Game 2: Utah Jazz 0 vs San Antonio Spurs 1

[FJS]

0 VS 1


MATCH UPS
CENTER
vs

POWER FOWARD
vs

SMALL FOWARD
vs


SHOOTING GUARD
vs

POINT GUARD
vs

[HolyToledo]

It is hard for the Utah Jazz to overcome the Spurs as well as an idiotic coach in Corbin. Sometimes I wonder if Corbin simply dislikes Favors bc he refuses to play his best player any significant minutes. I guarantee the Spurs and Popovich love the fact that Favors doesnt play 35 plus minutes. Unfortunately, Favors and us are stuck with this idiot for many years to come.

[Ming Kong!]

Hard to say if Favors is our best player, he, like most our players, is pretty inconsistent. He looks polished one day, raw another. I don't have a big problem with his minutes anymore, but Kanter has been pretty screwed for a 3rd pick this season. I mean most of us saw it coming, but still. I really just hate the lack of adjustments and other traits which definitely carried over from Sloan. Sloan's major faults were that he was very conservative with his lineups, minute management (including when he inserted players throughout the game), and much too often failed to make timely timeouts during runs. Corbin has these negatives, and unfortunately I don't think he can have the locker room impact, voice in the huddle, nor improve his team through practices the way Sloan did. Those were Sloan's strengths, creating overachievers.

[FJS]

[HolyToledo]

When I say Favors is our best player ...Im counting defense. He is one of the best defenders in the league already and he will be the best defender in the league in a year or two. Offensively he is awkward but scores and finishes well. He is making a free throws for the most part. If you ask the Spurs, pick the one Utah Jazz player you want on your team to help you win it all THIS season. They pick Favors #1, Hayward #2, Millsap #3, and probably dont want anyone else from the Jazz roster. Jefferson's only strength is rebounding and scoring against undersized bigs. Thats it. Spurs dont have undersized bigs as such Jefferson should play limited minutes or at least have Favors in the game to cover for his defenseless ass.

[BarneyGumble]

Regardless of if he's our best player...the fact JOSH HOWARD is starting tells you all you need to know about Corbin's dumb ass.

[QuantumMacgyver]

You guys do realize that we are in the playoffs right? Supposed to be the worst team in the west and here we are in the playoffs. PLAYOFFS?! WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PLAYOFFS?!

[jazzgasm]

Go jazz get #1 baby

[co_laper]

Here's what I thought was disappointing from a Jazz point of view.

Lots of people are comparing Utah with Memphis because of their size. While that is true, but Memphis was a much more confidence team. For one, Memphis purposely tanked to get us in the first round because they believe they match up better. And then the star players were all incredibly confident that they can beat us.

It's a lot different than what I'm seeing right now from Utah about how Al Jefferson is playing like he's in awe of Duncan and basically giving him too much respect. And the team as a whole and even the fan base just felt like they're happy to be in the playoffs as opposed to really believing they could win the series.

That IMO was the biggest contrast I'm seeing between Utah and Memphis.

[Aroh]

Here's what I thought was disappointing from a Jazz point of view.

Lots of people are comparing Utah with Memphis because of their size. While that is true, but Memphis was a much more confidence team. For one, Memphis purposely tanked to get us in the first round because they believe they match up better. And then the star players were all incredibly confident that they can beat us.

It's a lot different than what I'm seeing right now from Utah about how Al Jefferson is playing like he's in awe of Duncan and basically giving him too much respect. And the team as a whole and even the fan case just felt like they're happy to be in the playoffs as opposed to really believing they could win the series.

That IMO was the biggest contract I'm seeing between Utah and Memphis.

I could not agree more. It is really frustrating watching Jefferson play in this series because I honestly get the feeling he is perfectly fine with just making the playoffs and getting swept in the playoffs. It does not help that he is in love with his idol in Duncan. The rest of the team isn't that bad but I still get the feeling from most of them are just happy to be here. It really reminds me of the Boozer/Dwill team(s) that were afraid of the Lakers. I really want to see Jefferson come out with some freaking fire and intensity and play and act like he is a better player than Duncan because offensively he can be definitely in this series. Anyways I could rant about my frustration with Big Al forever.

[co_laper]

I'm really interested what changes Utah will do for game 2. The one thing I'm hearing is how they planned on being rough with Parker with hopes that it stops Parker from getting to the lane. That's absurd. Our big 3 has seen just about every defense. Our big 3 has been beaten, pushed, fouled, and thrown to the floor by the very best in the league for the last decade and survived to win 4 championships. The best defensive team we ever faced was the Pistons and I hardly believe Al Jefferson/Millsap will be rougher than the team's we've faced over the years. It would be different if it was our younger guys who got to the paint and then you'll give hard fouls. You knock down Gary Neal a bunch of times and maybe he'll stop getting to the paint. But that's not gonna work to Parker/Manu/Duncan. And really, if that rough fouls is the biggest thing Devin Harris or Al Jefferson is hoping to do to keep Parker out of the paint, this is gonna be a really quick series.

I've been saying this in our board, but our defense isn't elite. I don't expect our defense to completely shut down Utah. I do expect us to keep Al and Millsap to their usual averages instead of blowing out for 30 ppg for the series. Our defense is average. It is our offense that is elite and unless Utah or any other team finds a way to stop it, then our offense will likely win the ball game. And make no mistake, the Spurs offense revolves around being able to get to the paint. As a Spurs fan, there were games where Pop sit out both Manu and Parker. We're left with shooters everywhere with no penetration from anyone. Our offense is in shambles when we get no penetration. So the key to stopping Spurs offense is to stop the penetration. But that's easier said than done. Spurs space the floor incredibly well and even if you shut off Parker's driving lane, that usually leaves open lanes for the bigs or open 3 pointers.

[Lava Rock Kid]

Everytime Parker enters the lane he better be on his backside. Spurs need an injury.

[QuantumMacgyver]

I'm really interested what changes Utah will do for game 2. The one thing I'm hearing is how they planned on being rough with Parker with hopes that it stops Parker from getting to the lane. That's absurd. Our big 3 has seen just about every defense. Our big 3 has been beaten, pushed, fouled, and thrown to the floor by the very best in the league for the last decade and survived to win 4 championships. The best defensive team we ever faced was the Pistons and I hardly believe Al Jefferson/Millsap will be rougher than the team's we've faced over the years. It would be different if it was our younger guys who got to the paint and then you'll give hard fouls. You knock down Gary Neal a bunch of times and maybe he'll stop getting to the paint. But that's not gonna work to Parker/Manu/Duncan. And really, if that rough fouls is the biggest thing Devin Harris or Al Jefferson is hoping to do to keep Parker out of the paint, this is gonna be a really quick series.

I've been saying this in our board, but our defense isn't elite. I don't expect our defense to completely shut down Utah. I do expect us to keep Al and Millsap to their usual averages instead of blowing out for 30 ppg for the series. Our defense is average. It is our offense that is elite and unless Utah or any other team finds a way to stop it, then our offense will likely win the ball game. And make no mistake, the Spurs offense revolves around being able to get to the paint. As a Spurs fan, there were games where Pop sit out both Manu and Parker. We're left with shooters everywhere with no penetration from anyone. Our offense is in shambles when we get no penetration. So the key to stopping Spurs offense is to stop the penetration. But that's easier said than done. Spurs space the floor incredibly well and even if you shut off Parker's driving lane, that usually leaves open lanes for the bigs or open 3 pointers.

People are misinterpreting what the Jazz mean when they say they need to get more "physical" with the Spurs, especially Parker. They don't mean beat Tony up and throw him to the floor. Rather, they mean always keeping a body on him, hard screens, hard cuts, forcing players out of position. That sort of thing. So, it isn't about being rough, it's about keeping bodies on guys.

[HolyToledo]

You guys do realize that we are in the playoffs right? Supposed to be the worst team in the west and here we are in the playoffs. PLAYOFFS?! WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PLAYOFFS?!

I understand what you are saying, and none of us expect the Jazz to win this series. The only thing we want is for the Jazz to put out there the best possible lineup and see how we do. Thats all. Corbin is not doing that!

[FJS]

Jazz ready to give Parker 'a hard foul or two'

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/jazz-ready ... T028y8vLYF

[Reckless]

Parker's going to get his, I think it's about limiting the other guys. Jefferson needs to stop being in awe of Duncan and start getting physical don't let him just drive to the hoop for easy scores. Either that or put Favors on Duncan who can deny him at the hoop. Limit the guys off the bench particularly Matt Bonner the guy is notorious for killing us with the 3 ball. Gotta chase him off the 3 line. Harris make Parker work on the defense end, last game you stunk it up.

[SoCalJazzFan]

Pick and roll defense is Big Al's achilles heel. Other than a block or two per game, I really haven't seen much defense of any sort from Al in the games I have watched this year.

While Al is a great offensive talent (although he didn't show it in game 1), he is a pretty big liablity on defense. I don't understand Utah's defensive rotations, but it seems that more often than not when a 3 pt shot is taken/made by the opposing team it is because a wing player or guard is in the paint trying to cover for our bigs (Al) and are out of position. If you have a better basketball mind than I do (which is very possible) feel free to point out how I am wrong in this regard.

The wings had pretty bad/horrible game 1 offensively, and if they make those open shots in game 2, it could make things interesting. If you combine that with good interior/PR defense (easier said than done), there is a much better chance of a victory.

[phrizzo]

Parker's going to get his, I think it's about limiting the other guys. Jefferson needs to stop being in awe of Duncan and start getting physical don't let him just drive to the hoop for easy scores. Either that or put Favors on Duncan who can deny him at the hoop. Limit the guys off the bench particularly Matt Bonner the guy is notorious for killing us with the 3 ball. Gotta chase him off the 3 line. Harris make Parker work on the defense end, last game you stunk it up.

i actually thought harris played great on parker. our rotations on defense have killed us all year on pick and rolls and dribble penetration. there were so many occasions where there was just nobody protecting the rim. part of that is because of how they space the floor. i don't think it's a terrible idea to switch favors on to duncan. if al jefferson has trouble guarding matt bonner then i really have no idea what can be done.

[Millsap24]

I'm glad this game's gonna be on earlier.

[Lava Rock Kid]

This is playoff basket ball, if a guard keeps getting to the paint you knock him down hard. The jazz have got to lose the pansy in them. I guarantee if one of our guards start getting into the paint and eating the spurs alive, the spurs will take a flagrant foul against us.