NBA Playoff's have been great. Except....

  The first round of the 2014 NBA playoffs have been absolutely fantastic!  The games have been what every NBA fan could hope for.  And to be completely honest the games should be the story, but unfortunately they are not.  The league is mired in controversy thanks to the ignorance of one "entitled billionaire"  While I have my opinion and share the opinion as many others, I am not going to let this buffoon ruin my love for the NBA or the Playoffs.  Adam Silver will handle his business and I will wait for his decision.

  So lets move on.....

  Lets talk about how great the Playoffs have been thus far.  There have been 7 overtime games already!  There have only been a couple of blowouts and only one series that has been dominated by one team.  There has been drama and excitement in every series.  This is why I watch playoff basketball.  Lets run down the series.

Dallas Maverick vs. San Antonio Spurs-

  This is the best series no one is watching.  For the basketball purist, this series has been a lot of fun.  These two team are the two "old men" teams at the Y or the Rec center that have played together since the dinosaurs walked the earth!  The execute you to death, play good defense and can flat out shoot.  At one point in game two, I watch Jose Calederon hit 4 straight jumpers from the left elbow, all pure.  But that was to be overshadowed by Vince Carter turning back the clock and hitting an unbelievable 3 in the corner for the win.  Right after Manu Ginobli had given the Spurs the lead on a great drive to the basket.  Fantastic series!

Atlanta Hawks vs. Indiana Pacers-

  This is a bad match-up for the Pacers.  The Hawks penetration and kick game has been unstoppable.  Jeff Teague has shown his superior speed and quickness and has given Indiana fits.  The Pacers Roy Hibbert is having a complete melt down and Lance Stephenson just wants to dribble the ball for the entire 24 seconds on the shot clock.  To be honest the Pacers are such a mess I find myself pulling for the Hawks and the upset to see how "Larrry Legend" handles things and if he blows up that team.

Brooklyn Nets vs Toronto Raptors-

  This one is going to come down to will....period!  The series is tied 2-2 with both teams having one a road game.  These teams don't like each other and it has been chippy at times.  Paul Pierce did what Paul Pierce does in the playoffs, he closed out game one for the Nets in Toronto.  This series has a bit of a "David vs Goliath" feel to it and Toronto is giving Brooklyn everything they can handle.  Deron Williams really has been a non-factor in the series thus far.  Game four he was held to 10 pts.  If the Nets want to move on Williams will have to be much better and play up to the contract that he received.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder-

  This series has been interesting.  The series is ties 2-2 but could very well be 3-1 for either team.  There have been a number of 4 point plays in this series and some really boneheaded plays to close out games by Tony Allen.  Luckily for him, the Grizz have been able to hold on.  3 of the 4 games in this series alone have gone to overtime!  Gotta love bonus basketball!  Now we have a 3 game series and if it is anything like the first 4, you would be wise to tune in.

Los Angles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors-

  This series is tied at two games a piece but would likely be 3-1 for the Clips had Sterling joined the 21st century.  I can't even call him an owner or Mr. he does not deserve even that consideration.  No one can tell me that this won't be a major distraction for the Clippers the remainder of the playoffs, regardless of Adam Silver's investigation.  Here is a team that had a legitimate chance of making the finals and now who knows where their heads will be.  This will be the ultimate test for Doc Rivers and his staff to get these kids refocused on the task at hand.  Best of luck to the Clips.

Charlotte Bobcats vs. Miami Heat-

  Gotta be honest here, I had hoped that the Cats could give Miami a little better series.  But with Big Al's injury that just wasn't going to happen.  Give it to the big fella, he is out there battling, but he is not 100% and that is what it was going to take to give Miami a series.  Lebron is doing what Lebron does, leading his team.  Dwayne Wade looks relatively healthy but time will tell.  This was the best first round match-up for the Heat as they won't have to overextend anyone and can continue to nurse their bumps and bruises.

Portland Trailblazers vs. Houston Rockets-

  In my opinion, this has been the most entertaining series thus far.  LaMarcus Aldrige has been amazing scoring 46,43,23 and 29 respectively!  The Rockets have had no answer for him.  James Harden has been ineffective and inefficient in the series.  Game 3 had a game winner by a rookie Troy Daniels playing in his first playoff game! Game 4 was all about grit and toughness.  It went to overtime where the Blazers pulled out a win 123-120.  The series is 3-1 Portland with the Blazers looking to close it out in Houston on Wednesday.

Washington Wizards vs. Chicago Bulls-

  Can't say I saw this one coming!  This series has been all Wiz and their team balance.  The Bulls are known as a defensive juggernaut but they simply can not score.  Mike Dunleavy had an outburst in game 3 scoring 35 pts hitting eight 3 pointers and giving the Bulls their only win of the series.  The Wiz will look to close it out on Tuesday in Chicago.

  This is why we watch.  To watch these incredible athletes compete and give it everything physically possible to give their team a chance.  I love this time of year and am not going to let one moron be the focus of this great game and these great series.

24 minutes too late....Jazz fall....

  The Utah Jazz waited for the second half to start playing tonight in Dallas.  The Mavericks get the win 103-93.  Jazz record now sits at 1-13.  The second half was a completely different game for the Jazz as they actually battled and looked like they thought they could get back in the game and get a win.  Let's take a look....

• Getting this stuff out of the way early.....
• This was the worst officiated game so far this year.
• Mav's got "Vet calls" early and often.
• 8:40 mark in the 4th quarter, Dirk drove to the basket, whistle was blown before there was any contact....laughable.
• 3 minute mark in the 4th, Dirk posting, whistle blown on Alec before contact again and got the continuation.  Game over....
• This team does not start well at all.
• Jazz start struggling and Ty starts making subs searching for a spark with no rhyme or reason.
• Jazz opponents are playing 5 on 4 when it comes to defense.  No one guards John Lucas.
• The Mavericks ball movement is unreal!  
• The difference in the game tonight was youth versus experience.
• Jeremy Evans is playing with a lot of energy and shooting the ball really well.
• Marvin Williams continues to play strong.  May be the Jazz mid-level exception this summer.
• Derrick Favors total defense is improving.  Broke up a number of passes finished with 3 steals.
• 6'3" Monta Ellis was guarding 6'8" Gordon Hayward....Jazz did not take advantage.
• Not even the officials respect Ty.  Watched them more or less laugh off Ty's argument more than once.  This is Ty's own fault.
• Trey Burke hates to lose!  I think he is going to be a really good point guard.
• Jazz bench was really good tonight.
• Jazz do not take advantage of mismatches. They don't seem to look for them or exploit them.
• 7 minute mark in the 3rd, Jazz finally take advantage of mismatch, Jefferson in the post, scores on Ellis.
• Jazz cut the lead to 10 with a lineup of Garret, Burks, Evans, Kanter and Williams.
• This may have been the last game that John Lucas starts.  Got a feeling Trey is the guy Sunday night.
• Shawn Marion has the ugliest shot in the game!  I have no idea how he makes a single jumper.
• Ty is willing to try all of these different lineups 6 minutes in to the game and the Jazz already down 12.  Time to look at shaking up the starting lineup.  
• It shouldn't take getting your butt whipped for a team to show a little fight.
• Jazz had cut the lead to 5, Mav's scored the next 8 points.  Game over.

  

If the games were played just in the second half the Utah Jazz would be a plus .500 team.  Radio voice of the Utah Jazz, David Locke, made a good point this morning on his Tipoff Podcast.  He mentioned if this is the "season of discovery" that we need to do some "radical" things.  Try some new stuff.  Unheard of stuff.  Maybe you stumble on to something that is very good or effective, changes or revolutionizes the game.  It something that this team needs to look at closely....it can't hurt.....right?

Jazz take on the Mav's in "BIG D" tonight!

  I want to start this post off by saying that I appreciate Ty and the staff taking these kids to JFK Memorial.  I think all to often, we forget that our hero's on the basketball court are just kids.  For Ty and the staff to take these guys and interact with them and TEACH them the history of our great country is something that I can appreciate beyond basketball and being a fan.  These are the experiences that are going to stick with these players the most this season as they struggle.  So thanks to Ty and the staff, well done!


  Now lets get to hoops talk!  The 1-12 Utah Jazz take on the surprise 8-4 Dallas Mavericks.  The Mav's had two options (like the Jazz) this summer, one reload with vets or two rebuild.  The Mav's chose to do what the Jazz had done the previous 3-4 years and reload.  In the off-season the Mav's signed Jose Calderon to a pricey contract, Monta Ellis, Gal Mekel (who worked out for the Jazz last season) Dejuan Blair and Samuel Dalembert.  The Mav's also add rookies Shane Larkin and Ricky Ledo.  Larkin was worked out by the Jazz prior to the draft and was thought the Jazz may select him with one of their picks.  He has just returned to the line-up and plays a JJ Barea type role for the Mav's.  Lets take a look at tonight's match-up

Defensively-Dallas has shooters.  No big has ever shot the ball as well as Dirk does.  This will be a tough match-up for Favors.  The Mav's will also run the pick and roll with Monta Ellis and Dirk.  They don't run as much pick and roll with Calderon and Dirk, as Calderon is a much better spot up shooter than pick and roll player.  Dallas also has "energy guy" Jae Crowder.  Little known fact, he is the son of former Jazz man Corey Crowder.  Crowder has a solid mid range game and has been shooting the 3 well.  Dallas is not an uptempo team, but they do move the ball well and get open shots.  The key will be staying connected to shooters all night.  The Jazz have been really good the last few games with deflections and getting in the passing lanes.  The next step, is to turn the deflections into steals and turnovers.


Offensively-Gordon Hayward is questionable tonight with a bruised shin and knee issues.  Radio voice David Locke tweeted that Hayward is having precautionary x-rays on his knee today.  It does not appear that Trey Burke will start tonight but Ty said that he should play in every quarter and likely will finish each quarter.  The Jazz will really need to push the ball and take the opportunity to get easy buckets.  They have really struggled running "with purpose".  They have been pushing in transition and not looking to score.  The Jazz must look to score on the opportunities.  I think we need to watch Alec closely tonight.  Keep an eye on his body language and how he reacts when he makes a mistake.  Also watch how Ty and the staff react to the mistakes the team makes as a whole.  If Hayward is ruled out, look for the Jazz to get Kanter and Favors a lot of touches tonight.  I think the Jazz bigs have an advantage there in the paint.  Dalembert is a good shot blocker but he is foul prone.  The wings and bigs will need to attack the basket and put pressure on Dalembert.  The Jazz were very effective in the pick and roll with Trey and Favors.  Look for the Jazz to give Dallas a heavy dose of this and spread the Mav's out.

  I think this is the first night of a 2 week period in which Ty and the staff will be evaluated.  The organization will need to see improvement on the offensive end specifically.  They will want to see how the offense is run with its key pieces now back and getting healthy.  If Hayward is out for an extend period of time, this will delay the evaluation of the team and the staff.  I understand injuries happen throughout the season and that teams have to deal with them, but I am excited to see where they are at.  Here is to a healthy Jazz squad!

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

http://www.nba.com/gamenotes/mavericks.pdf