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Utah Jazz: Fall apart in opener

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wow | 11:51 p.m. Oct. 28, 2009
is it february yet???
B. | 12:12 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Hmm. Weird.
We Stink | 12:13 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Same old stuff with DWill and bunch of roll players will not even win the division. Its time for a change it starts with the coach.
Comments continue below
A repeat performance | 12:18 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
of last year is in the wings.....Booze failed to show up again. Fans take control of this problem...Boo the Booze when he fails to perform.
No D....is possible with this team. Williams can not do it alone Jerry....Jerry......Jerry, are you out there????? Nice game Denver, you all had fun in this cat and mouse game, that is until the last quarter.
Jonny lingo | 12:40 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Jazz will miss playoofs!
AZ | 12:47 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
The game summary says the score was 114-104, not 105. Which was it?
King Black | 1:01 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Well a good game untill the end of 3rd and all of the 4th quarters.

They showed they could play defense but for some reason at the end of the 3rd they just forgot how to play at all.

With them just behind a few points in the fourth, it didnt help that some people could not hit wide open shots on two or three consecutive posessions(Boozer) that lead to easy fast break points for Denver that gave them the bigger lead.

If Boozer came to play that could have easily been a win but it was like Utah only had 10 players for the day.

But i'd say Boozer wont have too many more days like this plus its the 1st game. Hey at least they didnt get mopped like Paul and the Hornets.

And no need for bickering Cleveland is 0-2 so I dont want any reporters or sports analyst downing Utah without downing Cavs or Hornets.
I am not impressed | 1:13 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Okur really played, so did DWill. This is their team now. Brewer played pretty well. AK played well.

Lawson went thru and around Maynor and to some extent Brewer like knife thur butter.

Nobody stopped Nene in the first half. Melo did pretty much what he wanted to. Fez seemed to alter the inside game a lot. He held down his fouls and scored some.

Boozer and Millsap look a lot better in the box score than on the court. The Jazz would have been a lot better with Fez at C and Okur at PF. Sloan should try that. Koufos could have done better than Boozer and probably Millsap.

I am not a Price fan but he did okay.

Forget the continuity garbage. The Jazz had better get ready to make some moves. This team stinks for the money the Millers are paying.

Half of the team played hard and tried. The PFs sucked their thumbs or hacked.

The Jazz need a real PF who can play, defend and shoot. That is not Boozer nor Millsap. They also need a wing who can shoot. DWill kept them in it from outside to some extent.




j from porkopolis | 1:32 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Whats that I hear... wait for it, wait for it... oh its AK's hair playing better defense than Carlos "brick the ball every shot" Boozer has ever played in his entire NBA career. Hey A.K. Zack Morris called and wants his hair-do back. By the way, Paul "I can't see because number 15 just posterized me on national television" Millsap, think before you pass, use that ounce of grey matter inside your skull. And finally, Jerry "Can't call a time out to save his life and should have quit last year" Sloan, do us all a favor and bag it up now, worst coaching ever. A.K.'s HAIR knew to call a time out the second momentum began to change in the fourth, but noooo you had to let the Jazz dig a deeper hole for themselves, as always. The only bright spot was Deron "the man" Williams who was amazing and deserves better. I know it is only the first game of the regular season, but you can't tell me that this game was not important and not a foreshadow of things to come. I hope I am wrong.
Anonymous | 2:03 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
The first two quarters we looked like an improved team, Then old habbits of not playing D got the best of us. I think Boozer must have had the worst game of his career! Fez looked good, and Memo still has the money ball. Hopefully the Jazz can learn to buckle down and win on the road this year.
Told ya | 2:29 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
See you boys in Salt Lake, where Denver will add JR Smith to the roster and then the show just gets better!!! Smooth Jazz, brought to you directly from Denver!!!!
gdog3 | 2:32 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Hey, don't fret. Accept reality Jazz fans. You can call for Jerry's head if you want. You can shoot a pee shooter at Greg Miller. Perhaps you want to Boo the Boozer. Whatever you do, it all boils down to the same players, road game, no defense = same team (same ole' Jazz). You know, talented, lacking heart, chemistry, or something else. Whatever it is, it is. They are lacking, and they will lose enough to cause frustration, and win enough to sneak into the playoffs. I will half pay attention to them. I hope they win, but I have better things to do with my time. My favorite Jazz season was 2003-2004 when the Jazz were supposed to be the worst NBA team of all time. They won 41 games that year, missed the playoffs, but busted their butt night in and night out. It was post Stock and Malone, but it preceded D-Will, Booz, Memo, Millsap, and Brewer. It was the AK47 of yesteryear, and a bunch of blue collar ballers (Raja Bell, Harpring, Arroyo before being delusional, Ben Hand lotion (okay Handlogten), and Beaver Cleaver. They just played ball hardcore. I miss it!!
King Black/end of post @ j from  | 2:45 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Guys calm down, geeze

I would hate to see what the Cavs fans are saying about their team right now.
Everybody besides Boozer played good so much for playing Maynor over Price though he needs to step up his D.
I mean look at Milsaps numbers for the minutes he played I'd say thats pretty good besides the posterize lol.

Utah had this game won but lost it in the 4th its not like Denver manhandled Utah the whole game like Spurs did to Hornets, or like the Magic did to whoever they played, or even like the Raptors did to Cleveland.

OO and @ J FROM PORKOPOLIS

for a second you seemed like you were going to have the best post.. but then I actually read past the first line..

you make absolutley no sense at all in about 60% of that un-funny supposed to be comic type post, which is more than enough for any person to make weird faces while reading it..

I can see what you were trying to do but that was a Big EPIC FAILURE on your part.


THEeyepatch | 3:34 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Reply to 1:32 am. If thats your argument, go back to playing Halo in your mamma's basement. Your talking about AK's hair, you got to be kidding me!
NYJazzfan | 4:18 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
No CJ and no Korver and still scoered 100 points on the road. That is improvement.
JIMI | 4:59 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
same ole jazz, gonna be a long session, with 25 road losses. and an 8th seed. yahoo
the Mailman | 5:45 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
D Will continues to show he is the man in this team and everyone else keeps going missing when games are to be won in last quarters on the road - coach included.

But hey, anyone who expects anything different from the Jazz this year need to open their eyes a little wider..

When you keep doing things the same as you always have, why would things turn out any different..
Setting the Tone | 5:51 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
The defensive tone for the entire game was set when the Nuggets were ahead 3-0 and another nugget player got free in the middle. Boozer was right under the basket and could have taken two steps to challenge the shot but stood watching as he let him go in for an uncontested dunk.

Come on, Boozer, at least make an attempt to get in front of him or at least challenge the shot from behind. How about making a statement you care by fouling him hard to send the message, "you don't want to come in here." Boozer, I'm calling you out. Step up and lead or get out of the way for good!

Williams, Okur, and Brewer showed a lot of heart, but several others were missing in action...
frustrated | 6:10 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Well based on the first game, I would think Boozer would be lucky to get the rookie third year contract amount of what 1.5 million. 3 of 14 in a year you need to impress people to get a contract.

So tell me, why do we pay basketball players so much in the first place! Are they curing cancer, finding a solution to poverty, a rocket sientist? They play a game, which due to an owners greed or need to have a trophy, they often try to buy it, overpay the players. Lets face it a player making 2-3 million a year, will make more in one or two seasons than the majority of the fans make in a life time of work, for what, to play a game, to provide entertainment. If you had talent to get you there, you can play like Boozer or even Fes and sit on the bench and make more money than if they actually had to go out and get a job. Koufos, did he finish his freshman year, Fes, did he go to college in Europe, what do they have to fall back on?
Jazz-Ralphie | 6:24 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
I saw good things in this game. Love D-Will. Paul Millsap is the man. Curious to see how this matchup goes in Utah. Will the Jazz establish homecourt dominance? The heck is up with Booze?
Scodyshootfight (KC) | 6:46 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
LOL...AK's HAIR playing better D than Booze!
TXexile | 6:51 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Rebounds are about effort, getting your butt on your man and pushing back. The much taller Nuggets guys can get over you, but it is so hard to do that without getting a call. Instead you saw Milsap and Boozer just watch people jump right by them for highlight reel dunks. Milsap is the 6th best player on a championship team. Boozer might be 5th. Williams would be 3rd. Apparently to win a championship now you need a "big 3." We have 1 of those 3 and are thus doomed. How much are we paying between AK, Boozer and Milsap? $40 million? Our 5th highest player (Okur) still makes $9 mil. Boston's 5th makes half that. This team just is not a formula for success. And the Milsap purchase has to be a bust. He works hard (before tonight) but just doesn't have the talent to go 40 minutes and produce. Milsap's +/- was a -16 today! They need to get down to at most 2 players making over $6 mil and rebuild. I am not crying about 1 loss; I am seeing a pattern here and I don't like it.
Boozer still ... | 7:07 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Boozer still refuses to play defense. Gonna be a frustrating season.
question | 7:47 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
did the jazz pass on lawson in last years draft?
What's A Quarter Worth? | 7:55 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Let's talk about the definition of the word "quarter" - There are FOUR of them. The Jazz (except for D-Will) just thought the game was over after three, I guess...?

Sigh...

And I stayed up very late (in the Eastern time zone) for that?
Same old | 7:55 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
I thought the Jazz were looking to play better defense this year? That lasted about six minutes. I wonder how long the Jazz will be kicking themselves for the latest version of their drafting failures (Maynor over Lawson) since maynor looked absolutely lost. The Jazz will win 50 games again, beating the punching bags and getting destroyed by any team with an athletic scorer (Nuggets, Lakers, Cavs, Heat, Magic, Celtics, mavs, Spurs) which tells you where the Jazz fit in. Same old same old
Cal | 7:56 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Boozer is no Super Star; his play does not even warrant starting for the Jazz. Stars in this league do not fad in and out like Boozer does. He was dominated by the Nuggets and looked pathetic. If he keeps playing like this, his trade value will continue to drop to no value at all. You can see that his heart and mind is not in the game for the Jazz. Dump him ASAP!




































































ctoe | 7:58 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
When was the last time you saw Boozer go hard to the basket and dunk it? I have seen only lightly thrown layups that clink off the rim for the past two years.
It's the first game | 8:00 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
What a bunch of lousy, fair weather fans. One game and you are already calling for Jerry's job? If you are all so smart, then who would you like to come in and coach that could do a better job? Which power forward do you want that will do better, night in and night out, than Boozer? I'm not a huge Boozer fan either, but he's the best option that is out there. I am amazed at all the people throwing in the towel, after the first game of the year, on the road, against a team that went to the conference finals. We are missing two good outside shooters, and one of our top scorers couldn't buy a basket. It happens! Michael Jordan had off nights. I can't stand whiny fans who can't see past the last game.
re: question | 8:06 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Yes. Lawson expressed that he did not want to go to Utah and play behind Williams, so the Jazz drafted a skinny kid from a tiny school who wasn't nearly as ready as Lawson is.
Coach | 8:10 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Spectator attendance at last nights game, 19,022, including Carlos Boozer...
jazz ball | 8:13 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
I'm just cheering for every team that plays the Knicks, even the hated Lakers. Championships are won in the draft.
Jumbo Slice | 8:21 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Same old Jazz - let the crying from Jazz fans begin!
Miles | 8:21 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
No CJ. No win. Carmelo lit up AK all night long. Wouldn't have happened if CJ had been guarding him. The defense was awful all night long. The Nuggets went to the basket at will. It's not the Big's fault that our 1,2 and 3 can't stop penetration. The Nuggets walked all over us. Boozer was horrible. Millsap was horrible. Memo played with more energy than anyone on the team. Dwill needs to play some defense.
ram | 8:22 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
why no hd on dish network anybody know?
Made of Scars | 8:34 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
The Jazz did not pass on Ty Lawson for Eric Maynor. Then Nuggets traded up to the 18th spot in the first round to get Lawson. The Jazz picked at 20th.
Anonymous | 8:38 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Hey people who dont know what they are talking about with the draft Lawson went at 18 and Maynor went at 20.
GoodGuyGary | 8:40 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
'"I had some good shots - just missed 'em," Boozer said. "They're shots I've been making my whole career."'

Very nice, Boozer.
Made of Scars | 8:42 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
I guess all the talk about improved defense during the pre-season was just lip service. The Jazz seem to be as "soft" as ever. Is there anybody on this roster that is going to figure out a hard foul is better than giving up a layup or dunk?

Did Boozer work on any part of his game during the summer? Doesn't look like it. My guess is that he was too busy house hunting in Chicago/Miami. He continues to be one of the absolute worst help defenders in the league.
Bear Rug | 8:43 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Get rid of Boozer!! Relegate Jerry to an assistant coach, and get a coach that really knows how to play basketball in the new century. Sloan is a good guy, and the LHM's loyalty to him is commendable. We need a new coaching philosophy, though. One that emphasizes great (not good) defense. And an offense that keys off of movement, and keeping the big men underneath, instead of beyond the 3-point line.
Steve (the acutary) | 8:46 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good heavens, at least wait until 10 games into the season before declaring the thing a total loss.
SC Jazz Fan | 8:48 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
I agree with "Setting the Tone" and noticed Boozer just watching the offensive rebounder dunk with no effort to defend. It drives me crazy. Boozer will have good offensive games but the new defense emphasis has not sunk in with him. Sloan says he will play someone else--we will see. Denver is a good team--most predict they will win the division. A close loss on the road to them is not suprising for any team in the league. My dis-like for Carmelo just makes it hurt worse. Ever since Carmelo said he should have been an All-star over AK years ago and implied that he knew better than the coaches who vote, he has been my least favorite player in the NBA. Last night's "I'm back" tirade was more of the same selfish, punk nonsense. You may not like Jerry's BB decisions but we will never have to deal with that craziness while he is in Utah. That is really why I am a Jazz fan although I live in SC and have never lived in Utah. The Jazz are the anti-Carmelo of the league and I am a fan!
Anonymous | 8:51 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Atleast AK was rocking a new hair style!
Maynor vs Lawson | 8:52 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
The Jazz have to feel like the ugly step sister in comparing those two rookies last night. Lawson destroyed Maynor in the first part of a critical stretch that buried the Jazz.
John Wicks | 8:56 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
The best part of the game was the pregame in which Pace Mannion said the Jazz would win 55 games this year. Hope he knows something we all don't. Over paid slackers is all I can say!!
Made of Scars | 8:57 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
In one of the other Deseret News articles today, Sloan makes the point, "When you don't have a shot blocker, you have to guard the paint with your body."

Therein lies a huge problem for the Jazz because Boozer absolutely hates contact on the defensive end of the floor. He almost seems to think it is "below him." I see this continuing to mushroom into a BIG problem this year.

Watch the body language of guys like Kirilenko, Millsap and D-Will when Boozer fails to slide over for "help" defense on their man time and time again throughout the game. This will come to a head - just watch.
george | 9:02 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Can't please everyone...Lay off...it was only the first game of an 82 game season. How about some positives???
Re:It's the first game  | 9:02 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Yeah indeed. But the pattern is old and repetitive. According to your HOF coach, team roster must be preserved. The same players have been on the roster for the past 3 years, but nothing has changed. If anything, yesterday's Jazz performance is an indication that the team, despite its roster preservation, has not improved one bit. So fans must expect the same result when all is said and done: No championship in Utah!
oldfan | 9:09 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
Read this book before.
Manangement has chosen to exceed the salary cap for this? Overpaying for medicore players and inconsistent efforts. They should be held accountable.
Sloan's strength is also his weakness. His no nonsense approach achieves consistent play but inspires no one to greatness.
AK began sulking and stopped playing 2 years ago - He and Jerry should be locked in a room for a while. 5mil for Jerry and 17m for AK. Come on guys. As fans, we deserve better.
Booz - self centered player who's primary interest is a paycheck.
Millsap - undersized, overachieving, hardworking player
Memo - one dimensional player
Brewer - Example of current crop of American players - Athletic guy who can dunk - where's the fundamentals and shooting?
CJ - Makes no one around him better.
D-Will - worth every penny - true grit!
I am passing this year on the Jazz and their groundhog day production. For $600 per game I expect more. High School and College games for me until some changes are made.
Made of Scars | 9:09 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
The success that the Jazz attain this season will hinge on their willingness (they have the ability) to make defensive stops.

Sloan would be smart to reward the player's defesive efforts. Show you can shut your guy down? Get playing time. Show a willingness to rotate over and put your body on the line for help defense? Get playing time. Stop a layup with a hard foul? Get playing time.

If somebody (talking to you Boozer) gets lazy on the defensive end and only wants to put forth effort on the offensive side of the cout - you get yanked in a heartbeat.

Sloan needs to "reprogram" this team. His best weapon is the distribution of playing time, including who starts. That will send the correct message.

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David Zalubowski, Associated Press

Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, right, drives the lane for a shot past Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko in the first quarter of a game Wednesday in Denver.

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