Utah @ LA Lakers - 10/17

[seejaydeja]

I'm stoked that Jefferon isn't going to pull a Boozer and settle for fade away 18 footers because he's afraid of Gasol.

That lone makes him better than Boozer in my book.

This. That play on the NBA.com highlight reel where he pump faked then took Gasol straight to the basket was a dream to watch. I can't recall Boozer ever doing that.

[BarneyGumble]

What happened to the Sap-man in this game? 7 TOs? Sorry if it's been discussed before, I have not sifted through this thread....

[HolyToledo]

Sap is simply too short to be effective versus the Lakers height so he gets offensive fouls and bad passes. He played hard but looked short and played small versus the Lakers. He'll be ok but needs to adjust his game versus tall teams maybe going for the 15 footer more often and drives to the hoop instead of posting up as much.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

Millsap was horrid. Jefferson made Gasol look like a fool. CJ looked awesome. Hayward showed his potential. Price looked really good (except that last foul on Gasol). AK was all over the place (good thing). Thompson was pretty bad. Watson looked solid. Bell was Bell. Fes looked good for who he played against, he improved as the game went on.

I just loved watching Jefferson destroy Gasol. As long as we can keep Kobe in control (not give up 19 in a quarter) we should be able to compete against these guys.

[schneiderjazz]

Sap is simply too short to be effective versus the Lakers height so he gets offensive fouls and bad passes. He played hard but looked short and played small versus the Lakers. He'll be ok but needs to adjust his game versus tall teams maybe going for the 15 footer more often and drives to the hoop instead of posting up as much.

Sap was pretty solid against the Lakers last year. I guess it was just a bad night for him. The fact that he did so poorly and Deron was out and we still beat them, even if Kobe palyed only 20 minutes gives me a lot of hope though.

[eyeontheprize]

I love the Lakers announcers. They're the least biased in the league probably. I always think to myself how much I'd want to punch Boler in the face if I were a fan of another team watching on League Pass.

"MEMO!!!!! MONEY!!!!! OKUR!!!! THREE!!!!!!!!! It's 10-8 Jazz in the first quarter!!!!"

Getting excited about your team is one thing. Being a complete homer, whining about the refs, and not giving credit to the other team is another. Oh yeah, and the Lakers guys maybe pretty solid, but they are also a little boring.

[The59Sound]

I love the Lakers announcers. They're the least biased in the league probably. I always think to myself how much I'd want to punch Boler in the face if I were a fan of another team watching on League Pass.

"MEMO!!!!! MONEY!!!!! OKUR!!!! THREE!!!!!!!!! It's 10-8 Jazz in the first quarter!!!!"

Getting excited about your team is one thing. Being a complete homer, whining about the refs, and not giving credit to the other team is another. Oh yeah, and the Lakers guys maybe pretty solid, but they are also a little boring.

RB always whined about the refs, as I recall. And I'll take boring over homer any day.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

It's just good to see them beat the Lakers in LA regardless of how much Kobe played. The team has won two games against two good teams without D-Will, that's the most impressive thing thus far.

[gojazzmjsucks]

Good to see Hayward finally getting that ball to drop. I loved watching Big Al score all day down low. Him and Gasol will have some great wars down low. Looks like we can play with the Lakers still! I really like this roster.Bell will only get better as he gets himself back, hayward has me thinking #14 again and Big Al is going to be a big problem in the West!

[gojazzmjsucks]

Milsap came out of my dog house after the Denver series but he is right back in it. I did not like what i have seen from him. Like everyone has said above AK, Hayward and CJ was a great motion lineup

[Paper Face]

It should be noted that Odom and Gasol were showing particular interest in Millsap over the course of the game last night. i.e., they were physical with him. He wasn't just dropping the ball off his foot out there. When the real games start, LA won't be able to focus on Sap so much. The Jazz have more weapons this year, and Gasol, for example, will have his hands full on both ends. Unlike the last three years.

That said, I do not like the Millsap/Odom matchup very much. The Jazz would be better off starting AK at the 4 against LA.

The starting five will be very strong, and for all the improvements LA made this summer, the Jazz bench could still be better.

[erudite23]

Sap is simply too short to be effective versus the Lakers height so he gets offensive fouls and bad passes. He played hard but looked short and played small versus the Lakers. He'll be ok but needs to adjust his game versus tall teams maybe going for the 15 footer more often and drives to the hoop instead of posting up as much.

Millsap's numbers in the playoffs last year versus the Lakers:

19.0/7.3/2.8/.75blk/1.25stl/1.25TOs in 33mpg on 53% FGs and 82% FTs

I think he does fine against them, thanks. Don't make more out of a bad game than it is.

[HolyToledo]

Sap is simply too short to be effective versus the Lakers height so he gets offensive fouls and bad passes. He played hard but looked short and played small versus the Lakers. He'll be ok but needs to adjust his game versus tall teams maybe going for the 15 footer more often and drives to the hoop instead of posting up as much.

Millsap's numbers in the playoffs last year versus the Lakers:

19.0/7.3/2.8/.75blk/1.25stl/1.25TOs in 33mpg on 53% FGs and 82% FTs

I think he does fine against them, thanks. Don't make more out of a bad game than it is.

Numbers dont show everything! It was clear last year that Boozer and Millsap could not effectively get their normal shots off during the playing offs. It was clear last night that Millsap would have the ball in good position and simply could not get hsi shot off because of height. You cant dispute that the Lakers height makes Millsap less effective as a player.

[babyjax13]

Sap is simply too short to be effective versus the Lakers height so he gets offensive fouls and bad passes. He played hard but looked short and played small versus the Lakers. He'll be ok but needs to adjust his game versus tall teams maybe going for the 15 footer more often and drives to the hoop instead of posting up as much.

Millsap's numbers in the playoffs last year versus the Lakers:

19.0/7.3/2.8/.75blk/1.25stl/1.25TOs in 33mpg on 53% FGs and 82% FTs

I think he does fine against them, thanks. Don't make more out of a bad game than it is.

Numbers dont show everything! It was clear last year that Boozer and Millsap could not effectively get their normal shots off during the playing offs. It was clear last night that Millsap would have the ball in good position and simply could not get hsi shot off because of height. You cant dispute that the Lakers height makes Millsap less effective as a player.

Millsap was fantastic last year against LA, he had no problems getting his shots off and he wasn't bothered by the Lakers length. In fact, he was at his best when guarded by Gasol.

[HammerDunk]

Sap is simply too short to be effective versus the Lakers height so he gets offensive fouls and bad passes. He played hard but looked short and played small versus the Lakers. He'll be ok but needs to adjust his game versus tall teams maybe going for the 15 footer more often and drives to the hoop instead of posting up as much.

Millsap's numbers in the playoffs last year versus the Lakers:

19.0/7.3/2.8/.75blk/1.25stl/1.25TOs in 33mpg on 53% FGs and 82% FTs

I think he does fine against them, thanks. Don't make more out of a bad game than it is.

Numbers dont show everything! It was clear last year that Boozer and Millsap could not effectively get their normal shots off during the playing offs. It was clear last night that Millsap would have the ball in good position and simply could not get hsi shot off because of height. You cant dispute that the Lakers height makes Millsap less effective as a player.

[dr0welf]

Jazz will go with 14 players and see if a quality big is cut if Elson is still hurting when season starts.
Evans & Price stay for sure and maybe Jeffers! The other 3 are gone. Great play by Hayward, Price, Miles and Big All tonite!

Hey don't forget AK 13pts 6rbs 2asts 4stls and he got a few blocks on foul calls to prevent and 1 opportunities.

I never have understood why they don't count those as blocks...

[outerspacefella]

Sap is simply too short to be effective versus the Lakers height so he gets offensive fouls and bad passes. He played hard but looked short and played small versus the Lakers. He'll be ok but needs to adjust his game versus tall teams maybe going for the 15 footer more often and drives to the hoop instead of posting up as much.

Millsap's numbers in the playoffs last year versus the Lakers:

19.0/7.3/2.8/.75blk/1.25stl/1.25TOs in 33mpg on 53% FGs and 82% FTs

I think he does fine against them, thanks. Don't make more out of a bad game than it is.

Last season the Lakers gave Millsap some room to operate by design. That was pretty evident during the series. They focus was on deny any kind of Boozer's game, the mid range jumpshots and easy penetrations. That focus allowed Millsap, who use make his points doing the garbage work with almost no plays called for him, some extra room to operate.

Jefferson/Fesenko will not ease the way for Millsap because them, quite contrary to Boozer, actually like to go inside bringing their defenders along with them. That makes Paul's dirty job a little bit more difficult to do... and that's why Millsap always played better along with Okur.

Of course just MHIO based in what my eyes told me last year...

[erudite23]

Sap is simply too short to be effective versus the Lakers height so he gets offensive fouls and bad passes. He played hard but looked short and played small versus the Lakers. He'll be ok but needs to adjust his game versus tall teams maybe going for the 15 footer more often and drives to the hoop instead of posting up as much.

Millsap's numbers in the playoffs last year versus the Lakers:

19.0/7.3/2.8/.75blk/1.25stl/1.25TOs in 33mpg on 53% FGs and 82% FTs

I think he does fine against them, thanks. Don't make more out of a bad game than it is.

Last season the Lakers gave Millsap some room to operate by design. That was pretty evident during the series. They focus was on deny any kind of Boozer's game, the mid range jumpshots and easy penetrations. That focus allowed Millsap, who use make his points doing the garbage work with almost no plays called for him, some extra room to operate.

Jefferson/Fesenko will not ease the way for Millsap because them, quite contrary to Boozer, actually like to go inside bringing their defenders along with them. That makes Paul's dirty job a little bit more difficult to do... and that's why Millsap always played better along with Okur.

Of course just MHIO based in what my eyes told me last year...

Well, I guess we can disagree, because Paul made his shots at the rim. Sure, he took his normal 15-18 foot shot at times, but Paul seemed to have the knack for getting shots off against Pau and Bynum that Boozer didn't have. I think the reason for this is that Paul is 2 inches shorter than Booz, and has shorter arms, and has figured out how to get his shots off versus longer opponents because he's almost always outstripped in that regard. He has a very unorthodox repertoire of shots when he goes to the hole. However, Boozer is right on that edge of being undersized for a PF to where he doesn't have to worry about it against 85-90% of opponents, but the very longest post defenders in the league do give him problems. That's my theory, anyways. Whatever the case may be, Paul started and played against Gasol and Bynum and his %s didn't dive the way that Boozer's did. That's evidence aplenty for me.

[Purch]

Averaged 19\11 on 51% in 32 minutes in 2 games last year.
Averaged 27\13 on 41% in 41 minutes in 2 games the year before that. Doesn't seem to struggle at all.

And he was facing much more double teams against L.A Back then. And seeing now he actually has players who can pass throwing him the ball he can easily shoot 50+% against them.

Jefferson's never had a problem scoring against Height just look at his 30+ games against Yao.

[HolyToledo]

Jefferson is an unique player with hook shots and different post moves to combat height issues. Adrian Dantley in the day would always be able to score on taller players because of all his tricks. Millsap is a hustle player with a decent scoring ability. Height eliminates alot of the hustle plays used by Millsap who is still developing his offensive game. With consistent starting minutes, his scoring ability will improve because he cares about being a better player and is willing to put in the work.