My Take: Jazz Over Kings

Posted by David Locke on January 26, 2008

‘Paint Ball’ (Melissa Majchrzak – NBAE/Getty Images)

Final Score — Jazz 127 Kings 113

Jazz were in control all night. Had they blinked the Kings would have been there but the Jazz never did.
This was primarily an offensive game, but when the Jazz needed defensive stops they got them. Jazz shot 58% from the field.
The only real defensive problem tonight was the Kings getting to 42 free throw attempts.
AK was brilliant in this game. He had 25 points 6 rebounds and 6 assists.
He was 6 of 8 from the field and 10 of 12 from the line.
The Kings got frustrated and chippy in the game. It has been a long time since an opponent came into this building and got frustrated by the Jazz. It is great to see.
Matt Harpring played just 14 minutes tonight but had a huge impact.
D-Will had 14 assists and 0 turnovers.
Boozer finished 15 of 19 — his 13 straight earlier in the game was a Jazz record.

After the game Jerry was asked about the defense and he said why don’t you ask our players why they can’t stay between their man and the basket, Jeff Hornacek could do it on one leg. Part of the reason is because Horny could use his hands and these guys can’t.

4:15 4th Quarter — Jazz 115 kings 105

Wild 4th Quarter. Techs on both Artest and Theus. Harpring was involved in the mess of course.
Artest was in full Artest mode and finally got ejected at the 4:34 mark.
All the absurdity over shadows the fact the Jazz have played very well since they started the run in the 3rd quarter. They are scoring at will against a poor defensive team.

End of Third Quarter — Jazz 95 Kings 87
Offense ruled the quarter until the Jazz went on a 8-0 burst to take a 86-76 lead.
AK was a huge part of the run, great defense, confidently hitting a 18 footer and making a brilliant pass to Boozer. AK is shooting the ball great. He catches and releases quickly and with rhythm.
AK hit another three later in the quarter and when he releases the shot you can tell he thinks it is going in. This one even included a fist pump.
Milsap had a great block.
D-Will is playing well also.
The Kings have no answer for Boozer. He is 13 for 13 from the field until he missed a lay-up at the buzzer. Some of the shots have been from as far as 20 feet.

Halftime — Jazz 58 Kings 52
A time out was the key to the half, The Jazz fell apart and the Kings took the lead 42-38. Jerry called time out and the Jazz answered on a 12-2 run to re-gain the lead.
Defensively the Jazz fell apart for a little early in the 2nd otherwise the Jazz have battled and played hard defensively. The Jazz have forced 11 turnovers.
Kevin Martin is too tough – he has 17 points.
Same can be said for Boozer he is 6 for 6 and has 13 points.
Both teams are shooting 53%.
AK has been fantastic tonight – he is impacting the defensive end and he has 8 pts, 4 rebs, 3 ass, and 2 blocks.

End of 1st Quarter — Jazz 26 Kings 23

Jazz were active and took advantage of the Kings turnovers.
Brewer missed two wide open 16 footers that would have busted this open.
Kevin Martin gave the Jazz fits, with 11 points.
Mike Bibby looks like he has 50 pound weights on each league.
The Kings have no match-up for Boozer.

My big thing is don’t have two inexperience players on the floor at the same time (Milsap, Brewer, Miles, Almond, etc) the Jazz had Brewer and Milsap together to end the quarter and the lead went from 18-10 to 26-23. That is a minus 5 in 3:37

Kings Starters LHM Batting Average (League Average .234)

Brad Miller .334
Kevin Martin .315
Ron Artest .251
Mike Bibby .255
Mikki Moore .153

Jazz Starters LHM Batting Average

Boozer .410
AK .362
Deron .359
Brewer .284
Okur .170

Interesting Numbers for Tonight

Kevin Martin ranks #3 in the Locke offensive rankings.
19% of the possessions used by Martin end at the free throw line (3rd best in the NBA)
The Kings are last in the NBA at taking care of the ball and the Jazz are the #3 team in the NBA in forcing turnovers.
The Jazz are the 3rd best offensive rebounding team and the Kings are 27th in the game on the defensive glass.

Cringe (guys who use a possession well above the league average)

Kevin Martin has it.
John Salmons

Grin (guys below league average in using an offensive possession)

Ron Artest
Quincy Douby

Officials

Bennett Salvatore, Derrick Collins and Bill Spooner

2 Comments

Sandy Young on January 26, 2008 said:

I wouldn’t be so proud of your fans after last nights game. Are they grownups or children? Our fans (kings) have never ever treated the opposing team like they did. Sure you want to win but there is a much better way of showing it.

Linda McFarland on January 26, 2008 said:

I don’t condone booing and wish our fans had a better way of showing their dislike for a player or what he does. The problem is that last night I think I could have easily been drawn into that booing. I don’t know if you were at the game or watching it on TV but when they showed the faces of the Kings (not all but most) when they had used their body to trick a player into getting a foul called, or did something to make one of our players come close to getting hurt, or ran down the sideline taunting the fans they looked like the cat who got the canary.

It is true that all teams try to draw fouls by carefully using their bodies but Artest goes way over the line. It is one of his traits that he try’s to rile up the opposing teams by beating on his chest and saying obcenities to the fans. I will admit that Artest has talent but I feel like he is still the little boy who does everything wrong to get attention. He is well known for suspensions and getting kicked out of games. Last night he had me yelling at the TV set so he is good at what he tries to do. The problem is that he can make we fans act like idiots before we even know we are acting that way. I have been upset with some of our fans this year in certain games for their booing but I have a harder time coming down on them last night. Seems like recurring nightmares of Rodman minus the colored hair.

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