Game 4: Blazers(1-2)@Utah Jazz(3-0) 11/5 7pm MST

[jazzfan1971]

I think Booze is playing good ball. But, I didn't think he'd get back in the game in the 4th. Millsap was doing a MUCH better job on Aldridge.

[OC Jazzfan]

I'm not normally in the habit of defending Booz, but +/- is an easily skewed stat. First off, Booz is playing against starters while AK and Milsap spend quite a bit of time playing against bench players. Second, +/- is heavily influenced by the teammates you have on the court while you play. The starters haven't been exactly stellar. For instance, Knight seems to be doing a better job of running the team than Price. If you look at tonight's game for instance, Booz's +/- was a pretty shoddy +3, but he was still the best of the starters if you look only at that stat. I definitely don't think he's expendable.

All in all a good win for the Jazz. Only four undefeated teams left! I think that the Jazz winning games without Deron is very impressive and should make us feel pretty confident about this season. I have no doubt they couldn't have pulled off this record last year without Deron.

[carrottop12]

Boozer has been great this year. If the Jazz didn't have Boozer and the defense was focusing all their attention and energy on Millsap he would be a lot less effective then he is now.

His defense still isn't good but he rebounds well, draws fouls and can score on anyone. I guarantee nobody looks forward to playing Carlos Boozer.

This was a very good win for the Jazz. To come back against a good team with out Deron is a big sign. The bench is fantastic and I think this team has everything it needs to win a championship.

[FJS]

Brevin Knight is the difference... when Deron come back Price will have very difficulties to see min of action (or he'll only play garbage minutes)
Price isn't horrible, but Brevin is a pure PG.
Boozer deffense continue to be weak... but man, his offense is money.

Good win without the strongest opponent this season we have played agaisnt.

[kerplunk]

I love this team!

[Ming Kong!]

I'm not normally in the habit of defending Booz, but +/- is an easily skewed stat. First off, Booz is playing against starters while AK and Milsap spend quite a bit of time playing against bench players. Second, +/- is heavily influenced by the teammates you have on the court while you play. The starters haven't been exactly stellar. For instance, Knight seems to be doing a better job of running the team than Price. If you look at tonight's game for instance, Booz's +/- was a pretty shoddy +3, but he was still the best of the starters if you look only at that stat. I definitely don't think he's expendable.

All in all a good win for the Jazz. Only four undefeated teams left! I think that the Jazz winning games without Deron is very impressive and should make us feel pretty confident about this season. I have no doubt they couldn't have pulled off this record last year without Deron.

Correct, even with Williams we weren't off to a terrific start.

Oct 30, 2007 @ Golden State W 117-96
Nov 1, 2007 vs Houston L 95-106
Nov 3, 2007 vs Golden State W 133-110
Nov 4, 2007 @ LA Lakers L 109-119

Loosing in Utah when Yao's in foul trouble, and allowing McGrady to go for 47 is unacceptable.
LA had Bynum coming off the bench, and Gasol wasn't there yet, but still that was a respectable loss.

[majortripps69]

My god the hate for Boozer.. It cracks me up that Duiz keeps talking about +/- when he has clearly been the most consistent player out there all four games and Outerspacefella disappears with his Boozer hate after Booz nails that incredible layup and subsequent free throws. I didn't see any more F***k you Boozer posts.. I wonder why?

[Ming Kong!]

My god the hate for Boozer.. It cracks me up that Duiz keeps talking about +/- when he has clearly been the most consistent player out there all four games and Outerspacefella disappears with his Boozer hate after Booz nails that incredible layup and subsequent free throws. I didn't see any more F***k you Boozer posts.. I wonder why?

He wasn't been the most consistent, I'd say that belongs to Boozer, but in his limited minutes he's beena MONSTER!

He's 3rd in efficiency per 48 minutes amongst the top 40 efficiency leaders. Not adjusted he's still 8th.

[troy]

The last two posters just don't realise that there is two ends on a basketball court.
You mentioned Boozer's layup but forget to say that 15 seconds before he just let Roy scored a layup out of a timeout !! He was right next to him but he let him make a layup in the money time of a game !! He should have AT THE VERY LEAST sent his ass on the free throw line !!! The fact is a half way decent defender would have at least offer some kind of help defense in this situation.
HE IS NOT CAPABLE OF ROTATION CORRECTLY IN THE LAST MINUTE OF A GAME. PATHETIC.

Those posters also fail to notice that we grab our lead in the first six minutes of the 4th quarter when Portland had as many turnovers as points scored (4pts , 4turnovers! !!) .
You guessed it? Boozer was on the bench !

The fact is we played incredible defense when he was on the bench in that fourth quarter (and that allowed us to get easy baskets for instance the Brewer dunk and the AK dunk)
Another fact : Alridge and Roy , the top scorers from Portland last night (18pts each) score only 4 of their 36 points when Boozer was not on the court.

It's just crystal clear but y'all only see Boozer's statistics and his fields goals. But i have a question for you :
When is the last time you saw our offense breaks down when Boozer was on the bench ? When is the last time you said to yourself , "oh you gotta put Boozer back in , we can't buy a basket right now" ?
Fact is our offense is clearly not dependent of Carlos Boozer so far this year. And we do not even have our best offensive player , Deron Williams !!
Boozer and his pathetic defense will be even more expandable when Deron will be back.
Great offensive player , but we don't need that. What we need is the kind of defense Millsap is bringing at the moment (he is our mvp in the last two games , his defense has been amazing)

[outerspacefella]

Couldn't say it better Troy. I'd change Boozer's stats for good team D effort any day.
You can safely bet that, Boozer gone, some other player or players will score his points and grab his rebounds.