Deseret News | Utah Jazz: Sloan stressing defense to team

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Utah Jazz: Sloan stressing defense to team

Wow | 9:27 p.m. Oct. 26, 2009

Wow! Sloan is stressing defense! With Boozer on the team there is no defense.

You get defense | 9:56 p.m. Oct. 26, 2009

when key players take ownership and demand it of the whole team. You also get it when the coach sits anyone who slacks on defense. With about 10 and half players Sloan is not in a position to sit slackers.

todd from santa ana | 10:31 p.m. Oct. 26, 2009

I love hearing this, love it...This is great... When Jerry acts like the Hall OF fAME man he is and deserved to be and proving it with coaching, then we could have a great year.

As the leader, it will be on him to get everyone to buy in hope for 82 games.

Likely no, hopeful yes. he is addressing all the issues. Will everyone listen, buy in and do it?

I pray it is not something that is ignored because it all starts with Denver.

Comments continue below

Miles | 11:55 p.m. Oct. 26, 2009

I love how no one calls out Dwill for his poor defensive commitment. If Deron took the lead, everyone else would follow suit. Deron wants to be a leader, now is the time to lead his team. If not, we will finish 5/6 in the conference and be on the road come playoff time. Defense is the difference in a 2 or a 6. Outside of the Lakers, we have just as much talent as anyone in the West.

Miles | 12:00 a.m. Oct. 27, 2009

Sorry but I don't see Jerry changing his thinking on back-to-back road games. If he would limit minutes the first night, we would be in a much better position on the second night. YOu can't run guys into the ground and expect them to spring back in less than 24 hours. If Jerry actually gets these guys to play defense, the second night will be even worse as they will be even more tired. No one should play over 32 minutes on the first night.

Rich | 12:32 a.m. Oct. 27, 2009

I predict that the Jazz will have a great season. Not only Boozer but every other player now will have to face the new grading system after every game. From what I understand, every single defensive set will be analyzed and the players involved will be graded. This will help those players with huge defensive deficiencies to understand their weaknesses, and those who are competitive, humble and hardworking are sure to improve. Anybody who is not willing to work will not play much, and I'm positive that includes Boozer.

I'll Be Back! | 5:46 a.m. Oct. 27, 2009

Nothing will change. I saw a few pre-seasons games and it's still there . . . . lack of defense.

Boozer hasn't the ability to play defense.

Every good team in the NBA except the Jazz made some changes to get better.

Expect the same stuff from J. Sloan.

Until Sloan is gone, the Jazz will not win a Championship.

Mark | 6:23 a.m. Oct. 27, 2009

ATTENTION JAZZ PLAYERS: PLAY DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ATTENTION COACHES: PLAY BREWER, AK MIN. 40 MINS!!!!!!!!
ATTENTION JAZZ FANS: BOO LOUD IF DEFENSE IS NOT PLAYED!!

Someone in the know please tell me how 20 years with an all-defensive minded coach with such tenacity has been unsuccessful in getting his teams to PLAY DEFENSE??? Can the management's judgment of player prospects be so "OFF?" We all know to play defense it takes pride, heart, incredibly hard work, and all-out FIGHT inside. Either coach is not a good teacher or not a good motivator, but until the players ACTUALLY PLAY DEFENSE EVERY NIGHT, don't be expecting any conference final appearances from this team.

News? | 7:53 a.m. Oct. 27, 2009

Jerry Sloan stressing defense isn't news. That's the norm. Now, the Jazz playing defense? That would be news.

Dubya | 7:57 a.m. Oct. 27, 2009

The Jazz are not going to play defense. You have lazy boozer who is supposedly the star player. He couldn't move his feet if you gave him another $20 million. Kirilenko is too busy crying off court to play defense. Korver looks like he is more interested in getting a manicure than playing defense. Then you have Jerry Sloan (Who I think is a decent coach) barking orders like a drill sergeant rather than a coach. Another struggle to the playoffs this year, followed by a first round loss.

trade boozer | 8:59 a.m. Oct. 27, 2009

trade boozer - Paaalleeeeeezzzeee!!!!

re: Miles | 11:01 a.m. Oct. 27, 2009

What are you talking about? You don't just limit the minutes your players play just because you have a game the next day! Its all about taking it a game at a time. You have to do all you can to win the game being played. If its a blow out then yeah you bench your starters. This is something Sloan already does. Nearly every time I read and article about the Jazz you make a comment, and nearly every time its off the wall!

If the Jazz really want to be a championship contendor then they need to keep working on their defence. But what they really need is a good wing man. I'm sorry I know there are a lot of CJ and Brewer lovers here but in all honesty we will never win a championship with those 2 being our best 2 and 3! Look at all the great teams in the league and those two would not start for any of them and in some cases wouldn't even beat the guys coming off the bench for minutes. Until we trade Boozer for a good 2 or 3 nothing will change.

Coach T | 11:27 a.m. Oct. 27, 2009

You Sloan Haters are a bunch of cry baby fair weather fans. Dubya, you're gonna eat all of your mindless ramblings. Mark my words.

To: trade Boozer | 11:30 a.m. Oct. 27, 2009

Easier said than done. Tell you what...why don't you call O'Connor and tell him what your plan is to accomplish the trade. Am sure he would like to hear your idea. I'm sure he has tried everything else. Besides, Coach is happy with Boozer. But then, I'm sure Coach and O'Connor don't have your insight.

Xente | 12:16 p.m. Oct. 27, 2009

Boozer and a first round pick for Joe Johnson!

YOUTH | 12:59 p.m. Oct. 27, 2009

This is all about young players. We have a young team.

Do your kids listen when you tell them the way they should do things? Or do they go ahead and do it their way because they believe they are smarter than you?

That is what has gone on with this group. They are young superstars who dream of being offensive stat machines and making gazillions of dollars.

They have spent a few seasons learning that their offense wins them quite a bit in the regular season and not so much in the post season.

Last season the Jazz were nationally exposed and discussed for their lack of defensive commitment. The results were proven with their poor playoff results.

I think this is the year they will START to listen. Our supposed leader Deron is just beginning to see how important defense is--he talked in the past only because it was trendy to do.

Stock/Malone took 12 years to get to the finals.

You people are fantasizing if you think these young players will suddenly DO IT.

Reality is starting to set in on their legacies of LOSING when it matters...if they don't improve.

re:YOUTH | 2:13 p.m. Oct. 27, 2009

The jazz are not that young. Making the point that it took Stock and Malone 12 years to get to the finals is a backhanded compliment at best. It never should have taken that long. If the jazz had a better coach during thier prime the jazz would have a banner hanging from the rafters.

spencer | 3:48 p.m. Oct. 27, 2009

First of all, for the idiot who said if the jazz had a better "coach" they would have one. That was the dummest i have ever ever herd. Sloan Is rated one of the best coaches of his era next to phill and pop. He didnt win becuase he ran into mj plane and simple.

RE: spencer | 5:30 p.m. Oct. 27, 2009

The jazz didn't when MJ was out the league playing baseball,

nor did they win when MY retired in '99,

so the MJ excuse doesn't work very well,

the fact is the Jazz did NOT have the players or the system to win a championship.

AND the JAzz have NEVER had the player who could handle the ball, take over the game, and shoot the team to win,

nor the system to allow them to do it.

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