"Big Easy" not so easy for Burke and the Jazz.

  Mark the day, November 20th, 2013 the first NBA game for Jazz point guard Trey Burke.  Unfortunately for the Jazz they were unable to come away with a win.  Jazz 98 Pelicans 105.  Jazz fought hard the full 48, and barring a few mental lapses, had a chance to steal this one.  Lets take a look....

• Early in the game, Jazz rotations on defense were good.  Getting hands in the passing lanes, getting deflections.
• The officials clearly do not understand the "verticality" rule.  Missing on this call more than any other.
• Trey Burke checks in at the 4 minute mark in the first quarter.  Drives to the hoop on first play and gets the bucket.
• Jeremy Evans was a pleasant surprise.  Knocked down jumpers 4-4. Played solid defense
• The Jazz had 5 blocks in the first quarter.  Finished the game with 7 total...
• I think Alec Burks may be the most excited of the Jazz players to have Trey back.
• The bigs were not aggressive enough in the 2nd quarter.
• The Jazz have a hard time stringing plays together.  They can get one stop, but not multiple stops.  Or they will get a good defensive stop, but will give up the offensive rebound.
• No run of Ian Clarke tonight?
• Richard Jefferson played 41+ minutes again.  I understand that this is due to the struggles of Alec tonight, but you are burning Jefferson and his effectiveness.
• Kanter was killing the jumper tonight.
• Who was that Jazz team in the 3rd quarter?  Knocking down 3 after 3.  Lucas scored 11 in the quarter.
• New Orleans Al-Farouq Aminu plays hard, but has bad hair.
• Kanter ripped down a defensive rebound right out of the hands of Anthony Davis.
• When Lucas got hot it was in the context of the offense.  The Jazz continued to try to get him the ball, but started to force the opportunities.  Killed the offensive flow.
• Tyreke still going right....always right....
• Jazz were right were they wanted to be going in to the 4th quarter.  Still learning how to close out games.
• Trey started the 4th quarter out with a nice rip from Morrow, scored on the other end.
• Trey's command of the pick and roll was fantastic.  He runs it and resets it if he does not get anything out of it.
• Trey hit a great 3 out of the pick and roll.  He is going to make a huge improvement to the Jazz offense.
• Trey was rolling early in the 4th and, sure enough, was pulled.  I understand minute restrictions, but....
• I have a concern with the inequality between the players and the staff.  Kanter and Burks miss on any rotation or turn the ball over, they get reamed.  Hayward missed on a close out on Evans on a 3 and the reaction is different.  Then misses on back to back defensive assignments resulting in 2 fouls.  No reaction from Ty.  
• I understand that Hayward is supposed to be the man, but Sloan expected the same thing from Stockton and Malone as his did from Greg Foster.  Greg Popovich expects the same thing from Duncan and Parker as he does from Patty Mills.  Ty needs to do the same....

  There were some really costly struggles tonight for the Jazz.  Hayward shoots 1-17 and looks dejected the entire time.  Alec Burks turned the ball over 4 times and was -15 on the +/-.  The Jazz really hurt themselves not getting to the line tonight, shot 20 free-throws to the Pel's 33.  On a positive side, the Jazz were 8-24 from 3, shooting 33%.  The majority of those shots came in the context of the offense again, a major plus.

Trey Burke had 11pts 1 reb, 1 ast, 1stl.  Not a bad first night for Trey.  I love what he brings to this team.  He wants to win, has toughness, and knows what he can do.  I hate the "comparison game", but Trey reminds me of Allen Iverson a bit.  He seems to have the same bounce and swagger that Iverson had.  Trey is going to be really good for this team, and I think over the next couple of weeks we will see the kind of development that we want from this young squad.

Finally!!! Jazz beat the Pelicans!!!

  Hell Yeah Jazz Fans!  The Utah Jazz get the best of the New Orleans Pelicans 105-111!  That is what Jazz Fans believe this young team is capable of and have seen in small stints early in the season.  Tonight was a different story, the TEAM put together a FULL 48!  That was the key to the entire game.  48 minutes of all out effort.  Lets recap....

• Early in the game the Jazz seemed to miss some opportunities in transition.  This is something that Ron Boone has been pointing out the last few games, that the Jazz don't look to score in transition.
• John Lucas was shooting like Jamaal Tinsley.  Missed wide open shots, defense does not even guard him.
• The post game was very effective early.  Late in the first quarter the Jazz went away from it.
• I am going to continue to say it till it happens, someone needs to put the officials on notice.  Whether that is a player or the staff.  Jazz get abused and get no calls.
• Anthony Davis is a great player.  I can't give him all the credit for the boards that he gets since there is no one else on the Pelicans even rebounds.
• Diante Garrett is really long! Did a great job breaking the Pels down on the pick and roll.  Plays with excellent pace.
• It was so evident how bad the Jazz have missed a REAL POINT GUARD!
• Kanter does a great job staying vertical down low.  He may not block a lot of shots, but he is still 6'11" and will effect shots.
• Trey Burke will really help Alec Burks and his game out when he returns.
• Kanter did a good job on the defensive boards.
• TURNOVERS and FREE-THROWS!!!
• Davis gets star treatment already
• Gordon Hayward really paced himself tonight.  He had the legs needed to close.
• Tyreke Evans is overrated.  Always goes right.  Paying that guy 11 million a year.  No thanks!
• Tyreke is a player that does the least with as much as his has been given,  Not sure there is another player like that in the league, maybe DeMarcus Cousins.
• The theme of the night....ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK
• Loved the emotion of the Jazz tonight!
• Vets were huge tonight Marvin and Jefferson really stepped up and played big rolls tonight.

  Not sure that I am going to be able to sleep tonight.  Jazz played a great all around game tonight.  Were there some flaws?  Yes of course.  But I am not going to be to concerned about that tonight.  Going to savor this win!  GREAT WIN YOUNG JAZZ TEAM!

Utah Jazz versus Who?...oh the Pelicans???

  Tonight the 0-8 Utah Jazz take on the 3-5 new look New Orleans Pelicans at ESA.  Sticking with the glass half full theme, this will be the 2nd of a back to back for the Pelicans, who got throttled and dunked on by the Los Angles Lakers.  The Jazz need to come out with energy and jump all over these guys.  Get their first win!  Let's take a look at the game....

Defensively-This is a new look team all around.  The Pelicans added Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday in the off-season to go along with Eric Gordon and a vastly improved Anthony Davis.  The Jazz will have their hands full protecting the paint, as all of the Pelicans wings will attack the basket.  The bigs will be tested not only with their paint protection, but also the stretch defense as New Orleans has arguably the best stretch 4 in the game, Ryan Anderson.  For the Jazz to have success tonight, they will need a total team effort on the defensive end.  They will need to have active hands  and continue to get the deflections they have been getting the last 2 games.  I believe you will see Derrick Favors matched up against Anthony Davis.  Davis should not be able to back Favors down, but he does have excellent touch and ball handling.  Look for him to attack Favors that way.  That leaves Kanter matched up against Jason Smith or Greg Steimsma.  Both players are rebounders or hustle guys.  Kanter MUST work hard on the defensive glass.

Offensively-The Jazz need Gordon Hayward to attack offensively more than the first half.  I have been really impressed with Gordon and his ability to create his own shot as well as for his teammates.  Hayward did struggle turning the ball over against the Nuggets where he had 7.  He will need to protect the ball and continue to be as efficient scorer.  It will be interesting to see if Ty starts Richard Jefferson again tonight.  He has really struggled from the field, but has made up for that by attacking the basket.  I would not be surprised if Ty started Alec Burks.  There has been rumblings of this the past 2 games.  Look for Favors to continue to work in the post.  I'm not sure Davis can guard him on the block.  If Davis is switched to Kanter, look for the Jazz to use Kanter in the post.  Enes will need to maximize his pump and ball fakes against Davis if he wants to be successful.  The Jazz ran primarily pick and roll, screen and re-screen against the Nuggets.  They were very effective with that offense in the first half.  Guys seem to move more and are more active all around out of this offense.

  The game versus Nuggets I came out of there feeling there were more positives then negatives.  Favors offense is developing, Gobert is a bright spot as far as the bench guys go.  He as progressed so much since I watched him at the draft combine.  Kanter has been steady, Burks has been a nice spark and Hayward is doing what we all hoped he would.  Again its one of those its the best thing for the Jazz to be in the situation they are in right now.  Trey is on his way back and if you missed any of the college hoops last night, Parker, Wiggins or Randle will really help this team!  Go Jazz!

http://www.nba.com/gamenotes/pelicans.pdf
http://www.nba.com/gamenotes/jazz.pdf