Most Disappointing Ever?

Posted by Brian McCann on April 14, 2009

“Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away, now it looks as though they’re here to stay, oh, I believe in yesterday.” -The Beatles

I had to take a week off from writing here at Jazzbots. Partly because I love the Jazz so much, and their play as of late is making me sick, but also because all of my life I have prided myself on being an optimistic fan, and lately, I have found myself ranting on and on, sometimes sounding like Groundskeeper Willy from The Simpson’s. Willy seems to never be satisfied, and it always seems as if the sky is falling. Truth is, I have never felt that way as a fan, but I have lately.

Part of the reason I am so upset has to do with the Jazz overall lack of interest, it seems, in winning ball games. When I was 14 I tried out for the eighth grade basketball team. I thought for sure I would make it. I could beat all of the kids in my neighborhood in one-on-one, and I could shoot lights out from about 18 feet in. Well, I didn’t make the team, and I was devastated. I remember I skipped lunch and went to the coach’s office for an explanation. He told me that I needed to work on my hustle. I was so disappointed, but I never forgot what he said. Hustle, hustle, hustle…

The Jazz really look like they are not trying to win games right now. They have all the talent to be a 60+ win team, but they seem, for the most part, to care less. To me that is absolutely inexcusable, but maybe I have different ideals than some of the players on the team. Anyway, the point is, this has been an extremely disappointing season. So much so, that I have asked myself a lot lately whether or not this is the most disappointing season that I have yet witnessed in my 17 years as an obsessed Jazz fan. All-in-all, it comes down to three seasons, which I have ranked below in order of disappointment.

3-1992-93 Season. Yes, this was the year the Jazz hosted the All-Star game in SLC, with Karl and Stock sharing Co-MVP honors. It is also the year after they met Portland in the WCF in a memorable series that had many picking Utah to advance to the Finals that year. After the All-Star break, however, Utah limped into the playoffs, finishing with a 47-35 record, and lost to the Sonics in the first round 3-2. Although it was extremely disappointing, it also proved to be a stepping stone for a young Jazz team, and helped them, I believe, to reach the WCF 4 of the next 5 seasons, reaching the NBA finals twice.

2-2004-05 Season. After the arrivals of Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur, and after the Jazz had hustled their way to a winning record the previous season without Karl Malone and John Stockton, the Jazz were picked by many to make the playoffs, and to be a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference. After several injuries to key players, however, the Jazz finished a dismal 26-56, easily their worst record in the Jerry Sloan era. The silver lining however was that Utah’s poor record allowed them to be in position to draft Deron Williams, who has since emerged as the definite long-term leader of the Jazz.

1-2008-09 Season (current). This season is easily the most disappointing of the three for me. The Jazz started out the season with a barrage of injuries that would have crippled even the best of teams. Yet in the midst of all of it, Carlos Boozer, despite all of the pressure “HIS team” (as he so poignantly likes to remind all of more often than is necessary) was under to stay afloat and weather the injury storm, decided to tell a national sports writer his plans to opt-out of his contract at the end of the season. His reason? So that he can get a “raise” while the rest of America dealt with the affects of a volatile economy. During this dismal time, several of the younger players on the team looked broken, and resigned to the fact that they wouldn’t be any good until they had a full team at full strength. Somehow, some way, the Jazz found a way to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot in the ultra competitive Western Conference. Then it happened. With the promise of Carlos Boozer and AK coming back from injury, and a full staff of players healthy, the Jazz went on a roll, winning 12 in a row, and throwing themselves into the hunt for home court advantage in the playoffs.

Everything in the world was right again; they were healthy, strong, and seemingly unstoppable-that is until something happened. I’m not sure what it was, but something definitely happened. They stopped hustling, playing defense, and running their patent proficient offense the way they had during the streak. The losses began to pile up, and with their recent loss to a Golden State Warrior team that had 7 men active, they seem to have hit rock bottom. They have lost their step, swagger, and confidence, and look tired, depressed, and absolutely clueless.

So there it is. Say what you want. I would love to here what all of you in the blogosphere think, but to me, this is easily the most heart-wrenching, disappointing season that I have yet witnessed. It has nothing to do with wins and losses, but more to do with lack of desire, interest, and heart. I still think this is the most talented team the Jazz have ever had-they just don’t care at this point. The reason I know that is they are simply getting out hustled in every hustle stat I can think of. They aren’t manning up on defense, and I just don’t know if I can stand to watch Carlos and Memo let another guy into the paint as easily as they have. They literally have just watched as player after player has taken the ball into the paint over the last few weeks, and it really is disappointing.

Optimistically, I can only hope that this team regains their love and desire to win basketball games. Who knows what changes the repercussions of this season will bring? Interior defense? We need it. Leadership on the floor? We really need it. A desire to try? That should be a no-brainer-if these guys don’t have that, then I hope Jerry will put players into the game that do. Even if they are less talented (Price, Collins, Harpring…), because as fans, I think we deserve that much.

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Brian McCann on April 14, 2009 said:

This post was written the day after the GS loss. I think the Jazz played a lot better against the Clipps, and I’m hoping they come out tonight ready to win. I’m optomistic, and beleive in this team, and think we are ready fo a turn around.

Adelle on April 14, 2009 said:

I think that Deron Williams always shows his desire and hustle for the win. He plays 100 percent of the time. I really think that the Boozer needs to hit the road and let his bench backups take the spot. It seems like the Jazz play better without him.

Anyway, I hope they can pull a win tonight against the Lakers. Lets keep our fingers crossed.

GO JAZZ

DeronWIlliams4President on April 14, 2009 said:

I’ve said it here, and to my friends a million times. When we want the Jazz to win more then they do, there’s a problem. I’m with you, most disappointing, and least of all FRUSTRATING, season by far! I think the amount of talent they have is what it makes it so disheartening. But I’m sure I speak for all Bots here when I say a win tonight would be the best, but if they come out swinging and showing LA that they’re not just gonna lay down, the ripples will carry far into that first round.

Amir on April 14, 2009 said:

it was good game in l.a tonight i’m wondering why for l.a this game was must win?like phil jackson say we just trying to win ball game yeah way to go mister you really neededthis win you better go buy some smaller glasses than have 1964 glasses on. and you got pau gasol from memhis for nothing just because you are lakers if some other team wanted gasol at that time they would get rejected.utah will play lakers in first round only advantage they have is better point guard williams thats it i am not saying jazz front line is bad memo and booz but they are not tall and talented as gasol and bynum is i wish they got more weapons lakers they get best players true history of nba and its bussines this is the best league in the world but its all about money lakers has the money thats why they had best players in the world wilt cham.kereem,shaq,kobe.i wish they loose in finale with celtics i hate them.

Amir on April 14, 2009 said:

lakers always have the advantage to get the best players. they have money plus all the movie stars and in hollywood. they will come and watch the lakers and they will pay 1500 for a game ticket: phil nicholson

Steve on April 14, 2009 said:

I just finished watching the Laker game… all I can say is wow. Williams is the only player to put up a consistent effort everytime. Boozer on the other hand looks like a little 12 year old girl going to the basket. He misses layup after layup, lets Pau Gasol get postion five feet from the basket, and has no intesity. He is a joke. I hope he opts out of his contract and makes less with a crappier team. What a waste of talent… oh wait he has no talent.

Frustrating is a huge understement… this season is a disaster. Every announcer on TV talks about the talent that the jazz has and yet here they are about to be swept by the lakers in the plaoffs. Thats right swept! Apparently something needs to be done in the locker rioom in the off season and it needs to happen quick!

Jake on April 15, 2009 said:

You know, I really expect more from Boozer and Memo as of late, I’m just really disappointed, I’m not going to expect them to beat the lakers in the first round with the kind of ball they are playing.

ben walter on April 15, 2009 said:

the jazz caught up in the third vs lakers but the lakers are just too good

Armin on April 15, 2009 said:

its the desire to play that the difference between guys like boozer and guys like korver and williams.
i saw korver get thrown to the ground last year and on the replay he looked like a homeless guy that just won the lottery he had a big smile on his face and he was shaking his fist in celebration then he got up and made some free throw while the opposing player who fouled him did not play another minute of that game and Williams well he just never gives up and i don’t believe he knows that the word quit exists

Phaedra Johnson on April 15, 2009 said:

I agree! During the Golden State game the only player who seemed to be hustling was Deron Williams and the only player who seemed to be upset at how they were playing was Kyle Korver.

Brad P on April 15, 2009 said:

This is what Boozer told the SL Tribune:

“We don’t back down from any challenges. We haven’t all season. We’re not going to back down when we play the Lakers in the first round.”

Wuh? Backing down from challenges is EXACTLY the problem. This team’s collective psyche is broken. To me, at least one major piece needs to change this offseason, and maybe two.

I really hope Boozer is gone. Everyone points to his scoring, but he has literally been injured or rehabbing for half of his 5-year stint in Utah, and he brings zero intensity, hustle or D. AK must go, too, and I wouldn’t cry if Okur left.

I’m not saying all three should go, but they’ve each made a compelling case for why they can’t compete at an elite level. The Jazz will never land a LeBron-type athlete, so they have to have competitors. That’s exactly what they lack right now — just a bunch of soft-willed cream puffs.

Shannon in Sacramento on April 15, 2009 said:

All we can hope for is better luck next year because this season is through. I just feel for Williams, because that kid is one heckuva player. Boozer, two words: BUH BYE! At least we weren’t QUITE as dissapointing as the Suns. Please, somebody beat the Lakers. I don’t care who. Denver, Celtics, LeBron and company. IT doesn’t matter. I’m just sick of watching Lakers games and watching all of those celebrities they point out at the game.

Boris Brakalov on April 15, 2009 said:

You know what I think? I think that Boozer won’t opt-out. Which might be good because we can use his expiring contract next year to get someone else.

Phil B on April 15, 2009 said:

This team is young, and they play like it! They (with the exception of D-Will) aren’t mentally strong enough to fight through adversity and the tough times in a game unless they have 20,000 people cheering them on. They look ahead, they play to the level of ANY opponent and as we have seen time and time again, don’t have the killer instinct to finish off a team when they are down. I cant count all the times the Jazz have had huge leads on bad teams just to lose it and force our starters back in the game to log 40 minutes and pull out what should have been a foregone conclusion. Plus this team is soft. They don’t like to get in there and bang. Our biggest player wants to stay beyond the arc and shoot 3’s ! And to top it all off, there is no commitment to Defense on this team. Ak is a great weak-side help defender, but the Jazz’s interior D is AWFUL!! Memo and Boozer would rather reach at the ball then actually move their feet! Get Boozer off this team and get a player that will actually give some effort on both ends of the court! If we lose D-Will, this team will never recover. DWILL-MVP!!!!

Amir on April 15, 2009 said:

guys please i am sick hearing you all talking that only problem is boozer. i dont think if you let booz go next year you will win 65 games. its team effort dont forget about that one man can screw up but whole team needs to play good defense. jazz just dont have good quality players on their team thats it. they need their top two guys and they need someone to protect the paint. i will not be suprised if kosta koufos makes the roster next year and i expect kevin o conner to let collins and harpring go in trade to fill space on the roster.

Amir on April 15, 2009 said:

when celtics beat lakers in finale last year i was happiest man in the world and this year will be the same

Amir on April 19, 2009 said:

nice game in la boozer played great dont say bad stuff about booz he can play when he wants to 27 points 10 reb thats a superstar performance in first playoff game in los angeles today

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