Spurs @ Jazz - Monday December 7th, 2009

[StocktonShorts]

I agree it's not bad, but right now I'd rather put that $6M toward Boozer's contract next year.

(My offseason-self just emailed me from the past and can't believe my present self just said that)

[Soul Patch]

I'm still not sold on re-signing Boozer. His recent play and his play in 2007, especially against the Rockets, really does wow me but I think I've been frustrated with him more often than not. There are a lot of possibilities concerning our 4 spot. We could try to land a free agent with all of our expirings coming off the books, draft a PF and let Millsap start until our draft pick is ready to, or re-sign Boozer. Pretty much anyway we go we'll have an above average player to go along with Dwill.

[GP]

Boler is a idiot and it was nice to hear some actual insight. Hope Harpring joins them full time.

+1

Also: I primarily watched the second half of last night's game, so maybe I missed a bunch of terrible defense in the first half, but Memo played great defense on Duncan in the second half. Now when I say "great" I mean "great considering that it's Tim Duncan vs. Memo" we're talking about. I wasn't expecting to see Ben Wallace in his prime shutting down one of the best big men in NBA history.

As for everyone claiming Memo is slower... he looks the same to me, by which I mean he's slow as cold tar; I just don't see him being a different player than he was last year or the year before that.

Is Memo just the new scapegoat now that Boozer has exonerated himself?

Considered independently from the other Jazz contract and considering what starting centers in the NBA make (even **** ones), Memo's contract is almost a bargain -- and it's the right length. To be honest, the Millsap contract is looking like a much bigger mistake than the Memo one.

I think its a matter of comparison, we all knew before the season started that neither boozer or Memo played great defense. I don't think Memo looks slower (he's always been slow) and is playing the same defensively (not great). Its just that Boozer look fairly committed on the defensive end and suddenly it makes Memo look worse. Add to the fact that boozer has been a monster offensively and pretty clutch.

[Paper Face]

I wouldn't call Boozer clutch just yet. He's had a great month, but I wouldn't label his late game play as heroic.

So what happens a year from now when Boozer is taking his bi-annual 50 games off? Who are we going to point the finger at for paying Boozer $17 per to stay? KOC?

This year doesn't count. Why? Because it's a contract year. The contract year is about the only thing Boozer is "clutch" at. It will literally mean YEARS of regret if the Jazz re-sign this guy. If the Jazz aren't smart, it could also mean the departure of Williams. Re-signing Boozer is not worth the risk. Stop allowing yourselves to be seduced.

[Soul Patch]

How do you explain his play in 2007? It wasn't a contract year then. If we do re-sign him it'll be a solid contract and we can expect great play from him just not at the same consistency we're getting now.

[DelaneyRudd]

Last year was a contract year too. We saw how well that went.

[Paper Face]

Yeah, it was too bad last year. For a number of reasons. But he always had this year in the bag with the option. So last year was not in fact the contract year people make it out to be.

2007 was great. And this month has been great. One could even make an argument for much of 2006. Assuming he finishes out the year strong, he will still have set a bleak pattern of health for any team signing him long term. Are you really willing to bet that 2004, 2005 and 2008 were the flukes and that 2007 and 2010 are the norm?

The dude is injury prone. Period. Add his donkey-doo PR sense and an overblown sense of self-worth to the equation, and you have a bummer of a contract just waiting to sink this franchise.

I'm glad he's playing well. Hopefully it will allow the Jazz to trade him ASAP.