Wes Matthews: real deal?

[TexFTW]

Jazz: Rookie Matthews fills highlight reel

Wesley Matthews turned in the best performance of an already-storybook rookie season on Monday night at EnergySolutions Arena.

Perhaps a movie-maker at the Sundance Film Festival should take note. This is starting to be pure Hollywood.

Matthews, an undrafted free agent out of Marquette, scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Jazz to a 124-115 comeback victory over Phoenix.

In doing so, Matthews' star was the brightest despite the fact household names like Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer were on the court at the same time.

During a 61/2-minute stretch, when Utah turned a three-point deficit into a 115-109 lead, Matthews scored 10 points, grabbed three rebounds, handed out two assists and came up with two steals.

With the Jazz trying to rally from a 96-79 deficit, coach Jerry Sloan's most logical choice at shooting guard seemed to be veterans Ronnie Brewer, C.J. Miles or Kyle Korver.

Matthews didn't allow it.

"He's a guy that's not afraid," Sloan said. "... That's a huge asset when you play this game, if you've got some toughness."

Said Carlos Boozer, "Wesley was dough, man. ... He can hit shots, attack the basket and play defense. He's a rarity. I'm really proud of him. And he's going to continue to blossom.

Matthews' three-pointer with 7:59 left tied the game, 100-100.

He hit another three-point shot with 4:51 remaining to give Utah a 111-106 lead.

"I was just playing ball -- the same game I've been playing since I was 4 years old," Matthews said. "The fact the coaching staff and the players have confidence in me ... I have to play with confidence. I hurt us if I don't."

Defensively, Matthews intercepted a pass by Nash with 5:36 left. The Jazz converted to take a 108-106 lead.

Less than two minutes later, Matthews knocked the ball away from Goran Dragic. His two free throws gave Utah a 115-109 lead.

"He was in the passing lanes," Sloan said. "He was active. He wasn't just standing out there. Those were huge plays."

Said Matthews: "Just helping each other on defense. I just rotated and was active and was hungry and going after the ball and playing tough."

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_14267993

[jazzfan1971]

This is the question I came here to ask today. I'm wondering if this kid is the answer to the shooting guard spot that we've been searching for since Horny left.

It seems like every team out there wants swing men that play defense and can hit the 3. And he seems like that is written all over him.

Of course, Horny was a pretty good ball handler. We've yet to see Matthews showcase any skills there. And I don't think Matthews will be a guy you can give the ball to when you need a bucket. But, he might be just what this team needs. I'd love to see him get 35 minutes just so we could get a look at what he could do as a starter.

I'm pretty curious.

[seejaydeja]

I've never seen this much confidence in a Jazz rookie let alone AN UNDRAFTED rookie. This guy is quickly becoming my favorite jazz man. My jaw was literally on the floor during that 6 minute stretch when the guy DID EVERYTHING to get his team in a position to win.

The best was watching him go back to the bench for a timeout after he hit the 3 getting high fives from everyone but a suited up and disgruntled CJ Miles. Gotta love it

[edfmx86]

I've never seen this much confidence in a Jazz rookie let alone AN UNDRAFTED rookie. This guy is quickly becoming my favorite jazz man. My jaw was literally on the floor during that 6 minute stretch when the guy DID EVERYTHING to get his team in a position to win.

The best was watching him go back to the bench for a timeout after he hit the 3 getting high fives from everyone but a suited up and disgruntled CJ Miles. Gotta love it

glad i wasnt the only one who noticed that.

[rednecksbasketball]

Of course, Horny was a pretty good ball handler. We've yet to see Matthews showcase any skills there. And I don't think Matthews will be a guy you can give the ball to when you need a bucket.

One thing about Jerry Sloan is that he can turn shooting guards into good ball handlers. Ronnie Brewer was not a great ball handler when he got here and this year has turned into a very good ball handler. Same goes with DeShawn Stevenson. Sloan's offense seems to be predicated on the Jazz using duel point guards, or at least two very very good ball handlers. So his ball handling skills are not something I'd be too concerned with, I think the Jazz will have him work on those and in a year or so he'll be a very good ball handler.

[carrottop12]

I was asking last year who the players were on the team that were capable of giving you 20 points on random nights that allowed for the team to play an imperfect game and still come away with a victory. I thought in February of last year that Ronnie Brewer would be that guy but the fact is his jumpshot prevents him from being a consistent threat.

I was hoping CJ Miles would be that guy but his confidence doesn't allow him to do it thruogh out the rigors of an NBA season.

Now it's really starting to look like Wesley Matthews is that guy. With Deron, Boozer, and the combination of Okur/Kirilenko/Millsap/Brewer opposing defenses have enough assignments to keep them busy. But when you add in another guy who is capable of scoring 15-20 points consistently it really stretches how many mistakes a defense can make very thin. And when a defense starts to concede to opposing teams strengths, they lose games, and that's what's happening over the past few games that have given the Jazz so much success.

[JDubJazz]

Lets not go overboard with expectations. Matthews is a quality bench player. He will do good things most of the time, but will occasionally disappear for stretches. I don't see him as a starter for a championship team, but he's the kind of guy that comes in and gives 10-20 good minutes most nights.

[Pai Gow]

Well thank God he is not a starter than. Bringing him off the bench has worked well for him.

Deron
Brewer
Ak
Booz
Memo

Price
Matthews
Korver
Millsap

And if those lineups are clicking, God please let us stay healthy.

[StocktonShorts]

I've never seen this much confidence in a Jazz rookie let alone AN UNDRAFTED rookie. This guy is quickly becoming my favorite jazz man

I've said it before and I'll say it again: he reminds me a lot of Bryon Russell. Even though BRuss was a small forward, he was a late 2nd round pick who worked his way right into the starting lineup through hustling and playing tough defense. Eventually he added the 3-ball to his arsenal. In some ways Matthews is ahead of where Russell was.

[StocktonShorts]

Lets not go overboard with expectations. Matthews is a quality bench player. He will do good things most of the time, but will occasionally disappear for stretches. I don't see him as a starter for a championship team, but he's the kind of guy that comes in and gives 10-20 good minutes most nights.

Championship teams usually have a couple of starters that are really good role players. I think that's not an unreasonable expectation for Matthews.

[JDubJazz]

Lets not go overboard with expectations. Matthews is a quality bench player. He will do good things most of the time, but will occasionally disappear for stretches. I don't see him as a starter for a championship team, but he's the kind of guy that comes in and gives 10-20 good minutes most nights.

Championship teams usually have a couple of starters that are really good role players. I think that's not an unreasonable expectation for Matthews.

Yes, but most of those starting role players on championship teams have one thing they do that is great, and then a bunch of other holes in their game. Matthews is more of an all around "solid-but-not-spectacular" type of player. I can't name any one thing where Mathews is "great," but he does enough of everything to be a valuable player most nights.

[jazzfan1971]

What if his defense is 'great'?

[StocktonShorts]

I don't buy the whole "you have to do one thing great" Locke-ism.

[DelaneyRudd]

Real Deal as in a real NBA player? Yup.

But a lot of success comes out of anonymity. Ask Mr. Millsap.

[HammerDunk]

I knew from the first few games I saw this kid play that he would be a great role player for us. He is more consistent than CJ across the board. He is a player for sure.

[outerspacefella]

About ballhandling, may be Matthews' not Hornaceck... but even so Deron Wilillams did defer the basketball to him to set a couple plays with Boozer in cruch time... just saying... Matthews can handle pressure and his teammates seem to be aware of it....

[loserX]

Real Deal as in a real NBA player? Yup.

But a lot of success comes out of anonymity. Ask Mr. Millsap.

My thoughts precisely. The fact that he came "out of nowhere" adds to his mystique, so let's not go too overboard just yet. I live In Canada and hear about the Raptors a lot, and the Wes situation reminds me quite a bit of the way people saw Jamario Moon in his rookie season. Fingers crossed, though, would love to see Matthews blossom.

[HammerDunk]

Real Deal as in a real NBA player? Yup.

But a lot of success comes out of anonymity. Ask Mr. Millsap.

My thoughts precisely. The fact that he came "out of nowhere" adds to his mystique, so let's not go too overboard just yet. I live In Canada and hear about the Raptors a lot, and the Wes situation reminds me quite a bit of the way people saw Jamario Moon in his rookie season. Fingers crossed, though, would love to see Matthews blossom.

As long as he is coming off the bench, don't count on teams scouting him much. I hope we can hang onto him for a while.

[The Sheik]

Wes Matthews is Paul Millsap.

He is consistent and will occasionally blow up and even change a game. He is a plus on the defensive side and has some upside.

With that said I think he needs to be used in the same capacity that PM was used his first 3 years, which is an off the bench spark.

Wes Matthews makes Ronnie Brewer expandable and trade bait.

I doubt we get under the luxury tax, but if we can save 5 mil that is still a big plus and a late round pick at the very least could help us move up some spots in the draft if need be.

[HammerDunk]

I would prefer to think that he makes CJ expendable, not Ronnie.