10 Road Trip Observations

Posted by Jeff Winget on November 16, 2009

After the first Eastern road trip of the year, Jazz fans have more to be excited about than they did ten days ago.  I have to admit that I fully expected the Jazz to go 0-4 on the trip and to come back in worse shape than they left.  Fortunately, I was wrong, and the Jazz won both games that they should have on the four-game trip, and almost stole one in Cleveland.  Even better than that, they look like a team again.

To recap the week on the road, I want to highlight what I think we as fans can take from the trip.  Call it “The Top Ten Things We Learned about the Jazz this Week” or TTTTWLATJTW (then again, maybe not).

1. The Knicks are really bad.  We could get a really sweet draft pick from them this year.  I think that the win in New York was vital.  The team’s morale was already terrible, and a loss in NYC after having such a big lead likely would have been catastrophic.  Thank goodness they held on.
2. The Celtics are really good, and the Jazz spent most of that game standing in awe at the machine that Doc Rivers built.
3. Deron Williams used the Celtics’ game as a way to motivate his team to be less selfish.  After the loss, he praised the Celtics for their team play and challenged his teammates to be less selfish: “[T]hey don’t care who the hell gets the glory, they just want to win. Until we figure that out, we’re not going to be a good team.”  I was glad to see that D-Will was starting to address some of the specific problems the team was facing.  I was even more glad to see the team react with a great team effort in Philly.
4. The Jazz have a great organization with a clear perspective on the role of basketball.  They allowed Williams to return home to be with his family to address his daughter’s medical concerns.  This family first attitude by the team and the players is one of the things I love about the Jazz.  I also want to take this opportunity to wish Deron, his daughter, and the rest of his family the best.
5. Eric Maynor can play.  He was under control running the point and was a threat as both a scorer and a passer.  I think he played well above expectations, and it will be hard to keep him off the court after his two outstanding games.  Maybe we’ll see a little D-Will and Maynor in the back court together.
6. Is it too early to give the Rookie of the Year award to Wesley Matthews?  He can play, and I can’t believe that he was passed over in the draft.  The sky is the limit for this kid, and he has made the most of his opportunity.  If there is an upside to injuries, it is that Matthews probably wouldn’t have had this chance if Korver and Miles hadn’t been injured.
7. The biggest controversy for the Jazz this year might be at the wing position, not at power forward.  While Millsap and Boozer are learning how to coexist, Korver and Miles are losing playing time to an undrafted rookie while they nurse their injuries.  I believe that Matthews’s success makes one of our injured guys expendable.  Since his game is more like Miles’s game, we might be better served to keep Korver.  Then again, Miles has enormous potential.  I’m not sure Korver’s going to get a lot better.
8. The last thing any Jazz fan wants is AK on autopilot.  He has played extremely well this year, but his three pointer at the end of the Cleveland game was pretty dumb and unnecessary.  It was kind of like Belichick going for it on 4th and 2, but not quite as dumb.
9. Maynor has serious moxie.  Watching him get on AK after the bonehead three was a thing of beauty.  AK needed to be called out, and Maynor took that role.  Excellent.
10. The Jazz are in better shape now.  They look like a team again, and I am hopeful that they have turned a corner.  This coming week should be a good measure of this team’s potential.  Maybe they’ll even get a win in San Antonio.

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6 Comments

Adam on November 16, 2009 said:

A win against the Spurs on their home floor would definitely make me an absolute believer that this team has figured things out. While the Spurs probably aren’t as good a team as years past they are still a favorite in the west, maybe the league. A win for this Jazz team on a floor where they haven’t won in over a decade would do wonders for their confidence. I won’t hold my breath until it happens but their play of late has definitely captured my interest again. Hopefully Deron’s return will boost their momentum even more. First thing is first though, they have GOT to destroy Toronto on Wednesday. We’ll see what happens. GO JAZZ!!!

Diana on November 16, 2009 said:

Great observations.
I too was happy that D-Will made such open statements to the media about the Jazz. They definitely played so much more as a team against Phillie and Cleveland. I hope they keep it up when D-Will returns.
I LOVE Matthews. Lets hope the Jazz find a way to keep him. Maybe it will be easier like you said to do a trade now that we can get rid of a wing position, hopefully not Matthews.

Clark on November 17, 2009 said:

The Celtics are the machine that DANNY AINGE built. Doc Rivers just pushes the “start” button. nice post though.

steve on November 17, 2009 said:

that’s priceless

The last time the Jazz won in San Antonio was on February 28, 1999.

Brooke the Jazz queen on November 18, 2009 said:

Loved the post. I agree, there is hope for the future! This road trip was not as depressing as I thought it would be either, and the Jazz are looking more like the Jazz we know more each game. Let’s just pray for no more injuries!

tman11 on November 19, 2009 said:

We will keep Wes he plays Jerry Sloan ball look for a drive inside and pass inside before throwing up a three. Korver and, Miles better watch out is all I have to say. The kid is still a rookie though so lets not jump on the Mathews train just yet I don’t want it to end up being liek Paul and, get him some money then starts to suck it up again.Maynor has floored me he has come in and, played the hardest position there is to play in basketball and, just done amazing. He has also like you said took on that leadership role and, set his teammates in there place. What i really like about him is he puts the ball in his teams hands to get the job done. Dwill trys to do to much put the team on his back and, carry them. He doesn’t need to do that like he does we have players that can get it done if you give them the ball. great road trip though. We beat who we should have beat and, we went the rounds and, gave are selfs a chance to win against two of the better teams in the league.

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