J R Stewart on April 27, 2009 said:

It would be nice to get another ‘up’ before we get a ‘down’.

Jazzaholic

Boondock Saint on April 27, 2009 said:

I agree J.R. totally need an up. Mal, you are so dead on when you say that watching Kobe’s talent should be fun and exciting but his arrogance makes it so impossible for me to like him. On the other hand, I love watching LeBron who, I think, is still in awe of some stuff that he does and loves his teamates and makes them better. It’s taken Kobe 13 yrs to figure out that passing the ball can work too. I wanted to smack Doris Burke and the rest of the national media for their love affair with Kobe. From the guy that has a homemade I love Millsap “Man-Crush” t-shirt……props to you Mal for writing about a struggling Millsap, he’s a fan favorite and a total stud so it takes guts to put it out there that he’s struggling. His effort, as you mention, is always there and that is what I love about him but he isn’t finishing around the rim as well. I, too, wonder if he is starter material or just the guy we need to have off the bench that brings energy, toughness, and hustle.

Betty on April 27, 2009 said:

I agree with everything you said! I will be a Jazz fan until the day I die. It’s great to see how Deron has stepped up to lead this team. I don’t mind losing as long as I see them playing their hearts out. I’ll take all of the ups and downs..as long as I never have to see someone with Kobe’s arrogant, smug, infuriating attitude in a Jazz uniform I’ll lead a happy basketball loving life.

I think with a little more work Millsap can be the starter we need. I have faith. Everyone struggles at some point, he just needs to work past it.

Annie Whittaker on April 27, 2009 said:

I am saddened that as I ran through sports radio stations during my commute this morning, I heard the misogenists on 1280 attributing Doris Burke’s annoying Kobe loving game calling to her gender. If a person is annoyed by the way Doris calls the game, it’s the same as my being annoyed at the way Mark Jackson calls the game. It has nothing to do with his gender.

Sorry to use your post as my soap box Mal, anyway, I’m in total agreement about the pursed lipped wonder boy, and the injected lipped pop-star.

Shannon in Sacramento on April 27, 2009 said:

Boy was Saturday’s game painful to watch. I was in Lake Tahoe at one of the casinos watching it with tons and tons of LA fans. Needless to say, there was some smack talking going around and I was all about IN YOUR FACE when we were up in quarter 1, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be and I had to keep drinking to lessen the pain! I love the Jazz and hope they come back better next year. This just isn’t their year. It’s been rough since the first few weeks of the season. I am curious about what the summer trades will bring though! Here’s hoping the Jazz will at least make it competititve in LA tonight.

JayD on April 27, 2009 said:

I am with ya all , I hope that the Jazz can play their best basketball yet . I could use some smack talk of my own . Everyone at work is telling me that I am a fool to think that this series isnt over yet . There was one empoyee that actually went to the game , of coarse he was a Laker fan . It was hard to have a decent conversation today with him . Maybe the Jazz could get some respect if they beat LA in LA . That would be a dream come true .
Heres to the Jazz beating LA .
Go Jazz !!!!!! I still believe in ya all .!!!!!

Marty on April 27, 2009 said:

I agree. Im glad to see that the Jazz have non-arrogant players unlike Kobe Bryant. I could barely stand to watch this series between lakers and the jazz just cause of him. There was definately some game 5 reffing controversy toward the end of the game. But im proud of sloan for making a stand. it needed to happen. and wow props for ronnie price during the game. he came out and gave his all thats for sure. and thats what wins ball games. same with millsap, he’s a hard worker and has improved his game tremendously this season. im glad to see D-Will leading his team as he is as well. you know alot of that energy that ronnie price decided to shed tonight and the hard work millsap puts forth comes from D-Will leading the team. A few more bumps to overcome for the team and a year or two more of experience for the young team will lead them to great things. I dont doubt that at all. Great job Jazz for an effortful while injury plagued season.

bummer on April 28, 2009 said:

OK, so the Jazz can’t do it, they are SO FLAKEY! WHAT IS GOING ON!!!???

We’ve supposedly got ALL OF THIS AWESOME TALENT but can’t seems to get it to function as it should at the NBA level. We can beat any team in tte NBA and look good doing it, we just can’t play like that on the road, or consistently at all for that matter. Heck I remember Charles Barkley saying we were the best team int eh NBA on national TV last year. What happened to that team? With our coach, attitude and talent we should be DOMINATING.

I love Sloan and I have not/never will lose faith in him. He is everything a coach SHOULD be. I just hope he sticks around, is positive and puts together something better for next year.

I’m just pissed off I guess, next year.

Josh F on April 28, 2009 said:

after the 3 no calls in a row after being hacked three times in a row under the basket, I wanted the whole team to get ejected one by one and follow sloan into the locker room. That might put the ref controversy in the national spotlight and maybe some ignorant people could start to open their eyes and see that we got screwed because we were playing the NBA’s golden child, the Los Angeles Lakers,

Linda McFarland on April 28, 2009 said:

Sloan already signed a contract for next year.

JazzManSLC on April 28, 2009 said:

Bummer, I totally understand where you are coming from. It seems that the Jazz can never quite get their talent to the level some other teams get theirs to. The Jazz have highly touted talent such as Boozer, Okur and AK who consistently under-perform and leave us wanting something more than we are getting from them, and frankly, players like them probably should be able to perform better.

However, other teams in the league are getting great play out of people such as Trevor Ariza, Andrew Bynum, Chris Andersen, and Derrick Rose, who either are rookies who are tearing it up, or unknowns who are surprising the league. Why can’t the Jazz ever get any of these ‘great’ role players? Our role players usually seem to be just mediocre talent we’re all HOPING will turn the corner, but end up disapointing in the end.

I’m frustrated right there with you, Bummer, but I’m glad you’re not giving up on the team like so many people would and probably are rignt now.

drew on April 29, 2009 said:

completely agree with jazzmanslc. he is 100% right.

McCall Meyer on April 30, 2009 said:

hahah. great post Mal! would have loved to see fisher on his butt, and even more masha at the game.