Comments about ‘Utah Jazz: Rookie Wesley Matthews helps play some defense’

I have not been this excited for a long time. This kid is the real deal. What a steal !! WHAT A STEAL !!

Just figured out what I am getting myself for Christmas. A Matthews Jersey.....

played extremely well on offense. However, his plus/minus was 0. I am not knocking Booz. There is a lot to be said for scoring.

Mathews had a great night, both offensively and defensively. His plus/minus was +17. So was Okur's.

Hopefully both AK and CJ get into game rhythm. That creates a lot of depth and a lot of defense. The Jazz are still weak defensively at PF/C. It will be interesting to see how they play against LA.

I do not see a need to trade for a 2 at this point. However, the Jazz need more defense from Boozer and Okur if they are going to contend.

Or maybe run a combo of DWill, Mathews, Brewer with AK at 4 against LA. HOU used a small fast defensive lineup against LA.

I looked at the 82 game stats. AK plays much better at 4 than at 3. He is not very good at 2. Both Boozer and Millsap play better at 5 which was a surprise.

Sloan has lots of options. However, he found combos that worked and stayed with them.

beat the Heat on a last second off balance 3. It will be interesting to see if Sloan uses Mathews against Kobe to close against LA. CJ has played him well at times and Brewer often gets Kobe. Between the 3 of them they should be able to stay fresh and play with a lot of energy.

On the other hand Sloan often closes with Korver for his outside shooting and FTs.

If this team had an interior Defense for 48 minutes they would contend.

"If this team had an interior Defense for 48 minutes they would contend. "

.. if only Fess really learns how to be smart - physically fit and learn the offensive/defensive schemes, he could really help

How much did Fes play tonight?

Ask Jerry maybe you have some pull

Matthews is the Engine! Where do they Find These Guys?

Trade Williams, he's become the weak link on the team. He's another Boozer, big contract, lots of money, mediocre production. I look for him to fake an injury soon so he won't have to face more embarrassment.

Great to have CJ back.

It did not take him long to get back to his usual stat line!

13 mintues
0 for 3 FG's.
0-2 from 3 pt range. (of course, CJ has to get his shots up)

He did stumble into a couple of rebounds though and somebody must have just lost the ball because he did get a steal too.

Overall plus/minus for the game? MINUS 8!!!

That would be the worst on the team.

Sure it was his first game back but he ought to realize that and play some defense and try to get to the rim for some easy baskets to get going. Oh no. CJ is an outside shooter so three of his shots he jacked up were from 3 pt range.

This guys minutes ought to be reported to the police!!

Theft...from any other player we have!!

"Matthews is the Engine! Where do they Find These Guys? "

Marquette University, that's where ;)

Kobe hit that 3 right in D. Wade's face...maybe when the Jazz play them, this Marquette alum won't let that happen...well, hopefully not as much and not at such a critical moment as at the buzzer.

I doesn't get any better than this:

"Your offense might not come to you every night, (but) you can definitely pack your D and your heart," said Matthews.

I think I'm falling in love.

Wes from the Jazz & Brown from LA - they are [as i see it] two of the best NBA finds in a long time. Wes is the better of the two but they both come to play every night.

Wes is definitely in the top end [right now] for rookie of the year — but it will be hard for a player from Utah to win it, even if they deserve it.

I guarantee you that there are lots of teams that are wondering how they missed Wes Mathews.

It would sure be nice if someone could put a fire in the belly of Fez — the Jazz are never going to win the big one(s) without a strong center — then play Okur at forward.

Is it me or has CJ put on a few pounds?

It is great to see Boozer get back to playing like he did in his college days — keep it up.

It's so nice to NOT hear the haters after a hard fought win...just cause you come out of the gate hot doesn't mean you'll end up hot. This was a great exhibition of hard nosed hoops. Defense wins championships & this team is starting to show some progress...Matthews is some kind of player. Hope CJ realizes his days with Utah are numbered if he doesn't work hard in practice & get himself ready to play. Seems the three day layoff had some of our players a bit out of breath. Did anyone notice how D-Will & Maynor played so poorly with Ford in their jocks all night?
The key to our success is the dribble penetrate off the pick & roll. It was all we used in the 1st quarter. Brewer needs a date with "coach" Horny because his outside shot is a joke!

Great to have CJ back,now we can trade Matthews and Harps contract for a backup center,CJ is our future

were effective. Fez played 12 minutes. Okur did make some 3s. When Boozer is hot, fewer assists go to the C position (unless Boozer is playing it). Jerry rode Boozer all night long and saved Fez and Okur for tonight.

It was a W and Boozer had a great game. I am not going to fault Sloan for having some fresh legs for a back to back.

I thought Sloan should have called a time out in the 3rd but he did keep the right combinations on the floor for most of the night and won. He also managed to get CJ and AK some time to get rust off.

I think Sloan did a decent job of coaching last night, especially if he wins a back to back on the road tonight.

Just keep winning. It is really nice to be ahead of POR. Now lets see if DEN can be reeled in.

Good time to trade Matthews while he still has value,now that CJ is back we don`t need him

Jer almost blew this one by not playing fes, i really don't care if indiana is small, theres alot of reasons to play fes; the jazz do better when he plays; he needs regular minutes, i'm pretty shocked he didn't get any minutes, leave it to jerry to botch things up, run memo into the ground on the first set of a back to back, genius, pure genius; and neglect to keep alive the positive improvements of fez, too much corn i say.
this is the kind of game the jazz would've lost their lead in, the difference was mathrews d and maynor making plays with williams on the bench; otherwise, the jazz would've been playing from behind. when is williams going to keep his guy in front of him, comeon, he almost lost it, becool, protect the ball, keep your guy in front of you, it really makes a difference.

Matthews won`t be guarding Kobe,CJ will, as he`s the only player in the league that can stop kobe

My Gosh, where did the Jazz find this Gem, Wow, Matthews is a keeper!!!!!!!!!

These 2 rooks Mathews & Maynor are heaven sent in my estimation! Brewer stunk up the joint again with good open shots and didn't do anything much on defense either, so it will be easy to let him C.J., and A.K. go whenever the right situation presents itself. Apparently Koufus is not going to get time with this team this year again so off to Orem with him for his sake! With Harprings expiring contract and the above players available for trading along with the Boozer situation I'm pumped about the future. A possible lottery pick, one of our stashed overseas players maturing and it's title city contention in a year or two without doubt.

Please Jerry don't cut Matthews's minutes for Miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!