"

Boozer is listed as 6-9, but that is being generous. There is also the difference in body type. Boozer is much more compact than Malone, and Malone had a greater wingspan than Boozer as well. Trust me, Boozer is smaller than Malone. But, like I said, Boozer can beat other forwards/centers with his speed, and he can go right - or left, which is much harder to defend. He just needs to be more competitive.

I don't understand why anyone would say that DWill hasn't stepped up to the level Chris Paul is at? this is Chris Paul's first year in the playoffs and Dwill helped take his team to the conference finals last year and has a good chance of doing it again. In which case he would likely meet Chris Paul and he has dominated him head to head. I think it is Dwill that should be telling Chris Paul "get on my level!"

boozer just gotta stop shooting those mid range jump shots. boozer is so much better when he goes strong to the basket.

I like Deron Williams now. I think he is a good kid a top five point guard in the game and the chosen one to save a great sports franchise from a disaster called 'From Stockton-Melon to irrelevance'. And now that not many people laugh at me when I say Chris Paul is better than Deron Willliams I don't think he is overrated anymore therefore no beef. But there is a thing about Phil Jackson deffense that is only bad news for people who think Deron's performance in game one was a product of some basketball world disorder. No it's Phil's D. The flaw with Deron williams game can be compared, unfortnately, to the flaw of the Denve Nuggets offense: When the penetration is stopped the whole system is paralized. Daron is dealing with a coach on the other side that included in other things he knows how to close the lanes in front f a penetrating PG. Tony knows it, AI knows it and Deron will know it when he realizes it wasn't his fault to have an uncharacteristic game 1.

I think that we can beat the Lakers, the first game wasnt like playing Denver,for Dwill wasnt tha perfect night but he is the best for the Team he is the real leader on this team, Bozzer, he needs to go under the basket!!! playing soft is not working, lets those muscles work and you will see the difference, he can use both hands= perfect!. AK this guy can play everywhere, he needs to believe thats a good player, after that will see the real AK!!! Brewer, doing good and learning, Milsap is strong but sometimes have the foul trouble, he can do better on offense, he is strong!!!Korver...just keep shooting!!!Okur, out for 3 and under the basket, smart movement!!!JAZZ are a good team, thats the difference is a TEAM not 2 or 3 guys!!! I know they can beat the Lakers, hardwork NOT IMPOSSIBLE!!! GO JAZZ

@ rayray

The Lakers did do a nice job of cutting down the lanes on sunday but the Jazz made their job alot easier by not being able to throw the ball in the ocean.

Fortunately for the Jazz the offense is not based entirely on penetration. Much of the Jazz success came from getting the ball to the post on the blocks. Look for them to do more of that in game 2, especially with Boozer, and to rely on movement away from the ball to get guys open near the basket. Also, don't be suprised if DWill lights it up for 25 and 10, he's been known to do that to teams just when they think they have him figured out.

You stats on boozer are just wrong, inflated like everything else about the NBA.

Boozer is 6'8" if that, and somewhere in the 230's

266 what a laugh! 236 is more like it,

But it makes no differnece because like all duke players they make no difference.

He's sucking money that could be going to real star.

GO,GO,GO JAZZ!!!!

Rayray-

The Lakers did play good defense on sunday, however your argument that the Jazzes offense is based on penetration is no where near correct - it is mostly a motion offense, they do pick and roll, and they post up with their bigger guys. In watching the Jazz all this year and last, it seems like the only time you see penetrate and dish is in shot clock situations or when the Jazz need a basket badly and Deron creates. On Sunday, Deron, along with a lot of the other Jazz players, missed a lot of shots that they typically make. I would look for them to shoot better tomorrow, although you can't count on them to rebound so well,even though I hope they do.

If you are old enough you remember Mike Bibby at Sacramento. He was the next great pg. We hear it every few years and now it is for CP3. I'll wait a season or two to see if he sticks or goes away. DWill looks good enough to stick, but I have been wrong before.

my man Memo is only one so far up to the task...C'mon Boozer just pusha as hard and as smart as Memo does.