Back to back roadie for the Jazz tonight.

  The Utah Jazz gave one a way last night versus the San Antonio Spurs.  It was a rough night shooting, particularly for Gordon Hayward who went 5-23 from the field and 1-7 from 3.  The Jazz will be taking on the leagues 3rd  most efficient offense and 5th highest scoring team in the Golden State Warriors.  This will be a tough test for the offensively challenged Jazz.  The good news, the Jazz defense the last 2 games has been solid.  Lets take a look at tonight's match-up....

Defensively-The Warriors primarily run the pick and roll (as does most of the league) with Curry and Thompson both handling the ball.  They will also run both players off a lot of baseline screening action.  Klay Thompson is shooting the 3 at an unbelievable 50% clip!  Steph Curry at 46%  That is unreal shooting!  The Jazz will have to run both these players off their spots.  An idea that I feel could be effective on the pick and roll for the Jazz defense is something the Chicago Bulls do a lot on pick and roll defense.  The defender of the ball handler trails off the pick while the screeners man funnels the ball handler to the sideline or the base line.  This could be very effective against the Warriors with the length of Favors and Kanter.  It causes the ball handler to keep the ball and continue to the basket as the defender continues to trail, making it extremely difficult to pass for the pick and pop, or the roll.  If the Jazz run something like this, rotations must be quick and there must be a "help the helper" mentality.  The Warriors also have Andrew Bogut and David Lee.  Although they are not the focal point of the offense both players can be very good down low.  Both are prolific rebounders, thus making it a must for the Jazz to TEAM REBOUND!  Golden State does not shoot a lot of free-throws so the Jazz should be able to stay out of foul trouble.

Offensively-Four words...attack & pick and roll.  The Jazz MUST do these two things ad nauseum tonight.  The Jazz have been very efficient running the pick and roll lately.  They are getting great ball movement out of this action and getting whatever shot they want.  Just not making 'em. Favors is showing that the pick and roll game is a perfect fit for him and his offensive style.  I have noticed some great development in that facet of his game.  The best thing about this set, is the way the Jazz have moved the ball out of it.  They get in trouble when the rest of the team just watches the pick and roll happen.  No one flashing, everyone just spotting up.  This hurts the Jazz on two fronts.  They are forced in to tough contested shots and they have no one on the offensive boards.  The Jazz will need to move the ball, and swing it "weakside/strongside" to be efficient.  The Jazz have been pretty good in transition the last two games as well.  They will need to continue that against the Warriors.  The Warriors bigs are not particularly good in transition, a place that Kanter and Favors can take advantage of and get some easy ones.  I would also like to see the Jazz throw it inside to Favors and Kanter a bit more.  They are really developing in the post, and teams are having to double them.  This will help Gordon and Alec out, giving them more open jumpers.

  I loved the way the Jazz have played the last 2 games.  One win, one loss.  Not going to complain about that, considering the development we are seeing from this young team.  It will be interesting to watch Gordon and newcomer Diante Garrett tonight.  Both players coming off difficult games.  I had a feeling that Garrett may struggle in his second game with the Jazz, considering the first game he had no time to get nerves.  He will need to bounce back tonight as the Jazz will need him to produce and spell Alec.  I imagine that Ty will start Alec again at the point tonight.  Alec's length could make things difficult for Curry.  I would also like to see the Jazz be very physical with both Curry and Thompson as this seems to take them out of their game.  This game will be a very fast pace and up-tempo game.  Should be a lot of fun to watch for Jazz Fans!  GO JAZZ

Hate sleeved jerseys, glad hes not a Jazz Fan!

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

2 in a row...maybe...please. Jazz take on Spurs

  Just a quick analogy to start, if you have ever played and league basketball or even pick up games at the Y or Rec centers, everyone knows about "Old Man Game"  No matter how much younger, or how much better you think or know you are than the "Old Man" on the court, there is nothing you can do to stop him.  He makes all his jumpers, even if you only give him an inch of airspace!  He is the guy you like to have on your team for a sub, but hate to play an entire game against.  Well the San Antonio Spurs have plenty of old man game and are still extremely difficult match-up.  Lets take a look at tonight's game....

Defensively-The Spurs are the epitome of execution.  They do not break plays or offense.  They will run their sets all the way through and if nothing there its possible the may run it again.  If the do not run the set again, it will surely be a high pick and roll with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, with a player in each corner.  Setting up the drive and kick, pick and pop or Parker all the way to the basket.  The Jazz defense will need to be active in the passing lanes when Parker looks to kick it out for the corner 3's.  Also the bigs are going to need to cover the paint on the pick and roll, stick with the ball handler Parker.  I think we would rather have Duncan shooting 17-20 ft jumpers all night, than let Parker have a straight run down the lane.  The Jazz will need another TEAM EFFORT on the defensive glass.  The Spurs do like to push the ball in transition as well, but their transition attack is more of a one man fast break with Parker, the rest of the team acts as trailers and runs to the 3 pt line.

Offensively-ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK!  The Jazz must take advantage of their youth and run at every opportunity.  Spurs have Duncan and Splitter in the middle but I feel that the Jazz can attack both of these players in either the pick and roll or in the post.  Neither player is quick laterally and the Jazz will need to attack that.  Tonight the Jazz need the same kind of effort from the bench and the vets.  Marvin Williams and Richard Jefferson were key in the Jazz victory over the Pelicans.  Jefferson was and will need to continue to be aggressive attacking that basket.  I think Jefferson may feel he has something to prove, as the Spurs kind of dumped him as dead weight to the Warriors.  Marvin was fantastic at spreading the floor and opening space for the pick and roll to work late.  Hopefully he can continue his hot shooting.  It will also be very interesting to see how Diante Garrett handles his second game with the Jazz.  I don't think he had the chance to get or have nerves.  Tonight may be a different story.  I really like the way Garrett played.  He was good in the pick and roll (which the Jazz have run primarily the last 2 games) he did not force plays or passes and he made the right pass.

  I have to say that the game against the Pelicans was great!  Fun to watch and the guys played with heart.  As I have been critical of coach Corbin, feel the need to credit him for some changes I did notice against the Pels.  He was not stomping up and down the sidelines chewing out the players as they came back to the bench.  I even saw him discussing and developing young players, specifically Garrett.  He also handled the flow of the game very well.  Made appropriate timeout calls when it appeared the game may get out of hand or that momentum was shifting.  This is what I want to see from Ty.  He may do this a lot more than we are aware of, in practice and what not.  But we only see the negative at the games and broadcasts, so it was nice to see some development from Ty.  Tonight's game won't be an easy one but we are on a winning streak right?  GO JAZZ!

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

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!