J R Stewart on January 02, 2008 said:

Especially with Kyle in the lineup and C J coming along, it makes sense.
Jazzaholic

Linda McFarland on January 02, 2008 said:

I think it makes sense as far as using everyone on the team too. Everyone knew exactly what we were going to do depending who was in there. If they have to worry about the 3 then naturally it opens up the paint. We can keep the points in the paint to really keep Jerry happy but if the score indicates it we can throw out to one or two players and hit from outside. I’ll make a bet that “competition” will cause several of the Jazz to work on their 3 shot and suddenly become much more efficient. Nothing like new competition to make everyone work harder. I’ve read where some are worried about who will lose minutes but I look it as who can play better because they get better rest periods. It also means that he who works the hardest gets the most time on the floor. It seems to have worked well for some other teams who have aquired a good new player. Interesting game tonight.

james on January 07, 2008 said:

I like your theory,but unfortunately ,when were hot ,were hot .when were not, were not. too streaky..

Chad on January 07, 2008 said:

i agree with u to but if they have enough shooters out there at one like d-will cj korver memo u then most of the time there going to hit and u add booz out there for double teams to kick it back out to one of them and its a win win situation u no

Justin Jensen on January 07, 2008 said:

The problem isn’t the shooters. It’s Jerry Sloan! His shooters never feel comfortable because he doesn’t let them shoot. This is because young players like CJ Miles get carried away and loose focus on defense or forget to look for a wide open man under the basket when their shot is on. Other players like AK or Brewer start shooting and don’t ever really make anything on the perimeter. Their shots just become turnovers. Jerry has to find a way to coach that allows freedom to shoot and then after they get off track call a time out and bring them back. The Spurs had to start some where? I have loved Jerry’s conviction to play as a team over the years, now I almost wish he would retire so some one who can mix the right amount of disipline and freedom of movement could coach the Jazz to a championship. All in all give the players some freedom and then coach them! Don’t choke them untill practice, or in other words let them play. The fans and the players will love it and just maybe they will learn some thing!

StormnJ

fruitylili on January 07, 2008 said:

I think that the Jazz have enough 3-point shooters. [players] But then they need more confidents.
Like CJ Miles sometimes. About to shoot. But then passes the ball away. When they have a streak going.
DAng it’s hot. BUt then if they don’t. Ehh. Mostly if the other team is hot with 3’s we lose mostly. Yeah, if we are lucky.
Kyle Korver added to the team. Good! But still Mehmet needs to shoot more 3s Well if he has a good shooting night.
But the next games are at home. THat’s good. We can try to catch up in the Northwest division. ANd rise back up
from No. 9 to the playoffs seats. No. 1-8. But if they don’t win all. The Utah Jazz chance appearing in the playoffs are hard.
Good Luck Jazz!

Tyler on January 07, 2008 said:

Does this also mean Jazz fall in last place for defense as well?

jazzismylife on January 07, 2008 said:

Of course it makes sense , you are 100% correct, and that’s why we are never gonna get anywhere as long as sloan is coaching the jazz, he is old school (he belongs to the past, he was good back there), he doesn’t believe in 3 points , he doesn’t want to defend or shoot it…

james on January 07, 2008 said:

With memo and korver we should be doing better then we are, but if cj starts hitting threes when he’s on the floor we’ll be on are way.and if memo and korver get hot we will be unstoppable !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mesa on January 07, 2008 said:

jerry sloan is the problem. i also think the jazz should trade matt harpring or jarron collins (if anyone wants them). i mean them two combined score 9.8 ppg. yes harpring is a tough player but since the knee injury he hasnt showed anything. Give fesenko more time and he will be wayy better than jarron collins

fruitylili on January 07, 2008 said:

Jarron Collins should be traded.
Matt is still good even though with the knee.

ShaunP JAZZ!! on January 07, 2008 said:

Larry H. Miller needs to talk to Jerry Sloan about the number of threes taken. We have Kyle Korver, and Mehmet Okur, 2 of the best three point shooters in the league. Jerry Sloan needs to let them loose, not like the Golden State Warriors loose because at that point its just throwing them up, but get a managable amount of threes in there like San Antonio after all they are the NBA champions.

Louis on January 07, 2008 said:

Matt Harpring is still VERY Capable in His role , He Takes it to the Floor EVERY time he gets out there . As for Jarron , Lets see what this season brings , He may step up BIG in the later games , He is still Young. Boozer and D-Will are the Newer version of Stockton to Malone , Lets see where they Take the Team in the coming Months. I have HIGH Hopes for the Jazz making it to the Play-Offs.Fesenko hasent got the body strength at current time to stand against the NBA’S Big Men in the Paint. Collins is able to stand and give back , No I will agree he is NOT ALL THAT . He NEEDS to Bulk up aswell.

Louis on January 07, 2008 said:

As for Jerry being the problem , You are WAY OFF BASE there , He is still the BEST Fundementals coach in the League .

kcj on January 07, 2008 said:

Great article, it really nailed where the Jazz stand in today’s league. The 3-pointer: the Jazz are bad at shooting it, and they are bad at defending it. The Lakers game at the end of December and then Portland recently both killed the Jazz with 3’s. And in these two games the Jazz played decently at ‘their’ game. You have to play around the talent you have on the court, and as said, we have the 3-point shooters on the team. Why isn’t Sloan capitalizing on that talent?

Richard "Soundwave" Kardollinski on January 08, 2008 said:

Great article… over here in Australia it is not hard to spot the zone D used on our Jazz so the 3 needs to be increased… Sloan can deliver the plays… old skool or not! C’mon boys drop tha bomb!

SaySizzle on January 08, 2008 said:

I concur. I definately think the Jazz are capable of making more than three three pointers a game. Especially with Kyle Korver on the team. Memo has shown signs of his old self and CJ is starting to knock down shots and D-Will is D-Will he’s unstoppable. I hope Jerry can lighten up a little and let our athletes play a little and shoot the three!!!!

Jeff Winget on January 08, 2008 said:

Good post, Stanton. It has been heartening to see Korver shoot a couple of threes on fast breaks in the last couple of games. CJ has been shooting well, and Memo is showing some of his old form. Does anyone know what the 3-point numbers are for the Jazz since Korver joined the team? I think they’re up (both attempts and makes), so I think that it’s a change that is being made, and I think it’s a problem that Sloan and the management are cognizant of and are taking steps to fix.

As for Sloan, I’d still take him over any other coach in the league as far as philosophy goes. He wants his players to play defense first, be unselfish, and play tough every minute they are on the court. Who can argue with that? Also, take Jordan out of the NBA in the ’90s, and Sloan has 2 rings. Give the guy a little credit.

james on January 08, 2008 said:

go memo

fruitylili on January 08, 2008 said:

Mehmet Okur, Kyle Korver, CJ Miles, Deron Willliams. Three point shooters.
Good.
Carlos Boozer, needs to upgrade his defense. A little not saying he is bad but
upgrading it a little might help the Jazz on the road.

Amir on January 08, 2008 said:

JERRY SLOAN IS AWESOME MAN AND COUCH I WISH I CAN PLAY FOR THAT GUY JAZZ DONT NEED THAT MUCH 3S IT IS GOOD IF YOU MAKE SOME BUT CHANCES ARE 50 50 WITH DEFENDER ON YOU I LIKE THE JAZZ EVER SINCE STOCKTON MALONE BUT I WISH THE JAZZ HAVE SOME BETTER CUALITY PLAYERS AS FAR IS BENCH IS CONSURN I THINK THEY WILL PLAY BETTER AS YEAR GO ALONG

Sinan From Turkey on January 08, 2008 said:

3 pts !!! good to catch the score if the team is back , good to jump the score up in order to feel better till the end , good to break the hope of opponent , good to fire the team and the fan , good to …..
Jazz are lucky to have enough good 3 point shooters such us Mehmet Okur, Korver, D.Williams. Good plan and good application. GO JAZZ

Amir on January 08, 2008 said:

I WOULD TAKE LAYUP BEFORE 3 POINT SHOOT I WILL MAKE LAYUP EASY THAN 3 POINT

Amir on January 08, 2008 said:

JAZZ ARE GOOD BUT I WISH THEY HAVE 1 STAR PLAYER THEY HAVE 2 ALL STAR AND 1 STAR MISSING CARLOS BOZZER IS AWESOME PLAYER BEING ONLY FEW YEARS IN NBA THE THING HE DID LAST YEAR IN PLAYOFFS AGAINST HOUSTON ROCKERS AMAZING AND DERRON WILLIAMS IF HE SCORES 20+ POINTS JAZZ HAVE BETTER CHANCE TO WIN

Joe on January 09, 2008 said:

I think everyone’s missing the point, the Jazz should be asking themselves why attempting more 3s equals wins. Maybe it has something to do with spreading out the floor. If a team has to worry about covering the 3, they will be less likely to double team the post. It’s kind of like where the NFL has gone to more of a pass to establish the run state of mind. Where a 3 ball is a pass and the inside game is the run.
I’ve noticed that Korver has the go ahead to shoot whenever he has the ball, poor Giricek was never given that option. But this is the thinking the Jazz need to get back into contention. More taken 3s also means more long rebounds, the Jazz are one of the best rebounding teams in the league.
What are the Jazz afraid of? For year I have watched them get into the playoffs, but they need something to get them over the hump.

Bahadir on January 09, 2008 said:

I think there is no problem with either Sloan or the team at all. After all our problem is one game boozer and D.Williams is great, the rest sucks. The other game D.Williams & Okur is great the rest sucks. So on and on…. We haven’t been able to have the whole team together yet this season. All i’m saying is they all have to act together and win together… Jazz can do anything and everything with the team we have now.
GO JAZZ YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

Snug on January 09, 2008 said:

The Jazz should shoot more threes because they have the players to do it. The jazz are ranked last at attempts but in reality that means nothing. The reason for this is because we are ranked 5th in the league at points per game. I just think Sloan needs to let his players shoot the three a little bit more. But they should really stay with the offense they have.

steve on January 09, 2008 said:

Jerry Sloan has never been a fan of the 3 point shot, and that’s always worked well for the Jazz. The reason it’s so important, though, isn’t because you get easy 3 point baskets, more points per shot, or anything like that. When you shoot well outside, it forces the opposing team to spread out their defence to defend the perimiter. This means fewer defenders inside, more efficient plays and more points in the paint. I’d like to see a little more outside shooting to complement the Jazz’s great execution and inside game.

stucki on January 09, 2008 said:

i agree one hundred percent we have great shooters on the team i believe we need to use them more!!

go jazz!!

Karl Heinz on January 10, 2008 said:

Yeah, that’s why the best time for Jazz was when we get a great perimeter shooter (Hornacek)…

Brandon on January 10, 2008 said:

I agree with many of the comments that the major problem for the Jazz right now is the coach. Jerry Sloan has been a great developer of players, but has never been able to adapt to the three point line. The Jazz have consistently been at the bottom of the league in this category since Stockton to Malone days and will be until they get a new coach with a new scheme. Not only are they bad with three’s on offense, but there defense is terrible too. It’s not surprising that many of the guards in the league over the last 15 years have had career highs against us and it’s because we can’t guard the perimeter. It’s time for a new coach in Utah!!!!!!!!!

jazzismylife on January 10, 2008 said:

Brandon you got it bud, comments are correct. Even those who like Sloan have to admit that he’s been in Utah for tooo long, it’s time to go, we need new blood, energy and strategy ….new coach!

G on January 10, 2008 said:

Bring almond back

Russ Leavitt on January 11, 2008 said:

Don’t forget about D-Will he also shoots very well from behind the arc. If you are answering the other teams 3’s with 2’s it’s no mistery who will win. I also agree It’s time for Jerry to retire and bring in a new younger generation coach. I dont’t believe the Jazz will ever win a title as long as jerry is the coach. The Jazz have all the talent to go all the way but not the coach.

Lee Campbell on January 11, 2008 said:

No one seems to have mentioned the fact that the 3-point shot not only gets you that extra point (so that 4 of 10 shooting outside the arc is as good as 6 of 10 inside) but if the shot is missed it is less likely than an inside shot to be rebounded by the defensive bigs who are boxing out underneath and has a much better chance of being rebounded by offensive players on the outside, especially the shooter himself, so that there are not only more points from 3s but more second chances as well — one explanation for why the teams taking (but not necessarily making) the most 3s are the top teams.

fruitylili on January 11, 2008 said:

No, we need Jerry Sloan.
Because he is the one that brought the Utah Jazz to all of this.
If we get a new coach the whole team will fall apart.
That’s why he is staying one more year to see if Utah Jazz have a chance at winning.
And even if the Utah Jazz change the coach they would probably get someone that either played on the team or someone that nows them really well.
Jeff Hornacek or John Stockton. Because they know the play and all of the stuff.
They won’t just get a new coach because he doesn’t know anything on how the team plays.
That’s my comment about Jerry.

Russ Leavitt on January 12, 2008 said:

The only thing we need Jerry to do is retire, but you may be right we’ll probably just get some one who learned from jerry whitch will just keep the Jazz in the same old rut. But you will never see a title with sloan in charge.

Juan on January 12, 2008 said:

I think the problem is Sloan, Utah jazz has good good players

Paul on January 12, 2008 said:

First off, the problem isn’t Jerry Sloan. If you think it is you don’t have a clue. Why are you even reading these articles? You obviously are not a Jazz fan.

Secondly, your reasoning for other teams getting wide open 3’s against us is asinine. They don’t defend it because Sloan doesn’t like the 3 point shot? Get a clue. It’s due to lack of execution by the players. They don’t give up so many 3’s because Sloan tells them not to defend it. Could it possibly be the fact that this young team thinks they can out score anyone to win and doesn’t play with fire on defense? Boozer and Okur have been slow on the defensive end. During their losing stretch last month there was a lack of effort…
Also you claim that they need to shoot the 3 more on offense. In the last two games Korver is 2-12 from behind the line, while Okur is 4-14. That sounds like a great recipe for winning. Lets bag the 50% shooting inside the paint and start jacking up 3 pointers. I’m sure we could win alot of games by going 6-26 from behind the arc every game and never getting any free throws.
Any true fan would be sorry to see Sloan go after all he’s done for the franchise. I can only imagine what our record will be when someone new comes in. Not that you would care, your only on the bandwagon because of our performance in last years playoffs. You’ll be a Laker fan by the time Sloan retires.. Go Jazz Go

Ernest Monson on January 14, 2008 said:

I think the 3 point line should be dissolved, get rid of it and you get rid of a lot of contention, and also puts it back to good basketball.
I also think sloan is a problem, he does choke or intimidate players and causes them stress on whether to shoot or not. He hand AK there for a long time he never allowed Giracek the go ahead and I think that confused and stifled him. I wish him a lot of luck on his new team.
Also I don’t feel the jazz need to choke the floor with 3 point shooters. If they play solid ball for 4 quarters they do very well. Maybe larry miller needs to hire a fourth quarter coach. Seems for many years under sloan the jazz struggle in the fourth!!
Ernest Monson
eemonson@yahoo.com

Joe on January 14, 2008 said:

Korver 2-12 and Memo 4-14, good stats, but you forgot to mention that the Jazz won both of these games. Which is the point of this article, more taken 3s, more wins.
Sloan is a great teacher and a great motivator, probably the best in the league. But he’s never been a game coach, he lacks the ability to adjust to game time situations. Everyone in the league is aware of his substitution policies, 3 minutes left in the quarter, here come the subs. He does this regardless of what’s happening on the court. I don’t know how many times I’ve been watching a game and a bench player gets red hot, but Sloan pulls him from the game because his time is up.

Amuro GT on January 14, 2008 said:

I have been reading these posts and you guys…well lets not go there. First, the answer is not “get rid of Jerry Sloan.” Jerry Sloan’s “old school” style of discpline of ball use has allowed the game flow to quick gameplay. Second, the answer is not give the ball to CJ Miles, Okur or Korver, unfortunetly their rythm (like many players) is off and on. We no longer have the Stocktons, Hornaceks and other players (Russell, J. Malone, Anderson, etc.) on our team with confident shooting from the 3 point line. Obviously, and Jerry is using what he has.

In fact, closely watching the new players I noticed that when the hesitation or inconsistent movements in taking a 3 point shot occurs they will miss the shot almost 90% of the time (based on last year and this year). That is a big one for Okur who constantly has inconsistent or hesitation issues in taking a 3 point shot. I feel the answer is creating more plays beyond a give and go, post-screens, and run-in plays then pass to the corner. These plays are commonly used by other teams.

I have to admit Deron Williams (like stockton to hornacek) is very good at creating these 3 plays, but take into consideration the shooters and the recent analogy given. I have seen the screen to free Deron Williams (and sometimes Brewer) in the middle (or close to). Shooting at that angle makes the ball have something to shoot at (other than the rim) thus making it a little better of a shot). Next run play in the middle than back out beyond the 3 pointer (instead of the corners). Even though will play beyond man-man (playing zone) it creates a player off foot, so a little guarded but taking a higher precentage shot. This will also allow circulation of the shot.

So as you can see what he answer is – create more 3 shots beyond 3 plays. Utilize other 3 pointer tactics that will create confident, clutch shooting rather than hesitating, rethink shooting. JUST SHOOT THE BALL!

Linda McFarland on January 14, 2008 said:

Well said Amuro!! Nothing will make a better player and man (and I care about both in the Jazz players) than getting the basics down pat. Many, many, many times in post interviews Coach Sloan has said they need to shoot the ball whenever they are open and stop giving up shots they have. I really don’t believe that Coach “won’t let them make certain shots”. If we all know so much about how it should be done then why aren’t we putting in applications to be an assistant coach? Sometimes when a player is doing really well you can see a little fatigue setting in that may cause them to get a foul. I’m not with these guys at all the practices so I don’t even hint at knowing how a rotation should go. Let’s get off the subject of who should or shouldn’t be coach and get behind the Jazz and their wins and show that we are all together in being Jazz fans!!!!!!!

nate on January 14, 2008 said:

matt averages 7.7 points. he has done alot since his knee injury. you take away his hustle and his aggresiveness, and his willingness to take a hit, the jazz lose alot more games. by the way, it isnt his knee that should worry us, the only time we should worry about matt is when he gets the flu or something

jazzman on January 14, 2008 said:

matt is a good player when he gets the playing time.

fruitylili on January 14, 2008 said:

I agree. If we were going to play without Matt Harpring.
Our chances of winning will get lower.
Because he can take a hard foul, shoot really well.
Each game he is normal. Like he can shoot at least over 5 points.
And that’s good for the Utah Jazz.
More advantage to win. Even though his time is limited
he can still get points and good hustle points.
Yeah and the scariest thing that Matt can do is be out with
a stomach flu or something else he normally has.

fruitylili on January 14, 2008 said:

And we need Jerry Sloan. He is leading the Jazz all the way here.
With John Stockton and Malone. And he is old he will retire sometime but I’m hoping not now because we want a championship and
with Sloan here we know what to do. And if we just have someone else
they might mess up the whole routine and then we will probably wait 1 or 2 more
years to get closer to the championships.
But even if they get a new coach like I have said probably they will
get someone that has already played in the team.
For instance like John Stockton or Jeff Hornacek.

Amuro GT on January 16, 2008 said:

If I were to create a fantasy team, I can tell you right now it would not have the (do-it-all) all-stars. I can guarantee you Matt Harpring would be apart of that team just like a healthy Alonzo Morning. These grunt (garbage) workers create the core of teams. Given enough grunt workers can make one or more grunts shine. (like Morning earlier years on the Heat). Yes I know Alonzo is an all-star (especially back in his day), but there are many all-star grunts.

Note: If I had the qualifications to coach, believe me I would. I don’t think coaching junior, or church teams give me the qualifications. Especially since it was all volunteer work.

samiamajazzfan on January 18, 2008 said:

Okay yea Sloan has his old school way of keeping the jazz in the game, and I agree he is set in his ways: but it works and just because we don’t do great with the three point shots I think it is much easier to go in hard to the basket and get the two points and maybe in the process a free throw for another point. We should’t worry so much about three point shots as much as defending and rebounding. The jazz need to defend their leads much better and take the ball to the basket and yes I think they need to stop hesitaing on their shots when they are open and abel to make the shots. I notice a player usually makes the shot when he just shoots it without thinking about it, just do it. The jazz need to play more like a team like they did last season, they don’t seem to do that so much this season and it is hurting them. They are so intimidated by other teams and it is time they realize any team can be beat you just have to believe it and do it.

lexieD on January 19, 2008 said:

JERRY SLOAN IS THE MOST AWESOME COACH EVER, AND THE ONLY PLAYER WE NEED TO TRADE IS JASON HART!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU GUYS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT U R TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Noland on January 20, 2008 said:

It’s easy to bash Sloan if the Jazz’s performance isn’t up to your standards but you have to admit that we’re not doing that bad. I think that Sloan understands the importance of the 3ball and is easing it into each game more and more. If it pans out in our favor like this discussion suggests then he’ll let ‘em fly, otherwise… Still, I’d prefer an easy 2 over an iffy 3 any day. Don’t forget, a 2 can be a 3 with an “And 1″ as well as get the opposing team in foul trouble and possibly keep a key threat off the court. I say take the 3 only if your hot and/or the situation permits it. Otherwise, do what the Jazz do best, get high percentage buckets. Anyway, its not scoring that the Jazz lack, its defense. If we can defend the 3 then we don’t have to take too many and play the type of offense our team is used to. Basically, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it and our offense ain’t broke. Our D on the other hand…

Eddie on January 20, 2008 said:

Sorry to say that for the Jazz the line of confusion is the foul line particularly for Boozer, then for Brewer, and then Milsap. They gotta improve to win!

JayD on February 20, 2008 said:

I say leave them alone . They have been winning almost all their games since they aquired Korver . Sloan has gotten us there before and he will again . I think that if these guys play like they have been lately they are going to be hard to beat. We have the shooters , a good defense , and one of the best benches in the league . I say that this could be our year to shine . Go Jazz !!!!

samiamajazzfan on February 21, 2008 said:

We all have to remember back in the day all we really had for three point shots was Hornacek and he was awesome! He was one and we have Korver which is one of the best trades the Jazz has made but, we have AK who makes three pointers here and there and so does Williams and Miles. Then theres Okur who has been our three point shooter for a while and so what if our attempts don’t mesh with statistics and #’s we still have an awesome team. The Jazz can only get better and better and their maturity level during the playoffs is what wins games, play smart and play hard!