My Take: Jazz Over Suns

Posted by David Locke on March 08, 2008

‘Where there is D-Will there is D-way’(Barry Gossage – NBAE/Getty Images)

FINAL SCORE — JAZZ 126 SUNS 118
So much for the road woes — Great win coming from 9 down to start the fourth.
Deron Williams changed the game with an unreal play with about 9:00 left he drove at Shaq took the contact and hit the fall away and completed the three point play
Deron outplayed Nash which makes you ask if Deron isn’t playing the best of any point guard in the NBA.
The Suns were 34-3 when they lead going into the 4th quarter and the Jazz overcame a 9 point disadvantage.
Nash was scoreless in the 4th quarter.
Memo and Boozer played great in the 4th quarter. Boozer hit some tough looks. He hit an amazing shot to put the Jazz up 122-118 with a banker at the shot clock over Amare.
Amare is a beast.
Shaq was very good tonight — 20 points and 9 rebounds.
Both Korver and Memo hit huge three’s in the quarter.

8:30 4th Quarter – Jazz 97 Suns 96
D-Will has taken over. Jazz on a 12-2 run.
Nash out of the game the Suns are -13. Nash has checked back in.
Jazz bench is superior to the bench of the Suns.

End of 3rd Quarter — Suns 94 Jazz 85
Very poor end of the 3rd for the Jazz. The Jazz lead 80-79 and then fell apart.
Boozer picked up his 4th foul and had to sit. It was huge. The problem was it was all caused by Boozer being lazy about getting back on transition defense so he was out of position when the ball came to Amare and he picked up his 4th — you have to be more attentive.
CJ Miles had a miserable outing. This is a game where the Jazz have really missed AK.
D-Will and Nash matched play for play for a while in the 3rd
This is going to be a tough task but Phoenix has broken down a few times since the trade.

Halftime — Suns 66 Jazz 59
Attention to detail in a big game tonight is very poor. The Jazz have missed 7 of 18 free throws. Memo tried to one hand a rebound off a missed free throw got it knocked away, Memo had a lane violation. This has been a consistent theme.
Boozer has been non-existent. Amazingly invisible both offensively and defensively.
The Jazz closed the final five minutes of the first half with D-Will, Brewer, Harpring, Okur and Collins and they stayed even in that span.
Raja Bell hit three three’s in the second quarter.
Foul trouble is a major issue — Korver 3; Boozer 3; Milsap 3;
Korver last just 4 minutes. Raja Bell drew two offensive fouls
Boozer has to play in the second half.

End of 1st Quarter — Suns 33 Jazz 28
Very disappointing quarter for Carlos Boozer both offensively and defensively.
Phoenix is really struggling when you keep them in the half court.
Jazz had a brutal defense stretch where they allowed Phoenix to score on 9 straight possessions.
Paul Milsap and Jarron Collins brought a nice defensive pressence
Jazz shot 52% Phoenix shot 58%
Jazz are trying to play a lot of pick and roll.
Giricek was brutal for Phoenix

Keys to the Game
1. Transition Defense
2. Effective Offensive Pick and Roll Game
3. Exploit Shaq

Keys Numbers for the Jazz v. Suns
Jazz have the #2 offense in the NBA against the Suns who are the #17 defense in the NBA
Suns are the #1 offense in the NBA against the Jazz who are the #11 defense in the NBA

No Andrei Kirlenko tonight

The Suns are the worst rebounding team in the NBA for the season.

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5 Comments

Jeff Winget on March 08, 2008 said:

I know we’re pretty loaded at the 2 and 3 position, but watching Brewer and Korver on the floor together for much of the 4th was nice. Brewer’s athleticism and Korver’s shooting caused a lot of problems for Phoenix at the end.

Also, I’m seeing a pattern emerging. Deron rolls into the fourth, takes over the game, and the Jazz win. He seems to be playing with a serious chip on his shoulder. I like it!

As a side note, I flipped over to ESPN after the game to watch the Nuggets and the Spurs play. At halftime, Stephen A. Smith hollered that the best performance of the night was Chris Paul with 25 points and 16 assists at home against the lowly Nets. He didn’t even mention Deron’s 25 and 15 against Steve Nash on the road. Where is the love?

justalars on March 08, 2008 said:

There is no Love we’re in utah, if the Jazz are in the Game in the 4th the other team better watch out cause Dwil will own you. P.S. I think our team is built to beat the media’s beloved Lakers.

Mike W. on March 08, 2008 said:

I’ve never liked Stephen A. Smith’s commentary. I have heard him say nice thngs about the Jazz from time to time but it’s never enough. Utah will always be seen as a small market (among other not-so-nice descriptions) and will never get the love the big market (among other not-so-nice descriptions) teams do. Chris Paul is a great player and deserves all the credit he gets, but……..Deron Williams, in my accurate but humble opinion, is the better player. His fundamental play is a coaches dream and his ability to take over a game is better than…………dare I say it…………………..JS?

Bethany Petersen on March 08, 2008 said:

I have been watching some of the sports channels and I hardly ever hear about the Jazz. We are one of the best teams in the NBA and we never get any media attention. What do the other teams have that we don’t? Why doesn’t the media cover the JAZZ?

RRR on March 08, 2008 said:

CP3 plays to an almost empty house, night after night! They may be in a larger market area, but they can’t seem to sell but maybe half a house.

It almost takes a crow bar to get into ESA!

this was a most excellent game.

But those three reffs just sorta need to find like real jobs, cuz they are terrible!

“…Ostertag rip Violet Palmer when he joined Booner and Boler. It was in the 4th and she had called another bad call against the Jazz and Ostertag said something “Now thats an official they need to get rid of right there.” Booner and Boler looked shocked. He then said, “Can I say that on the air?” Booner answered “You just did”"

These three managed to mangle the tough job that it is, but good grief they are very bad. Oh and they were bad on both ends of the floor.

Smith needs to have Barkley beside him to shut him up now and again.

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