Comments about ‘Utah Jazz: Matthews to keep spot in starting lineup’

Wow Sloan playing a bunch of rookies, amazing! Matthews has been keeping them in games, and frankly outplays the other 2 guards on defense let alone offense, every night.

Jerry, it is never too late, (even for you) to change my perceptions, ask Jason Kreis.

Applause,Applause for this decision. DWIL, Matthews, Brewer Small Forward. That is a very good start, agree for all 3. I think Millsap PF and Boozer starting at Center would be the best 5. This is mainly because Okur defensively, "no comment"

He is a defensive stud. Watch and learn Brewer and Miles. In fact everyone start taking notes. There is a new kid in town.

This guy actually likes to defend. You can tell he has some pride. I would be embarrassed honestly if I was the other players on this team by his effort.

Nice Job Sloan and Utah Jazz !!! You found a winner.
Nice Job Wesley Matthews I think it is amazing what you have been doing. Keep it up. Maybe some of your attitude will rub off on some of the other guys.

This proves Sloan will play players if they can play. PERIOD !!!!!!!!

"He never lets rookies play"!

"He always buries them on the bench and they never get on the floor despite how they play".

"Sloan always does the same thing and never makes any adjustments".

Should I list some more false quotes?

Stay tuned. There is more to come.

The next you will see is when Maynor gets the backup role. It will happen a few games after Price gets back. Price is statistically one of the worst defenders on the team. He is an energy guy and a great athlete but he is not a good PG and he is not a good defender.

Sloan is making a statement here that defense matters.

Awesome job Matthews. Perhaps his effort will rub off on our two lazy "BIGs".

Brewer our supposed defensive specialist (the only reason we tolerate his horrible shooting) ought to be embarrassed by the stats showing Matthews is a better defender.

Shameful.

This is why I was so glad we did not extend Brewer. Why would we when we a rookie is a better defender and shooter.

If Matthews can hang in there we can save some money and let Brewer go and actually have a shooting guard that can spread the floor to open up the paint.

It is no coincidence that Booz had better games with Matthews on the floor to open the paint.

For all you Jerry haters, maybe this is the first rookie that has EARNED the opportunity. Leads the team in defensive statistics seems to have EARNED the rookie an opportunity. Jerry hasn't learned anything he already didn't know. If you listen to Jerry Sloan for even twenty seconds, you will understand that he expects people to EARN starting jobs and playing time

Yeah..Eric and Wesley have played well

Thing to remember, they are rookies and hungry to find a place in the league, and will outhustle the NBA guarenteed contract vets, especially at the onset of a 80 game regular season.

Also new players dont have the complete scouting reports, and the familarity the rest of the players have.

Matthews and Maynor are having a good start, but by seasons end, barring injuries, they will be 9th and 10th men.

Okur is a valuable center in this league, unfortunately his greatest value for the Jazz is his outside shooting and he's been hearing some of these game announcer's saying how great it is that he's taking it to the basket so now he's passing up open three's and driving which usually ends up with a charge or a miss. Okur please get back to what you do great and take the three every time your open. (DWill is also losing assists when he passes them up.)

Byron Russell comes to mind. Second rounder from Long Beach, no real track record other than being solid on both ends of the floor and worked hard. Then there was the other guy (forgot his name) who played with us in the finals years then went to Houston and New York but without the success. Much of thier success is based on them playing seriously hard nosed defense first, and second, and then third they'd better be on the offensive glass to get points or cutting to the basket hard. One other common denominator is that they don't whine, these guys set screens, run the floor, and run Coach Sloan's system like he wants them to. Glad we've got two kids who seem to have many of these qualities, nice work Mr. O'Connor.

Possibly, if Sloan lets him develop on the floor and not on the bench. Keep it up Sloan, you may have a hungry rookie now, but an up an coming star if he stays hungry and willing to defend. I like this kid Matthews, and Maynor is right behind him. The Jazz may have to suffer a bit this year, but I see good things in the next few.

I think is time to start calling him just "Wesley Matthews" and skip the "undrafted rookie" part... just saying...

Was that other guy you were talking about and he also almost single handedly kept us from losing to Sacramento in the first round of 99 He hit two major threes down the stretch when we were down which opened the door for Stocks 20 footer from the right wing for the win!! Sweet game

what are these defensive stats everyone's referring to? Two steals against the 76ers? I find nothing at the usual stat reference sites that stand out for him.

I am shocked. Jerry is actually going to let the rookie play. Good for you Jerry.

Say goodbye to Brewer, Boozer, Harpring and Korver after this season. Say goodbye to AK in two seasons.

Now if we could only find a way to play the bigs in Koufus and Fes!!

All you Sloan bashers have no idea or a very low basketball IQ. Sloan is a basketball stud and the best coach a team like the Jazz will ever afford.
If we had ever had the talent Riley or that goof from the Lakers (Jackson)have we would have numerous Championships!!!!!Period!!!!!And dont bring up Karl Malone he should send John and Jerry money still every week, a lot of it.

Really? So name all the guys without contracts that tore it up this training camp besides Matthews ?? This year or last year or any year for that matter.
Maynor was a first round draft pick by the way. That means guaranteed contract.

No complete scouting report ?? I seriously doubt that. The other teams knows nothing about these kids?? That is just absurd. If they know what some 15 year old kid in Slovenia is doing I am sure they can get some info on these two.

They are catching people by suprise though. You know why ?? Because normal rookies do not play like this. Guaranteed contract or not.

I would love to give Jerry credit but I just cannot. Face it if it was not for the injury to Price we would not have seen Maynor and would not have seen Mathews if it was not for the injuries to Miles and Korver.
Sloan was put into a situation where he had to play these guys it was not by Sloan thinking I am going to give this guy a chance because so and so stink.
Injuries on a Jazz team is what gives guys a chance to shine.

soon after Wed's game against the Raptors, the Jazz and Raptors will agree to this trade - Boozer and Harpring for BOSH. Bosh and D-Will are friends and this will help D-Will's mood and we'll finally get a long PF who can play against the 7-foot PF in the Western Conference!

That is good news! Matthews is great! I am going back to the Oracle now! Peace Out!

Toronto would laugh at that trade offer.