Game 5 on/in Film

Posted by David Locke on May 16, 2008

The opening scene in one of my all time favorite movies, Stripes, pretty much sums up how all Jazz fans are feeling. Bill Murray is pleading with his girlfriend not to leave him, and when that fails and as she departs with the door slamming, he says, “And then depression set in.”

Admit it, there is a haze around all Jazz fans now. We were tied heading into the 4th quarter, and the Jazz had a real shot at taking control of the series. Instead, we are back where we started. We need to protect home court and win one on the road.

Let’s review the last game in another movie theme, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

The Good

There are two things about the game that were very encouraging. For the first time in the series, the Jazz controlled the game at the Staples Center. The opening of the third quarter may have been the best basketball the Jazz have played during the entire Playoffs.

Defensively, they hit every cutter, they prevented players from getting to their spots, and they had incredible energy. Offensively, they were crisp and active. Going into the third quarter, the Lakers had controlled all 120 minutes of basketball that had been played at the Staples Center this series. For the Jazz to re-gain control of the game is an enormous step.

Going back to the opening scene of Stripes, Bill Murray says, “Talk about massive potential for growth. I am the little acorn that becomes the oak.” We aren’t quite the little acorn, but we are in a growth process and this was a big moment in that process.

The Good #2

We have been very fortunate as Jazz fans to have watched the careers of three Hall of Famers: AD, John Stockton, and Karl Malone. Sometimes I wonder if we realize how lucky we were.

Well, get to watch it again. Deron Williams is really special. He continues to get better, the bigger the moment is. This is a rare quality. His will and dedication to winning is unsurpassable. His attention to detail, unbendable focus, and commitment to doing it the correct way are the making of a champion. Even in last nights loss, he was remarkable.

The Bad

The Jazz have not lead for one minute past the first quarter of any game at the Staples Center in this series. On the road, it is too hard to play from behind against a really good team. The Jazz only had two possessions during the entire game that offered a chance to take the lead, one in the third and one in the 4th quarter.

This is where you have to give the Lakers some credit. They are making all the plays and never allowing the Jazz to get over the hump. When you play from behind, every shot is tougher, every mistake is magnified, and every missed shot lingers in your mind.

For all the talk about how most NBA games are all decided in the 4th quarter, you would be shocked to learn what percentage of teams that lead going into the 4th win the game. Therefore, most games are decided long before the final 12 minutes.

The Bad #2

Carlos Boozer was unable to get his shooting touch rolling again. This time it manifested itself in the second half of the game. Boozer was just 4 of 12, and missed shots in the 4th quarter that he usually makes.

Boozer did, though, a nice job of recognizing the double teams again this game. He created space for himself and found some open men. However, for whatever reason he never got his rhythm. Maybe the constant Lakers defensive pressure has him pressing and rushing. Maybe the length of Odom and Gasol are an issue. Nonetheless, for the Jazz to advance they will need more from #5.

The Ugly

The turnovers in the first half were out of control. The Jazz committed 15 turnovers. That is a bad game.

The Lakers put extreme pressure on the Jazz and forced them off their spots offensively. In turn, the Jazz rushed everything they were doing. This caused a rash of turnovers.

Derek Fisher deserves a lot of credit. He is working incredibly hard on Deron Williams by preventing him from ever moving freely. This is getting the Jazz offense off on the wrong foot where nothing is running freely.

The Jazz did adjusted nicely in the second half with more pick and rolls. However, the first half turnovers cost the Jazz the game as much as anything else.

Here is to hoping this ends as an inspirational movie not a tragedy.

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