Deseret News | Utah Jazz: Sloan impressed with most players' fitness levels

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Utah Jazz: Sloan impressed with most players' fitness levels

GDW | 11:42 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Jazz are going to kick butt this year and so are the Tabiona Tigers. It's great that they are all in shape.
P.S. Go D-will!!!!!!!!

Ing | 12:14 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I'm guessing that's supposed to say *staph*, not strep.

The proof is in the pudding, as they say, but I think the overall fitness level bodes well for this season. It shows that the team means what they say about wanting to make a championship run, and not only that, but they're all on the same page, and they're preparing like they mean business.

The pieces are in place, and it looks like this team is as ready as it's ever been. Can't wait to see what happens this season.

Craig | 12:18 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I just hope Fes is in shape, if not he is in for a long, frustrating year. If he can't show he is dedicated to his profession and get in top shape he won't last long with the Jazz. He could be exactly what we need if he will get in shape and play hard and smart, but so far he hasn't shown he can do that. Let's hope he and or Koufos and contribute, we need defensive help in the middle.

Comments continue below

not a doctor | 1:03 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

i'm not a doctor, but i did recently stay at a holida- that actually isn't the truth either. But if i remember from high school biology, strep is just another kind of bacterial infection, yes, similar to staph (or however you spell it), but they just have different consistencies.

jazzz | 1:03 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Who are the tabiona tigers? They must be some club volley ball team

hj | 1:06 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

More like Tabiona Tiggers.

Jerry? | 1:11 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

This is a surprising comment from Sloan. He is always lamenting about the shape players come into camp with. If he's really impressed, maybe a strong start for the Jazz will take place.

Sloan Hater | 1:19 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

As long as Sloan is coach we will never win a championship. Flame away Sloan lovers. He couldnt do it with two hall of famers, and he wont do it now.

Jeff | 1:32 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

To: Sloan Hater,

Go follow another team if you don't like the way Sloan does things because he will be around as long as he wants!

AzJazzFan | 2:18 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

to Sloan Hater,
You are right they didn't win a championship with 2 Hall of Famers. They lost to another team with two Hall of Famers, one of which was the greatest basketball player of all time and perhaps the greatest sports icon of all time. Nothing to be ashamed of.

CJ's time | 2:20 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I love Harpring, he's a work-horse, but I think his time is done. the poor guy has been through so many surgeries, and his minutes drop year after year. It's time for CJ to step into those shoes, I'm hoping that's why we resigned him. CJ, if you follow Matt's example for hard work on and off the court, you'll thrive as small forward. Time to shine.

Sloan | 2:51 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I have never understood this Sloan Hater guy. He is a crackhead. Why do you follow the Jazz and care that much if you hate the guy? It's similar to my feelings toward Kobe Bryant. I don't like him. I don't read about him in the headlines, I don't care about the Lakers at all. Yeah I know they beat us last year, but I pay no attention to them. I'm not some wacko fanatic who gets hung up on one thing and can't get off it.

magnus | 3:16 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

This is good news from Jazz camp. If the young bigs can step up and provide some valuable minutes this Jazz team will have all of the pieces in place.

Hollinger has a great numbers analysis of the Jazz on ESPNdotcom. He even picks them to win the Western Conference. He makes a very good point about the number of fouls the Jazz commited last year, that is certainly an area that needs to be addressed, unless the Jazz actually do manage to win the Western Conference, the refs tend to look the other way alot more when the Jazz are playing at ESA.

Also, with regards to the Jazz coaching. Having one of the most efficeient offences in the league EVERY YEAR and decent team defence (top half of the league) IN SPITE of the total lack of a "defensive stopper" doesn't just happen. Those things are a direct result of coaching. So hate his foul language and surly demeanor all you want and feel free to point out his many mistakes (and he has many), but know this, whoever you find to replace Sloan, will almost certainly be a downgrade.

Sloan Hater is back | 3:50 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Why didnt we win it when Jordan wasnt in the league? Oh keep on bringing the excuses sloan lovers.

Re: Sloan Hater | 3:55 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Sloan Hater reminds me of Ben Stiller's character in the movie Dodgeball. Always has something to say but in the process but only make himself look worse.

Classless Fan | 4:30 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Sloan's foul mouth is the reason I watch; it make me feel dirty!

Sloan Lover | 4:55 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Before everyone throws out Sloan Hater from this sight. Name another NBA or professional team that would have kept Jerry this long?? There is none. I say Jerry's job should be on the line this year.....how many more chances does he get?

sloan lover | 5:59 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I work in sports, the JAZZ have a great coach in Jerry Sloan. He does perform and his teams are always one of the best in the West. So How many more chances does he get? I say as many as he needs, no one will be able to do what he has done especially in a small market state such as Utah. Maybe your job should be on the line as well for... stupid comments!

Anonymous | 6:01 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

i really appriciate the truth from sloan hater. Its true all of you love sloan but has he won a ring? So all you lovers go cheer for another 2nd round playoff apperance.

sparks24 | 6:01 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Go Jazz you are going to have a great year!!

magnus | 6:13 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

how many more chances to do what?

Win a championship, right.

Because he has litterally done everything else multiple times with different groups of players.

Frankly I think the Jazz loyalty is refreshing, and it has consistently produced results, and I believe it will produce a championship sooner than later.

Has there been a more consistently good franchise in the last 20 years than the Utah Jazz?

One more thing to think about. Look at what happens to good teams who fire their coaches when they are successful but not successful enough....How many of those teams win championships? I can think of one in the last 30 years, the '04 Pistons. Every body else either stayed the same or got worse.

Anonymous | 6:28 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Does anyone know how many different coaches have won a championship since Sloan started coaching? 8. Seven different coaches have won the title in almost 25 years. Riley, Jackson, Brown, Doc Rivers, Tomjanovich, Popovich and chuck Daly. It is difficult to win a championship. These guys were not available during this time and 2 of them just had good teams, and they didn't coach to a championship. So Sloan haters can be quiet. He has optimized the talent we have always had. Remember when the Jazz were picked to finish with the worst record in the league and we almost made the playoffs with a lineup of Arroyo, Bell, Kirilenko, Marshall and Ostertag?

Jazzsmack | 6:30 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I just wish Sloan would the same obsession for "basketball" skills ( you know, like shooting), as does for whos in shape,

or defense (well, except boozer's, he seems to have no problem there, ever see him sit boozer down for lack defense?)

When the Jazz were losing to the Bulls, they not one the best two teams, indiana was better, and rest the league was young like the spurs and lakers.

The truth is the jazz have been and never were the best team in the league and hence never won a championship.

RE: MAGNUS: I have been saying for months and months how the jazz should building their teams to win a championship. And it doesn't start at power forward. When chicago won who was posting up? When detroit or houston was winning who was posting up?

The fact is Slaon has been obsessingover th wriongthings in his system,

a system that doesn't win championships, That hass proven been proven over the last twenty years.

Clark | 7:08 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Hey Jazzsmack,

When the Pistons won the championship, Rasheed Wallace, the power forward was posting up. And when San Antonio won, Tim Duncan, the power forward was posting up. B. Wallace and D. Robinson were the centers.

Pointless................. | 7:19 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I always get amped to read people's comments, and to post my own.............

But the comments posted today are all out in left field.....................

POINTLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Come on people bring your "A" game!

Impressed | 7:37 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

It's time for Jerry to go.

I know the sun rose this morning but, come on, Jerry saying something "strangely" positive about his team.

Did hell freeze over?

Mark | 8:12 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I just think it is so sad that so many of you are so full of hate. I'm sure that so many of you who have stated your ideas would be so much better coaches than Jerry Sloan. (Sarcasm)

magnus | 8:13 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

@ Jazzsmack

I know you have been saying for months that the Jazz need to build their team to win a championship...and I have been teling you for months that this "Championship team" you are talking about comes in alot of different colors and not just whatever you have convinced yourself that the Jazz are not.

Don't tell me teams built around PF can't win cahmpionships, because they have.

Don't tell me teams built around point guards can't win championships because they have.

Don't tell me that teams without a 25+ point per game perimeter scorere can't win a championship because they have.

Also don't even try the "the NBA champion was not the best team in the league" crap. That argument is a feeble as a 94 year old with alzheimers.

As far as I can tell the one thing that all championship teams had in common was the ability to defend the paint, and that seemed to be the Jazz biggest weakness last year. I'm not talking about blocking shots, I'm talking about strong post defence and good weakside help, you know, team defence. Is this team capable of that? I think so if the young guys play.

Let's do this!! | 8:58 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Anyone else excited for this basketball season. Honestly, I'm glad Sloan is still here. Who really wants to see the Jazz "rebuild" when he retires? Booz will be gone, Memo will leave and D-Will will be stuck with AK. This team is being held together by the belief that this team is going to stick together through thick and thin. As long as D-Will and Sloan are at the core, we are going to see a championship caliber team. People just know class when they see it. And they all want to be around it. We are lucky as Jazz fans to not have to go through what other teams have gone through with the constant changing of personel. I love me some Jazz and I want me some Mo!!! GO JAZZ!!!!

Sloan | 9:04 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Sloan would not be impressed with my fitness level. 6'2", 275. Beeefy!

Jerry Sloan sez | 9:08 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

You clowns just wait... I'll show you who can't coach!! If I don't win a championship this year, you can bring back Tom Nissalke. And you can bring back Rich Kelly and Ben Poquette to boot.

old | 9:20 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Jerry B Gone!

Go sit on the tractor old man! Your time
has PAST.

My Useless Point of View | 10:38 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

As a Jazz fan since 1979, I have felt the pain over and over. My boss ran a marathon and collapsed 150 yards from the finish line. We nicknamed him "The Jazzman". Looking at the West, the only teams that makes me nervous are the Lakers and the Suns. I believe that our team will mature past the simple losses to the Clippers, Timberwolves, Sacramento, Oklahoma, etc. As we win the games we should, we honestly should win more than Houston, Denver, Dallas and possibly San Antonio. The Spurs are older and Ginobli will be out for a while. If we can somehow clinch homecourt advantage by winning most the games at home and improve the road record by five games, that should be close to the best record. We missed the best record by 3 1/2 games. We lost to Minnesota twice, the Clippers once and Portland twice. Had we one these games, we would have clinched home court throughout. I expect a great team this year.

buy a title $$$$$$$$$ | 10:42 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I would assert that our ownership is more at fault than our coaching. I love and respect all that Larry H. has done for the Jazz and the guts it takes to build a winning franchise. I do feel we could have and should have been more agressive with the salary cap and the money we spend on our team. Money spent by no means guarantees a title BUT I do feel the Jazz have always held the position that we WILL NOT go over the salary cap. That mentality hurt us in the Stockton/Malone era and may bite us in the butt in the Williams/Boozer present. I guess we will see next summer.

I hope 2008 - 2009 will be a memorable year and I cross my fingers we stay injury free. See you all late May and early June????

High Level | 11:11 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I think that for the Jazz to win a championship Jerry's testosterone level needs to be lowered somewhat. It's time to play team basketball and that includes the coach. The head games have got to be over. Then if we can get improved defense, especially from the power forward position,I really believe we have a good shot at it all.

Lay Off Sloan hater | 11:16 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Every coach needs a hater, someone who does not make sense just has alot of negative passion. It is a beauty to behold. All the Sloan fans need a foil(someone to challenge them)

RE: clark | 6:47 a.m. Oct. 2, 2008

I was talking about 1980's detroit.

But then again how tall is rasheed? Not 6'8. And he plays defense so did wallace.

Again I mentioned duncan was 7' and played defense.

Do you people listen or should I say read at all.

Again, all those teams, in fact every championhip team was NOT built aroud the power forward, and did nothing but go to the power forward,

They were a TEAM, and got go big contibtuion in most case got theor main contibution frm small positions: point and shooting guard samll forward.

And not only that ran offense for them.

Even when the Jazz had Horny, sloan never ran any offense for him.

And stockton and russell did not score much either.

Really when was that last time you so stockton or russell go for 30 to help the team win?

It's really no wonder the Jazz nvever won a championship.

Bad system, and not the quality scorer in smaller positions.

And what kind interior defense did chicago have? longley, wennington, caffrey? well at aleast rodman. power forward? I think so.

You need defense more than you need scoring from your bigmen.

Hollywood | 9:33 a.m. Oct. 2, 2008

Good point, "buy a title $$$$$."

Jazz teams of Stockton/Malone always had one weakness in the starting lineup and generally a very bad bench. Miller should have opened his wallet for a couple of seasons when John and Karl were at their peaks. However - and I heard Larry say this multiple times - he thought having a profitable franchise was the first priority.

And Larry was probably right. He didn't have a ton of money when he took over the team. The Jazz barely had enough dollars to operate. Larry has built his business empire from the ground up. Like him or not, I have to give him credit for that.

I was hoping he would exceed the luxury tax level in the next few seasons to give Utah a shot at a championship. Unfortunately, with auto sales taking such a hit in this economy, I see the Millers taking even a stronger stance against reining in the payroll.

IMO, the Jazz have a 1-year window with this current squad. Then some tough personnel decisions will be made (like choosing between Boozer or Memo and Korver or Millsap).

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