Preseason #2 Portland Trail Blazers @ Utah Jazz

[jazzfan1971]

My thoughts.

First and foremost, the jazz played stretches of great defense. This is noteworthy because great defense and the jazz have never been two things that go together. Sure, we might have teams that clog up the inside and rebound well, and when our offense is clicking that has been good enough. But we've almost never been treated to watch a team really get after it all over the floor and force the issue.

I loved it.

Now onto the bad. Harris was our 3rd most effective PG out there. We might have to trade him for peanuts.

That's really all the bad I have for now.

One more positive, Burks defense is much better than the pre draft websites led me to. Believe. He gets after it, can play up in a guys chest and recover. Terrific draft pick.

[Paper Face]

Thanks for the well wishes, Portland dudes. Your team is full of ballers.

My first thought tonight is that all of you geniuses out there that were complaining about the Tinsley pick up can take a seat now. Tinsley looked like the best Jazz PG out there tonight. Why? Because he's still got an NBA-quality handle, and b/c he knows how to make an entry pass. That's really all you need to play PG in this league, and it's a skill set that Harris has yet to display this season. Tinsley's six rebounds show that he's not out there playing timid, either. Dude might turn out to be a genius signing for KOC if Harris goes down.

CJ looked ok. He was aggressive on both ends. He hit some shots and attacked the rim a bit. I still think his mentality = chucker. 5 for 12, nuff said. But having a chucker isn't all bad if he can manage some consistency.

Burks had a tough time at the rim, but I loved his handle and his willingness to attack. I think his game will take some time, but I like his approach. I look forward to more flashes of good play.

Favors had a rough night, but the defense looked good with him in there mixing it up with Portland's athletes.

Kanter is built for rebounds. He had some typical rookie mistakes tonight, but none of it bothered me. I like his aggression. Neither him nor Favors backed down from Portland's physical play. Thomas may have pulled a few fast ones on our big men, but our young fellas played forward and held their own.

Hayward was victim of some ticky-tac whistle-blowing, and some of his passes were bad. But I think he was frustrated the entire game after the rough start. The great thing about Gordon is that he's aggressive, and he will play through such stretches very well his whole career. I still think he's going to lead this team in minutes this season.

[Paper Face]

Also, Evans should get minutes. He looked like he belonged out there tonight. That dunk on Wallace was amazing.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

Was that Evans dunk amazing or was it amazing? I was on row 4 right behind the basket... OMG... the arena exploded after that. I CAN NOT believe that the refs took that away from him; that's gotta be one of the worst calls you will ever see.

The Jazz need to play Evans....

[Lozar]

Was that Evans dunk amazing or was it amazing? I was on row 4 right behind the basket... OMG... the arena exploded after that. I CAN NOT believe that the refs took that away from him; that's gotta be one of the worst calls you will ever see.

The Jazz need to play Evans....

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but that was a decent call I mean it was highlight reel dunk but Wallace had his feet planted outside the restricted area and stood there and took the hit.

Not trying to start a fight here .

[Litany]

Was that Evans dunk amazing or was it amazing? I was on row 4 right behind the basket... OMG... the arena exploded after that. I CAN NOT believe that the refs took that away from him; that's gotta be one of the worst calls you will ever see.

The Jazz need to play Evans....

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but that was a decent call I mean it was highlight reel dunk but Wallace had his feet planted outside the restricted area and stood there and took the hit.

Not trying to start a fight here .

Meh, could have been an easy no call. He was still moving his feet into position AFTER Evans was airborne.

[phrizzo]

yep i think more often than not that gets called a block. evans was already moving upward when wallace got there. it's just so rare to see the charge get called because guys don't dunk from that far out.

[phrizzo]

also, photographic proof from twitter:

[eLo]

One more positive, Burks defense is much better than the pre draft websites led me to. Believe. He gets after it, can play up in a guys chest and recover. Terrific draft pick.

Burks def in first half was pretty bad, although it's scary how good that pick would be if he would go for ex. 0 for 12 or 0 16

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

LMAO You've lost your mind if you think that's a good call.

Wallace clearly moved underneath Evans while he was already in the air. Not only that but you just don't ever ruin a play like that by calling a foul. That's why Jordan wasn't called for the push off, that's why Reggie Miller wasn't called for his shove, etc. You just don't ruin amazing plays... simple as that.

[jazzfan1971]

True it would have been a nice spot for a no-call. But, I like when good defense is rewarded, so I'm not worried abou ti.

[Ming Kong!]

Thanks Lithium. Good luck to the Blazers too. It really sucks about Roy and Oden. I really hope that Oden has a superstar career someday. Sorry for reminding you. Anyways, once again, good luck!

[phrizzo]

True it would have been a nice spot for a no-call. But, I like when good defense is rewarded, so I'm not worried abou ti.

but it should have been a blocking foul...

[Lithium]

Thanks Lithium. Good luck to the Blazers too. It really sucks about Roy and Oden. I really hope that Oden has a superstar career someday. Sorry for reminding you. Anyways, once again, good luck!

Thanks, appreciate it. Injuries happen, can't worry too much about what could have been. I am still convinced Oden will have a superstar career!

As soon as he retires from the NBA and starts doing porn

[QuantumMacgyver]

Thanks Lithium. Good luck to the Blazers too. It really sucks about Roy and Oden. I really hope that Oden has a superstar career someday. Sorry for reminding you. Anyways, once again, good luck!

Thanks, appreciate it. Injuries happen, can't worry too much about what could have been. I am still convinced Oden will have a superstar career!

As soon as he retires from the NBA and starts doing porn

Hahahaaha! Hey we will trade Holy Toledo straight across for you. Deal? (Sorry Toledo, too many wild threads)

[StocktonShorts]

Chucking Jumpers and Big Al have the same fatal flaw in common: lack of aggression. They both are very skilled, very talented scorers who routinely let the defense off the hook by taking poor shots.

In Big Al's case, he settles for that horrible push-shot rather than getting himself to the rim (or drawing fouls) with his excellent footwork and array of fakes.

For CJ, he's got the length, the handles and the athleticism to get to the hoop and finish, but he settles for fadeaway jumpers far too often. In this game, it was all too predictable what would happen after he started hot: he kept settling for jumpers and started missing them. He turned what should've been a great night into a mediocre one (5-12 from the field).

[Colby]

Everyone is really quick to call CJ a chucker, even when he was ONE more made shot away from a 50% shooting night.

What kind of expectations do you have for him? Does everyone want him to average 20+ or something? What about 5/12 from the field is 'mediocre?' Isn't that just - gasp - average?

1-12 is mediocre. And I'm not a huge CJ enthusiast. The massive jump to hate on him is ridiculous. He was part of our best lineup so far. That Earl, Burks, CJ, Favors, Al lineup looked pretty great together last night. Athletic, intense and productive on D, pushed the tempo, and still enough firepower to score - wouldn't have been able to say that if CJ had a mediocre night.

He had an average night overall, but at least put a little more thought into forming your opinions. Watch the game, maybe.

[jazzfan1971]

I think he's a chucker because he takes shots outside of the offense.

There were two I recall in last game. I think he made them both, so that saves some criticism but had he missed them instead it would have been more obvious.

The first time he pulled up for a 3 on the break. Had he missed Jazz would have been in very poor position to get back on defense and probably would have given up a dunk on the other end. There was no need for him to jack up a 3 at that point in the play at that point in the game.

The second was off an offensive rebound by himself. He jacked up a 20 footer with 23 seconds left on the clock. It wasn't a terrible decision as he was pretty wide open, but, I question whether the coaches would take an open 20 footer with 23 seconds left over 23 seconds of running the offense.

[StocktonShorts]

What about 5/12 from the field is 'mediocre?' Isn't that just - gasp - average? ...

...wouldn't have been able to say that if CJ had a mediocre night.

He had an average night overall...

Literacy fail.