Jazz run with the Bulls tonight in Chicago...

  The 0-5 Utah Jazz roll in to Chicago for a match-up with the 1-3 Chicago Bulls.  Both teams come in to this game struggling.  The Bulls Derrick Rose is averaging 15 pts while shooting 31% from the field.  Rose is definitely struggling, but he isn't exactly going against top flight PG's tonight versus the Jazz.  Former Jazz man Carlos Boozer is having and fantastic early season averaging 22.3 pts and shooting nearly 66%.  Boozer tends to struggle versus length and the Jazz have plenty of that.  Lets take a look at tonight's key....

Defensively-Its all about pick and roll with Derrick Rose.  The Jazz will have to make a concerted effort to keep Rose out of the paint.  But if Rose does get there, they Jazz need to contest shots and make it difficult for him.  Gordon Hayward and Richard Jefferson will have their hands full with Luol Deng.  Deng is 14.5 pts and 4.5 rbs.  Deng has become more comfortable as a spot up shooter and does not appear to attack the basket as often.  Look for the Jazz to run him off his spots, and have the defense collapse forcing tough shots.  This will be a battle for the bench as well.  Chicago will bring Mike Dunleavy Jr, Nazi Mohammed, Kirk Hinrich, Taj Gibson and Tony Snell.  The Bulls have some very capable veterans on their bench.  The Jazz may have to play the starters heavy minutes if they can stay out of foul trouble.

Offensively-Put simply, the Jazz just need to make shots.  They are getting some good looks out of the offense but nothing is falling for them.  It will be interesting to see if Ty goes back to more of the pick and roll offense or if he continues to push the new sets they installed on the road trip.  Alec Burks really struggled last game.  He did not shoot the ball well and was not effective going to the hoop.  Burks will really need to be a spark with Chicago having a far superior bench.  Ian Clark got 16 minutes versus the Celtics.  Granted he missed some wide open jumpers but he was an effective piece to have as a floor spreader.  Look for him to continue to get minutes due to the futility of Jamaal and John.  The last two games have been a breath of fresh air for Gordon Hayward.  Shooting nearly 55% and grabbing 7 rbs scoring 28 pts and 22 pts respectively.  This is what we need and will get Gordon the contract that he wants.  Derrick Favors will need to have a bounce back game though the box score may say otherwise.  The thing to watch with Favors will be his demeanor and assertiveness on the floor tonight.  I am not sure that I have seen Derrick as low as he was versus the Celtics.

Development-This is what I will be watching the closest tonight. I have been a little disappointed with the coaching staff the last 2 games.  Ty has done far too much yelling and stomping then teaching these young players.  In my opinion he has not earned the right to go "Jerry Sloan" on them and freeze them out.  The only coach I notice really working with the players to understand their mistakes and correct them is Brad Jones.  Granted that seems to be his role on the staff, but it should not be entirely his.  I also want to see if the staff is putting these players in positions to be successful.  Introducing new offensive sets on your first road trip of the year may not be the most effective thing.  Also are the players given time to get a rhythm?  Do they understand when the substitutions are coming?  The first half versus the Celtics was an absolute mess.  I understand Ty may have been searching for a spark, but players were in and out of the game for like 2-3 minutes.  It clearly caused confusion for this young team.  Again I am not one to say, "Ty is done" or that "he needs to be fired" but I do need to see him work on his craft equally as he expects the players to do.  I want to see him get after the officials a bit, take a T, back his players up and put the officials on notice that his team is not composed simply of rookies.  These are the things that I need to see the most tonight to feel good about where this team is headed.....

http://www.nba.com/gamenotes/jazz.pdf
http://www.nba.com/gamenotes/bulls.pd