Game 1: Jazz @ Lakers Sun. 5/2 1:30 MT ABC

[countrybama24]

This is why we trade / don't build around boozer.

http://nbaplaybook.com/2010/05/03/the-l ... #more-2157


Here's the best part..... Utah's down 3... 24 seconds left, one last chance to tie it if we get a shot.

"However Boozer doesn’t do that. He doesn’t jump either. Heck, he doesn’t even get his hands up to try and block the shot. He just stands there and watches as Kobe lays in the game winner."

[babyjax13]

This is why we trade / don't build around boozer.

http://nbaplaybook.com/2010/05/03/the-l ... #more-2157


Here's the best part..... Utah's down 3... 24 seconds left, one last chance to tie it if we get a shot.

"However Boozer doesn’t do that. He doesn’t jump either. Heck, he doesn’t even get his hands up to try and block the shot. He just stands there and watches as Kobe lays in the game winner."

It's a good thing this team is built around Deron then....

[HammerDunk]

This is why we trade / don't build around boozer.

http://nbaplaybook.com/2010/05/03/the-l ... #more-2157


Here's the best part..... Utah's down 3... 24 seconds left, one last chance to tie it if we get a shot.

"However Boozer doesn’t do that. He doesn’t jump either. Heck, he doesn’t even get his hands up to try and block the shot. He just stands there and watches as Kobe lays in the game winner."

Stevebozo will insist that it was Millsap that made these miscues, but Booz was simply nowhere to be found to close out the game. It's too bad really, he had a pretty good game to that point.

[outerspacefella]

I think people has to understand that Boozer end games exhausted playing against the Lakers, He has to fight every second out there against players with huge physical advantage over him. May be we're asking too much of him. That's why we need an extra punch to beat LAL, an extra punch in the form of a big body.
It's pretty obvious to me that he played his body out in game 1.

[Deckard]

Game 1 was well played by us. We nearly beat the better team, and we've got to be a little happy about that. I have some hopes that we'll steal game 2.

[RRT]

Hey guys can you beat Lakers game two so the focus shifts from Cleveland?

[countrybama24]

I think people has to understand that Boozer end games exhausted playing against the Lakers, He has to fight every second out there against players with huge physical advantage over him. May be we're asking too much of him. That's why we need an extra punch to beat LAL, an extra punch in the form of a big body.
It's pretty obvious to me that he played his body out in game 1.

Too tired to "jump.... even get his hands up to try and block the shot. He just stands there and watches as Kobe lays in the game winner."???? Really?

This would be a fine explanation except for Boozer plays awful all the time. Unless we got like Jokim Noah or an elite defensive 5, we will never get to the NBA finals with Boozer logging huge minutes. Our defense will always be too bad.

And to whoever said we were building around dwill, yes he is the best player of the "core" but as the cavs prove... the "core" can't just be one dude. And don't even bother saying something like "the cavs might win a chip this year" ... because dwill obviously needs more help than Lebron, who even with his talent needs other all-star caliber "core" players (if they cavs weren't awful outside of lebron, they would already have a chip).

You need to build around several players, and Boozer shouldn't be one of them. Paul is almost as good on offense (could be better) and orders of magnitude better on defense.

[babyjax13]

You never said anything about the "core". Without Boozer this team might be an 8th seed, possibly worse and we would have lost in the first round. And, there is really no way for us to replace him with something better. We don't pay Boozer to be a defensive stopper (although if he were better it would be nice) we pay him to score and rebound - and that is what he does. There is no comparison between our core players and Cleveland's. We have 4 former all-stars (that are all still very good), a perennial 6th man of the year candidate and several developing young guys - Cleveland has no one outside of LeBron, Jamison, Illguaskes and Williams.

[countrybama24]

I guess I could have been more clear. I meant "don't build around him" to mean "don't include him in the core" (you build around the "core").

Anyways, Boozer is very replaceable. Millsap can start and replace 80% of his offense and AK can get minutes at the 4. We just need a defensive center.

The Jazz's offense is consistently ranked as one of the most productive in the league, and a large reason for that is Jerry Sloans offense. IMO, Boozer benefits immensley from the system (+ dwill's swag) and Paul can fill much of that gap.

Until we have a much improved defensive frontcourt, we will never beat the lakers or win the west. I seriously doubt the Jazz would be an 8 seed without Boozer, that money will get spent improving other parts of our team. You really will lose all hope for the Jazz if Boozer is traded or expires? Sounds pretty defeatist.

Getting rid of Boozer is the most realistic prospect for improving our defense, since quality centers are very hard to find.
You can be content with a 5-2 seed every year losing the lakers because Boozer can't defend Gasol or other offensively oriented 4s. I want to win a championship, and if it takes 2 yrs of an 8 seed to find a core that plays defense and competes, it's worth it. If Boozer is on the court for long stretches in the clutch, our defense will be much worse, and we will continue to lose because of it. Offensive doesn't win championships, and we can sacrifice some offensive for defense because Jerry's system will usually find a way to score regardless. Just ask the suns.