Deseret News | Utah Jazz: Jazz get first look at Suns and Shaq

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Utah Jazz: Jazz get first look at Suns and Shaq

Brandon Mortensen | 12:26 a.m. March 7, 2008

Tonight is a must win. I don't see it happening. The Jazz do not match up well with big strong centers who can score, and they are horrible at getting back on defense against quick teams. They will get both tonight.

Wildy M | 12:52 a.m. March 7, 2008

Jazz will win big bro. Collins will have a Shaq snack and Brewer will continue his dunk-a-thon. Jazz by 10.

Sloan Hater | 3:33 a.m. March 7, 2008

The Jazz should win this game, but I worry about 2 things swinging it in favor of Phoenix.

1. D'Antoni needs to realize that Shaq should get the ball looking to score every time he has single coverage. Once/If D'Antoni figures this out, the Suns will be a force. Make the other team double Shaq and then he can pass to all those 3 pt shooters. This is how LA won 3 titles.

2. Sloan coaching.

It will also be interesting to see how Giri plays in this game. I can see him trying to light up the Jazz with 3's. Let's hope he doesn't get hot.

Comments continue below

Honestly | 7:06 a.m. March 7, 2008

Well, it will be a close one. Probably close the whole way down. The Jazz should be able to keep up with the quickness of the Suns, and should play the decent defense they have all year. But the decent defense definately needs to become solid, and not just for this game. Okur, Millsap, Korver, Williams, and Brewer, and Harpring should get the most minutes tonight. Okur and Korver to spread the floor and pull the Shaq man out of the center. Williams to run the floor, brewer to keep Bell on his toes and run him tired. And Harpring and Millsap to get physical and battle for boards and play real defense. We will just have to see what happens.

Sinan | 7:11 a.m. March 7, 2008

We can beat them if we play like an angry bull.
GO MEMO, GO JAZZ.

Adam Qif | 7:47 a.m. March 7, 2008

Jazz will win in the Valley of the Sun.

BWT | 8:05 a.m. March 7, 2008

Even though the Jazz are on the road and playing a good team, they should win this game.

1- The Jazz can run with the Suns as they have done in the past and the Jazz can play half-court.

2- We have Sloan.

Re:Sloan Hater | 8:34 a.m. March 7, 2008

I do not agree with you at all about Girlicek. He could not even make the team in cheezy Philly. He is all washed up and can't shoot the ball consistently and not good enough to take a spot from Raja Bell,Leandro Barbosa,and might get more minute this game than usual.
Your opinions are in everybody wish that you retire before sloan does because your opinions are always worthless. You claim you are so good at basketball. Why are you not playing for the NBDL or the WNBA if you are so great?

Jazz Fan | 8:48 a.m. March 7, 2008

First off Shaq is too old, to be playing, the Suns made a dumb mistake to pick him up, so the Jazz will make this one an easy one. Not to mention the Suns are like 3-5, and they've been whooped by Detroit. You would have got to be kidding if you think Giri is going to get hot, yea right. Just watch out for Brewer and his highlight reals. Not to mention the Suns can't run with Shaq on their team, the Suns will soon go from a playoff contender to a no playoff team.

magnus | 9:00 a.m. March 7, 2008

The more I listen to you Sloan Hater the more I am convinced you are blinded by your hatred and therefore totally irrational.

I like you Sinan, and I like that you are building up my repertoire of international motivational one liners.

Jazz win by 6.

Tonights Game | 9:00 a.m. March 7, 2008

I worry about the Jazz Defense on fast breaks its been extremely slow this season and has burned us tons of times.

I think this is a scary game. Normally the Jazz play well against top opponents and they can beat Pheonix. But Pheonix is also able to beat the Jazz. The Jazz players are aware of the Suns current woes. I just hope they play hard from the start and don't let up. If they do, it will be a hard battle but, I think we can edge them.

NOTE: Lately, Memo's been my hero. The way he's been playing has been solid, scrapy and fun to watch. I like it.

Go JAZZ!

No AK, No Win | 9:13 a.m. March 7, 2008

Jazz will go back to the "December Jazz" and tank this one. It'll be over by halftime.

Three bad things going for the Jazz:

1. Road game
2. No AK
3. Phoenix is upset about their recent record and is motivated to payback the Jazz for the last spanking they received in SLC

Tomorrow against Thuggets is the big one. Must win.

Re: magnus and Sinan | 9:23 a.m. March 7, 2008

I agree with Magnus! Sinan is a stud. I love it that someone who lives out of this state better yet another country can be this great of a fan. I live on Jazz basketball and am not near the fan that Sinan is.
To Sinan. Thanks for being here. You are the greatest! You can teach sloan hater all about what being a great fan is all about. I think sloan hater owes all of us true fans at least a courtesy of a vomit bag. But what he really owes us is retirement. Thank you Sloan for not retiring and having a great success with our Jazz.

Re Sloan Hater | 9:23 a.m. March 7, 2008

OK explain to me what NBA coach could win a championship with he Jazz and why? The truth is I can agree with as many things with you as I can Hillary Clinton which equals the same number found on Gilbert Arenas jersey or the I.Q. you share with Stephon Marbury. Sloan has had great success with this young team. I am sure you will be voting for Hillary for the same reasons that Rosie O'Donnell will be voting for her. Your opinions and lifestyle make me believe in this. Even if I am wrong your opinions about Sloan are as fruity pebbles as you are.

Jazz Fan | 9:31 a.m. March 7, 2008

Hey! Who is this imposter calling himself/herself Jazz Fan? I am Jazz Fan; pick another monicker. I don't like the Jazz in this game because:
1. The Jazz are atrocious on the road.
2. The Suns have looked bad in recent road games.
3. Probably no Kirilenko in this game.
4. Matt is not playing well.
5. Millsap is not playing well either.
6. C.J. Miles needs to come to play and go to the hole.
Not withstanding all of this, the Jazz can win with the outstanding coaching prowess of Jerry and Phil. I am rooting for them.

Jazz Fan | 9:51 a.m. March 7, 2008

The Jazz will definitely not win against Phoenix in the Valley of the Sun. The Suns are due after poor play. If the Jazz could possibly pull this one off, then the Suns are finished. I am waiting for the Newgetts game. I am looking for someone to unload on those thugs, particularly that bum Martin. Why can't Jazz players be aware of these cheapshot artists when they are around the basket. Get the ball up quicker; don't double pump....that just encourages the opposition bums to commit hard fouls. Officials need to suck it up and bang those hard foul geeks out of the game, and clean it up.

SanAntonio Jazz FAN | 10:02 a.m. March 7, 2008

Okay, Okay, settle down. First of all, Steve Kerr is going to go down as having made a BRILLIANT trade in getting Shaq, and here's why: simply put, playoff basketball is HALF-COURT, DEFENSIVE basketball. The UT/GS series from last year was one of the most athletic series in playoff history - it was not typical. And in a half-court, defensive game, and especially in a 7-game series, there is simply NO better big man than Shaq. Mark my word, Phoenix will be tough come playoff time. It's not a fluke that Shaq has been in the finals with every team he's played on. He may be getting older, but oh, how soon you forget a couple of 40-year-olds that brought the Jazz ohsoclose a decade ago...

From an almost-30-year Jazz fan (i was privileged to attend the very first sellout game in UTAH Jazz history at the old Salt Palace, UT vs. LAL with Kareem at center, what a memory! I still have the FIVE-DOLLAR-TWELVE-ROWS-FROM-THE-COURT(!) ticket stub) deep in the heart of enemy territory - Go JAZZ!

Moto X | 10:10 a.m. March 7, 2008

We will likely know early whether it will be a game or not. The Jazz usually come out flat in the first quarter if they are not into it with energy. If we see lots of early TO's and D-Will walking the ball up the floor we will know.

If D-Will pushes the ball that should tire Shaq and limit his time on the floor. We "should" be able to run over this team IF we have even a a decent defensive effort. Then again the Jazz are Jekyll and HYDE home vs. road. The Suns are absolutely HORRIFIC defensively since the trade giving up alot of points.

They have dropped from the #1 seed to #6 since Marion was traded. Maybe the Suns will get it figured out by the playoffs (if they don't drop out entirely) but have not yet.

Anyone see Dallas/Houston game last night? Defensively, Dallas looked pathetic on their home court--Dirk or not. They traded for an old PG when they needed defense. Brilliant.

If some of these trades prove to be as big of a bust as they currently look--some GM's ought to lose their jobs.

Jazz Fan | 10:21 a.m. March 7, 2008

Looks like we have too many Jazz Fans among us. If you don't like it change your name. Other wise be a part of the group of Jazz Fans! Jazz should win tonight if they keep up the pace and don't commit a lot of turnovers. Like Sloan said they need to concentrate on the team and not just Shaq. Shaq will get to the basket and he most likely won't score big. Jazz fan is a much better name than Sloan Hater. Sloan Hater needs to go. Otherwise he would take on our name as Jazz Fan.

Carcus | 10:43 a.m. March 7, 2008

The Jazz are going to witn the NBA Championship! The Suns are not good compared to us. We could beat any Lakers or Celtics teams from the 80's. we could beat the Jordan Bulls. ANYBODY!

BE REAL | 11:18 a.m. March 7, 2008

I am a Jazz fan and would love for the Jazz to win it all but lets look at it!
(Home record 27-3 89%) (Away record 13-19 40%)
This is the problem in order to have a chance to win it all we have to have home record.
Fact 19 Games left (9 Away) (10 Home)
HOME GAMES 10(games left) * 89% = 9 wins 1 lost
AWAY GAMES 9(games left) * 40% = 4 wins 5 lost
BASED ON PERCENT POSIBLE FINAL RECORD 53-28
at 53-28 If we are lucky 6 or 7 the placing with no home court advantage
Remeber right now Boston is 47-12
Also we have to play the folowing away games
@Phoenix
@Boston
@New Orleans
@Dallas
@San Antonio
Even if we only lost the games above we would end at 54-27 Maybe 6 or 5 instandins

Price | 11:27 a.m. March 7, 2008

Is everyone scared to mention that Price's play has not been good. Althoug he is very athletic he is really bad on defense and has a low shooting percentage and isn't a very good passer. When you consider his entire game/contributions, he isn't much better than Hart.

I know jazz fans love Price, but many of you overestimated his ability and will probabley argue this point, but there is a reason Derron plays 40+ in tight games.

Rock | 11:35 a.m. March 7, 2008

I believe Brewer and C.J.'s quickness and athleticism will give us the edge when their on the floor. Okur is a huge factor in tonights game, if Shack or Amare have to go out to guard him it's Brewer to the hoop.( Or C.J. ) I think we'll be up for this one. D Will and Boozer are playing well right now and Milsap will bring it.

re: MotoX | 11:39 a.m. March 7, 2008

I agree with you that the jazz should push the ball, but you should know by now, the jazz only push at home, and jerry would be scarred to death to run with the suns. In games like this, jerry is more worried about shot clock than anything.

I like your point, but jerry will never do it. And don't blame Derron, you keep insisting that jerry tells him to run. Again, you should know better, every coach loves easy baskeks, but jerry hates a fast pace, you know this.

Gira's not as bad as everyone wants to think; he had some nice moments for the jazz, but he could never, ever play for jerry. Gordon likes to flow to open spots on the perimeter, not make hard cuts to the basket. I think he will be a nice 7th or 8th man for Phoenix because of their free flowing game. Having said all of that, the jazz are probabley a better all around team than Phoenix.

Its true that Utah hasn't | 12:02 p.m. March 7, 2008

played well against teams on the road, but it will be different in a 7 game series. I'm not suggesting that are going to win it all, but I do think they are capable of making it at least to the conference finals again. Utah is great at making adjustments and in a long playoff series I think they will actually fare pretty well on the road.

Anonymous | 12:00 p.m. March 7, 2008

I'm hopeful for tonight, but concerned due to the absence of AK. This is a team that he typically has a great game against and puts up some good numbers. He also typically plays better transition defense than anyone else on the Jazz and it will be crucial tonight to slow down the transition game so phoenix has to set up the half court more often.

Hopefully the Jazz will turn the tables and run all over the suns tonight though.

re:rock | 12:08 p.m. March 7, 2008

C.J.'s quickness??? Are you talking about CJ Miles?? Miles has some ability but quickness is certainly not it. I am quite sure that "CJ's quickness will have little effect on the suns or the outcome of the game.

Do you think the D'antoni is game planning for CJ's quickness, I promise that it never entered his mind.

Jazz Fan (The Original) | 12:04 p.m. March 7, 2008

I am the original Jazz fan, because I originate from the days of Maravich with New Orleans. As to the rest of the season, as BE REAL points out:
There are 9 away games: Pho, Chi, Mil, Bos, NJ, Min, NO, Dal, and SA. Of those games, I don't see the Jazz realistically winning more than the Mil and Min games; that's 2-7 on the ROAD. At home they have 11 games: Den, Tor, LAL, Sea, Cha, LAC, Was, Min, SA, Den, and Hou. Of these home games I see losses to LAL, SA...minimum. That makes 9-2, best case scenario. That makes the Jazz end up with 51-31 final record. That will not produce more than a home court advantage for the first playoff series in my humble opinion. If the Jazz get to the Western Conference Final Series, they will be playing with the unenviable task of winning road games; not their forte. They will need to suck it up, stay injury free, and hope the opposition clubs have injury woes, or it will be a very steep hill to climb. It will take smart playing, togetherness, and all the moxey of Sloan and Johnson, et al.

GO JAZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: BE REAL | 12:34 p.m. March 7, 2008

We actually have 11, not 10, home games left and 9 road games. But your point is well taken. I think the Jazz can surprise you, though, and end up with a 55-27 record, earing home court advantage in the first round. Home court advantage in the ployoffs will determine how far the Jazz will go. Probably to the second round, where they won't have home court. I predict an Eastern Conference champion this year, though. As good as the teams in the West are, Boston or Detroit will have a much easier rout to the Finals than any Western Conference team. Every Round in the West will be tough, plus the playoffs have basically started out west already. that's a long time to play with that much intensity and it will wear out any of the teams coming out of the West. The team in the East will be much more prepared for the Finals, and come out on top.

Anonymous | 12:36 p.m. March 7, 2008

unless they face the Lakers in the second round...

ZEKE | 12:39 p.m. March 7, 2008

Should be a great game the JAZZ have played good against the Suns in the past.I wish AK were playing we could use his defence.I think the JAZZ should equal or better last years record. I think 55 to 57 wins.

ANCIENT JAZZ FAN | 1:19 p.m. March 7, 2008

I supose I can consider myself amoung one of the original pro basketball fans in Utah and the proof is hanging on my laundry room wall. There, in all his basket ball jumping glory, is Willie Wise. You younger blogers who don't know Willie, or Zelmo, (the big Z), or Ron Boone and watched them playing togeather for the Utah Stars really can't lay claim to the title of 'ME FIRST'. So this old timer says, "Let's sit and watch our team walk all over the rest of the other NBA teams. Go JAZZ."

Shaq will be mad | 1:40 p.m. March 7, 2008

I agree that it doesn't look so far as if the Shaq deal is turning out very well--the experiment still deserves time, but its been quite poor thus far. However, there's a feature article on ESPN.com's NBA site today about how Shaq is the "Big Letdown". The Big Daddy will be pretty fierce tonight--at this stage in his career he just picks his nights to play hard and I think he'll be pretty fired up tonight.

D-Will is another guy that thrives on disrespect. He plays hard every night, but the guy goes beserk when he feels disrespected. I love his fire and tenacity! Chris Paul is amazing and having a better statistical season this year, but I see D-Will getting a championship before CP3.

So I'm hopeful for tonight (hope springs eternal in this Utah Jazz fan), but the Suns kind of have their backs against the wall with their recent free-fall. With the Jazz lack of road intensity, and some added fuel on the fire for Shaq, I would place money on the Suns if my hand were forced.

ID Jazz | 1:53 p.m. March 7, 2008

As some have said before me.

You will know if the Jazz are going to make this a game in the first quarter. If they go down by double digits then they usually lose. If at home then they are capable of coming back but do not seem to have the mental toughness to do it on the road. I hope they come with there heads in the right place and ready to go 48 minutes.

Go Jazz!!!!!

Moto X | 2:02 p.m. March 7, 2008

re: re: Moto X

Have to disagree. Sloan wants easy baskets and that is exactly why he wants to run---home or road. He knows we get better offensive and defensive flow when players are running the floor because it spills over into how they run their sets. We get easier higher percentage shots when we execute quicker before the D is set.

D-Will is the motor that runs this team. He runs we win or he walks and we lose--he decides that--I am not sure I remember the last time I saw Sloan telling him to slow it down--always the opposite--push it! There are alot less rhythm shots for Memo and Korver when defenses are set. D-Will needs to run.

We can run offensively with the Suns if the players commit to getting back on defense--they can if they choose to.

The other nice thing is even if you get way down against the Suns, they will let you back in the game with their sad defense.

The Jazz will likely win 51-52 games is my prediction. They still have some tough games on the road.

Check out New Orleans--they still have a 5-6 consecutive game road trip left.

ALA fan | 2:53 p.m. March 7, 2008

The jazz should win. the suns are struggling. i hope they kill them by 30. make them remember how bad of a trade they did to get shack. the jazz have a tough road ahead. we need to win this to get a little edge going into the end of the season

go jazz
go ALA

Anonymous | 4:08 p.m. March 7, 2008

I think if the Jazz push the ball up the court and play with high energy, they'll wear Shaq out. If he can't keep up with his team, then it will be that much easier for the Jazz to run by him.

Bigjazzfan | 4:55 p.m. March 7, 2008

Historically players especially guards have career games against the jazz.

I am look for giri to have a career game in big win over the jazz.

I bet sloanhater will love that one!

David | 7:21 p.m. March 7, 2008

The Suns are going to be AWESOME with Shaq. This same thing happened when Amare returned from an injury. It took about 10-15 games, with a lot of losses, before the chemistry started clicking and the Suns were back to their usual kick-butt selves. Watch out when these guys start gellin'. Hopefully it's not tonight.

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Utah Jazz: Jazz get first look at Suns and Shaq

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Utah Jazz: Jazz get first look at Suns and Shaq