carlos boozer

[russ1]

Hello everybody. I'm new here, but have been reading the forum for quite a while. I have been following the jazz since the early 80's. In watching the playoffs I am convinced that the jazz will not win a championship with boozer on the roster. He does not commit to playing any defense, and appears to only care about padding his stats. I know this has been discussed in great detail, but I realized how big of a problem this was when odom lit us up, and then proceeded to lay an egg against both the spurs and celtics. I recognize that those teams are superior to us defensively, but I get the sense that effort on boozer's part is lacking on the defensive end.

[troy]

Sadly i agree with you.
Okur's defense is not spectacular, but at least he tries and he doesn't get murdered all the time.
Boozer does though. The worst thing is that he may be an even worst help defender. I can't count the number of time he stayed glued to Odom instead of helping defensively.

[The Sheik]

I dont necessarily agree that we will never win a 'ship with Boozer, but I agree his effort on D isnt there.

I also think in those examples you showed the reason Odom struggled a bit is because the coachs in those series were willing to change things up defensively. You cant completely blame Boozer for his effort against Odom...why? Because Odom is really a SF and its like asking Amare or Duncan to guard him. Boozer is slow laterally and Jerry did nothing, made no adjustments to keep Odom in check.

Boston put Posey, Pierce, Powe and Garnett on him. He couldnt score as easily in transition and struggled posting up against them. Sloan just played Boozer and Millsap. I personally thought if AK guarded Odom and Boozer Radmonivic this series could have been a lot different. Obviously Boozer still would have had to have guarded Odom at times, but AK would have slowed his production down. Its the same reason Boozer always struggled against PHX when Marion played there. The guy is already slow and now your gonna match him up against a big SF.

[russ1]

I do agree with regard to coaching adjustments. However, Duncan and Oberto aren't exactly fleet of foot, and Odom wasn't much of a factor in that series. Defense wins championships, and until all of our stars by into that, I feel we as fans will continue to be disappointed.

[JStockLivesOn]

I'm not on the "we have to trade Booz as soon as possible" side of things, but it's infuriating and insulting both how bad a defender he is and how little he applies his energies on that side of the floor.

This Game 5 recap offers a prime example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se-z4QvMxhw

[Getjazz]

I'm now to the point where I feel its time to trade Booz for someone with value. I see the defense as one reason and Miami as another. The real possibility of him leaving with no value at all returning to Utah is to big of a risk to take. This franchise is to small to chance it, even if you don't feel that it is, you have to see that taking a risk like that is unnecessary . Why do it? Boozer has good value and could bring in a great player or two. Even if they shop him and it dosen't work out, they're still right where they are now. Take a swing for the fences and go for a championship or sell the team to Huntsman and let the run begin.

[GP]

I do agree that his defense definitely leave a lot lacking, but its not just boozer who is defensively challenged . In fact I would say our "big 3" Okur, boozer and DW are all "below average" defenders.

[dr0welf]

I feel DW does a decent job defending. He gets burnt when teams set picks that give the other guy a step which therefore creates a switch. Unfortunately the switch never happens because our big guys don't rotate. It's the help defense that sucks. It shows up for some games but disappears for many more.

Okur showed last year in the playoffs that he can defend ok. I felt he did pretty good against Yao and Duncan defensively, unfortunately it took away his legs so his shot was off. He also didn't get any help if he rotated off to help. Therefore his guy would get an interior pass and open layup.

Booz just doesn't seem smart on the defensive end.

Overall the team defense suffers when one person isn't doing their job and teams attack that weekness. Also, it makes the other players not rotate because they are worried about their guy instead of trusting the team.

[d-will8]

Deron's not a great defender, but he's at least average. Okur gives effort in one-on-one defense, but he's a poor athlete and a bad team defender, while Boozer just doesn't really seem to care.

[CAE15]

when boozer is motivated he has some decent hands for a big, he can strip duncan quite well. but i agree unless he really commits to the defensive end I dont think he will be the championship piece we need.

[JStockLivesOn]

I think the vast majority of Memo's defensive difficulties (which are considerably less than Boozer's) are bred of his physical limitations -- namely, his lack of quickness -- just as Harpring's are. Deron is a perfectly competent defender, but is by no means worthy of mention when one discusses good defensive Points. He has trouble staying in front of quicker guards like Parker (we seem to have figured out how to help on Paul better for whatever reason).

Unlike all of them, Boozer's defensive woes can't be accounted for physically. He has a good reach, a strong body, and is by no means slow for a PF. It just so happens that's he's alternately a complete dumbass the second he crosses mid-court and daydreaming about getting a blowjob on a beach somewhere. He doesn't play smart and he doesn't play with any effort, and in basketball terms (we all know he's a good guy in the 'Real World'), that's outrageous, bordering on despicable.

[troy]

He IS slow defensively.
I find it unfair to say his slowness is only due to his lack of heart , that is not true. The dude is very slow when it comes to lateral quickness and it is a physical limitation.

He shouldn't be that bad though , i agree.

[erudite23]

Welcome to the board and the bandwagon.

This summer it is "Boozer is a liability and/or destined to bolt in free agency, we should trade him now!!!"

Last summer it was "AK is stealing money except for when he is planning vacations and crying in front of reporters, trade him for salary cap relief"

And the year before it was "Boozer is stealing money from us, and hasn't produced jack ****, deal him for salary cap relief, Memo is a better player anyway"

And the year before it was "THIS **** TEAM IS A DISGRACE! FIRE SLOAN, FIRE O'CONNOR, BLOW IT UP, GET RID OF EVERYONE BUT AK47, AND LET'S REBUILD AROUND HIM AND CHRIS PAUL........DERON EFFING WILLIAMS!!! WHAT THE **** ARE YOU THINKING YOU IDIOTS!!!"

And the year before THAT it was "Wow, Jerry Sloan can get 40 wins out of that squad, just imagine what he could do with 24 million in salary cap space and 3 first round picks!! Not to mention the improved play of Arroyo and Lopez and DeShawn!!!"


etc etc etc


As you can see, its hard to justify blowing with the breeze the way most people do. As hard as it is to swallow Boozer's postseason struggles (and the way his defense got WORSE when he wasn't hitting his shots :S ), one might remember that this time last year we were talking about how the only two people that we could count on to step up in big time situations were Deron (so far, the only player who hasn't been turned on by at least a portion of this board) and--surprise!--Carlos Boozer. These are simply the highs and lows of being a fan, despite what the mad ravings of some of the more...extreme posters would have you believe. Nothing more.

[GP]

Unlike all of them, Boozer's defensive woes can't be accounted for physically. He has a good reach, a strong body, and is by no means slow for a PF. It just so happens that's he's alternately a complete dumbass the second he crosses mid-court and daydreaming about getting a blowjob on a beach somewhere. He doesn't play smart and he doesn't play with any effort, and in basketball terms (we all know he's a good guy in the 'Real World'), that's outrageous, bordering on despicable.

Wow . Easy big guy, that is how people get aneurysms.

Erud - Agree 100%, its going to be the dominant topic until the season starts, unfortunately.

[DelaneyRudd]

I am all for a value based trade.

[The Sheik]

Welcome to the board and the bandwagon.

This summer it is "Boozer is a liability and/or destined to bolt in free agency, we should trade him now!!!"

Last summer it was "AK is stealing money except for when he is planning vacations and crying in front of reporters, trade him for salary cap relief"

And the year before it was "Boozer is stealing money from us, and hasn't produced jack ****, deal him for salary cap relief, Memo is a better player anyway"

And the year before it was "THIS **** TEAM IS A DISGRACE! FIRE SLOAN, FIRE O'CONNOR, BLOW IT UP, GET RID OF EVERYONE BUT AK47, AND LET'S REBUILD AROUND HIM AND CHRIS PAUL........DERON EFFING WILLIAMS!!! WHAT THE **** ARE YOU THINKING YOU IDIOTS!!!"

And the year before THAT it was "Wow, Jerry Sloan can get 40 wins out of that squad, just imagine what he could do with 24 million in salary cap space and 3 first round picks!! Not to mention the improved play of Arroyo and Lopez and DeShawn!!!"


etc etc etc


As you can see, its hard to justify blowing with the breeze the way most people do. As hard as it is to swallow Boozer's postseason struggles (and the way his defense got WORSE when he wasn't hitting his shots :S ), one might remember that this time last year we were talking about how the only two people that we could count on to step up in big time situations were Deron (so far, the only player who hasn't been turned on by at least a portion of this board) and--surprise!--Carlos Boozer. These are simply the highs and lows of being a fan, despite what the mad ravings of some of the more...extreme posters would have you believe. Nothing more.

How are you gonna make summaries like this and not include Keith Mcleod?

[erudite23]

Welcome to the board and the bandwagon.

This summer it is "Boozer is a liability and/or destined to bolt in free agency, we should trade him now!!!"

Last summer it was "AK is stealing money except for when he is planning vacations and crying in front of reporters, trade him for salary cap relief"

And the year before it was "Boozer is stealing money from us, and hasn't produced jack ****, deal him for salary cap relief, Memo is a better player anyway"

And the year before it was "THIS **** TEAM IS A DISGRACE! FIRE SLOAN, FIRE O'CONNOR, BLOW IT UP, GET RID OF EVERYONE BUT AK47, AND LET'S REBUILD AROUND HIM AND CHRIS PAUL........DERON EFFING WILLIAMS!!! WHAT THE **** ARE YOU THINKING YOU IDIOTS!!!"

And the year before THAT it was "Wow, Jerry Sloan can get 40 wins out of that squad, just imagine what he could do with 24 million in salary cap space and 3 first round picks!! Not to mention the improved play of Arroyo and Lopez and DeShawn!!!"


etc etc etc


As you can see, its hard to justify blowing with the breeze the way most people do. As hard as it is to swallow Boozer's postseason struggles (and the way his defense got WORSE when he wasn't hitting his shots :S ), one might remember that this time last year we were talking about how the only two people that we could count on to step up in big time situations were Deron (so far, the only player who hasn't been turned on by at least a portion of this board) and--surprise!--Carlos Boozer. These are simply the highs and lows of being a fan, despite what the mad ravings of some of the more...extreme posters would have you believe. Nothing more.

How are you gonna make summaries like this and not include Keith Mcleod?

Touche, my good man.

Every Jazz fan will always look back on his stay with the team and wistfully ask "What if?"

[The Sheik]

We can all thank him as the man personally responsible for getting us Deron Williams. If it wasnt for his 6-0 debut and strong play which lead to the trading of the disgruntled Carlos Arroyo, which got us an extra 1st rd pick, combined with his horrendous play that season which got us in a position to draft Deron. If it wasnt for Keith McLeod our team would still be in the late lottery.

I hereby declare June 23 as Keith McLeod day on Real GM.

Remember him Jazz fans...and remember all the other fallen Jazz soldiers:

Quincy "Oh yeah the Jazz did draft him" Lewis
Milt "Cap'n Crunch" Palacio
Andre "Bronco Billy" Owens
Robert "Killer Whale"-y
Roger "the Rev" Powell
Kevin "Whats fatter then fat" Lyde
Raul "***! we could have drafted Tony Parker" Lopez
John "Wasnt Surprised" Amachei
Ben Handlotion
Gordon "Euro Shuffle" Giricek
Keon "ate at the pie a lot...no seriously the dude liked pizza" Clark
Olden "the sheriff" Polyinice
Chris "his kids a bitch and I stuffed him in middle school" Morris
Greg "inspiration to Raef Lafrentz" Foster
Adam "trash man" Keefe
Antawn "is broke and works as a carpenter" Carr

[JStockLivesOn]

Unlike all of them, Boozer's defensive woes can't be accounted for physically. He has a good reach, a strong body, and is by no means slow for a PF. It just so happens that's he's alternately a complete dumbass the second he crosses mid-court and daydreaming about getting a blowjob on a beach somewhere. He doesn't play smart and he doesn't play with any effort, and in basketball terms (we all know he's a good guy in the 'Real World'), that's outrageous, bordering on despicable.

Wow . Easy big guy, that is how people get aneurysms.

Erud - Agree 100%, its going to be the dominant topic until the season starts, unfortunately.

Aww, come on, brother. Don't tell me it's not at least a little true. Plus, I'm not plotting his death (or even his trade!). It's just the truth with a nice topping of hypberbole (that I even qualified by noting that he seems like a nice guy). Surely this board isn't going soft on me...

[GP]

Unlike all of them, Boozer's defensive woes can't be accounted for physically. He has a good reach, a strong body, and is by no means slow for a PF. It just so happens that's he's alternately a complete dumbass the second he crosses mid-court and daydreaming about getting a blowjob on a beach somewhere. He doesn't play smart and he doesn't play with any effort, and in basketball terms (we all know he's a good guy in the 'Real World'), that's outrageous, bordering on despicable.

Wow . Easy big guy, that is how people get aneurysms.

Erud - Agree 100%, its going to be the dominant topic until the season starts, unfortunately.

Aww, come on, brother. Don't tell me it's not at least a little true. Plus, I'm not plotting his death (or even his trade!). It's just the truth with a nice topping of hypberbole (that I even qualified by noting that he seems like a nice guy). Surely this board isn't going soft on me...

I said that because thats what my buddies say to me during a game, I say terribly things about harpring. Most of which I hope don't really happen.