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Game 4: Spurs 87 Jazz 81
Posted by: Jason Michael Crannell on May 7th, 2012
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.The Jazz season ends. The Spurs sweep the series.
Utah, flat out, couldn’t shoot the ball in this series. The Jazz played good enough defense tonight, and in the previous home game, but just couldn’t put the ball in the baskets. Are lack of consistent outside shooting really was a glaring weakness in this series. This area has to be improved in the off season.
Duncan and Parker only had 11 points each, but the Spurs bench slaughtered Utah’s second group. The Spurs nailed 10 three point shots. Ginobili led the Spurs with 17 points, while Neal had 11 points, and Splitter 10 points.
Jefferson had his best game of the series, shooting 13-19 from the floor, and finished with 26 points, and 10 rebounds. Millsap hauled down 19 rebounds. Harris finished with 19 points, and 7 assists.
Favors scored 16 points, and had 10 rebounds, but his real value is on the defensive end. He needs to be a starter next season, period. Hayward was awful in this series offensively. He really needs to work on his shooting, and his overall consistency. Carroll was active off the bench.
Jazz Player of the Game: Al Jefferson
It’s now time for KOC to take over, and find the missing pieces. Right now, our identity is pretty much a bunch of scrappy over achievers. We need to either become an offensive team, or a defensive team. We need something to hang our hat on.
Replies: 25
Views: 426
25 Responses
Once again Thank You Jason for your work this year in providing a complete report on every game. What I would like for you to do next year is on the last game write Jazz NBA Champions…
It was a fun game to watch tonight, a couple of great comeback attempts within the game. As just about everyone realizes, outside shooting is a huge problem for the Jazz. An interesting comparison for me was the opposite ways that Favors and Hayward went in this series. Point wise Hayward went, from first to last game: 17,8,4,0 while Favors was 7,9,15,16. Favors just got stronger while Hayward seemed to wilt. I still believe that the Jazz overachieved this season.
Things I hope to see this off-season:
1. Trade Jefferson and Harris – at least one of those but hopefully both
2. Get a shooter! Man, do I miss Korver!
3. Corbin, PLEASE pick a captain. The Jazz late game struggles this year IMO was due to nobody taking ownership and leading the team on the court
4. Bring in a “Big Man” coach for Kanter and Favors
- I still smell Hayward’s crap on pants (all series) 0-8 WTF? i dont give a sorry to u “Haywards lovers”, he’s a Pro and a shooter, he has one of the 5 better shooters coaching him, and he do this… think u people crap bag.
- We don´t have 3s its an evidence, KOC need’s to work in that area on vacations.
- Biggest Jazz mistake in playoffs was from Corbin´s black butt… changing starting lineup, rookie and stupid mistake.
- Carroll’s situation… im still trying to understand it he’s a warrior OMG he’s a 25-30 mins player.
- Thank God we have that big 3, if we dont we screw tonight and a bad one.
- Talking now all Jefferson haters…. wtf u gonna say bout this.
- Millsap a leader, and a warrior
- Favors a warrior
- Devin Harris still at home next year, if u dont want to playat sg. u not helpthis team at pg.
- Man, im mad.
- Player of the game: Demarre Caroll, I need fighters over there, not pussy faces (Yes is for u Hayward)
Comments?
Thanks L.K.
1) Jefferson stepped it up tonight. But why can’t his intensity be like this every game? He still was horrible on P&R and as good as he is on offense he does not fit with this team. He needs the Magic or even Houston. There you guys go I gave Jefferson a compliment. I still do not want him back though
2) So glad Carrol came out and made Corbin look like a fool for not playing him.
3) Not sure what Hayward was doing still love the kid but come on! At least he took responsibility after the game and you can bet he is going to work his butt off this off season. But do remember he did play a TON of minutes after the all star game and all his shots were short, no legs….
4) I expect leaps from our young guys. This lockout season screwed every young players development.
Hopefully there is plenty to talk about this offseason
Just curious, when will Hayward be an allstar? He is quickly becoming C.J. 2.0 For the love of God, trade him while there is still time and get a real shooter and someone who can create his own shot and score….could of used a draft pick to package with him…
To answer your question jazzman…Hayward will be an allstar withing 3 years. He was a big reason that we even made the playoffs and hardly the reason we got swept. Get over your beef with him bro.
*Signed- the real Jazz Man
Love how jazzman is not around for three months Hayward is killing it but shows up when he is doing bad. At least I am consistent with my Jefferson talk
Jazzman is an idiot!
Hayward played awful – but he was superb in April. He was averaging 16 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and shooting 47% from 3.
Howard coming back into the starting lineup IMO through off everybody’s flow, including Millsap and Hayward
Well, this was a fun year. Seeing that late game run is why I love me some Jazz. Ya Hayward really struggled,but it was mostly Hayward that pulled the Jazz into the playoffs; he might have just over-exerted himself and having to guard Parker and Ginobili (and doing a great job of it) really looked like it beat him up. Still love Hayward, I totally expect him to take his game to another level this off-season.
Big Al played more aggressive offense, but still wasn’t very good on D. I can already hear Portland blowing up Carroll’s phone, please don’t mess this up Jazz and sign the man. Big Al will help get the Jazz into the playoffs next year, but with him its gonna be 1st round exits. Sorry. I keep getting on and off the Harris bandwangon, so maybe if he restructures his contract, I would like to see him take a bench Jason Terry type roll. We need a true PG Dragic sounds about right to me.
Please basketball gods, did you see the Jazz fight back in an elimination game down 21 points, they fought hard and until the end…….whereas the F***N GSW packed it in at the All-Star break. If there is any justice that pick is going to the Jazz.
A better fight. I would be ok, if we fought every game like this. Kanter can go right to the middle anytime he wants, he is a brick wall nobody can move him around. Kanter in the post, Favors slashing and Burkes dishing off on the drives. All the core 4 learning to play off each other should be the difference next year. Its their team.
-Millsap didnt show up and hes undersized, love him but he is a good bargaining piece at his price.
-Jefferson is a scorer but kills ball movement and any team with a good PG will beat us on pick and roll. Favors shouldnt have to play recover Defense half of his career. Favors will need energy for offense which will come.
-Harris stepped up big time as the series went on. but doesnt quite do the things this team needs to compliment our strengths.
Jefferson, Harris, Millsap, Howard, CJ, Watson, Bell and 10$ mil trade exception. that is more than 40$ mil to get a legit PG, another young 7 foot center with speed and defense ability to compliment kanter and favors, a legit 3 point shooter that can defend the perimeter and draft picks. That is 7 roster spots that KOC has a chance to find talent, keep our salary cap manageable, and let our Core 4 take over as their team.
Jazz have never had such a good oportunity to build a team we want. KOC has always been held back picking guys that fit Sloan’s system. This is the first opportunity in franchise history he could make a serious mark and propel us to championship calibur
Guess Hayward can’t handle the big stage, and it was Jefferson and Harris that got the Jazz into the playoffs….
Agree with Xx.Big Al has the biggest contract I would like to see him in a Rockets uniform next year. I still like Harris for Matthews trade. May 30th lottery is the last chance for GS to get leapfrogged. The next two months will be very interesting..
@jazzman you are right one good game from Jefferson (Dallas) out of the last 10 is what got us in the playoffs. On wait no it didn’t. His lack of pick and roll defense against the Suns, Hornets, and Grizzlies is what kept us having to fight till the last game. Did you to watch the series and how he shut down Flopinobli and then Parker last game? His offense may have been off but he still produced in other ways.
@LK I waas wondering when the lottery was thanks for the info.
@jazzeduponit Great comment agree completely!
Buy Dragic, Jordan Hill, and Novac in the F/A market.
I think that hayward mostly just struggled because he’s a second year player with his first playoff experience against the best team in the nba. That’s why it was so important that we make the playoffs this year, so that our young guys could get the experience and get their first playoffs behind them. I actually want this starting 5 (the big lineup) to stay the same this offseason. The spurs are the perfect example of consistency in their lineup and depth, and we just need to build our depth by getting rid of raja and cj. This big lineup just held the spurs to 87 points. This is the same spurs team that regularly scores 120+ points per game. Our identity is defense. This is Swat Lake City! We are big, we rebound, and we score points in the paint. And I hope koc keeps it that way.
I have to say that these guys put up a fight till the end . They all really need to work on the free throws and their shooting . That is what really killed us in this series with the spurs .
Also I think thank that the big line was great but it left aalot to be desired from our bench .
That being said I am proud that they at least put up a fight instead of just laying it down .
If we can come up with a more consistant outside shooter then that will help out a bunch .
Thanx Jazz for a fun year . I still beleive in ya all !!!!
Every roster spot should be used. If we arent going to use Evans then use his spot for a 3 point shooter or defensive hustler. use the D league like a highschool tryout til we get legit 3 point shooters and perimeter defenders that can come off the bench and do damage.
@Lance
YES!!! DEFENSE is JAZZ that and fighting toughness. Dominate boards. Stay long and dominate the paint again next year with even more speed, double pick and rolls and continuous screens. We can stay long or longer even if we traded Al and Millsap. We need perimeter ball movement like the spurs and a PG that can penetrate in half court offense at will.
I thought i’d be pretty disappointed when we lost tonight. And of course I was, but I’m also damn proud of my boys. We outplayed the Spurs in the 4th quarter. We made Pop put his starters back in.
It’s been a hell of a season. Total rollercoaster ride. Although we fell to the Spurs, we put up a good fight. If we played like we did in the 4th quarter tonight, this series could have been different.
0 three pointers. That is our downfall. We need three point shooters that are worth having on the floor (and no, Korver is not worth having–he might make 2-3 three pointers, but he’ll allow 20 points with his nonexistent defense).
We showed true grit and determination in the 4th quarter. We played very physically. Reminded me of the Jazz of old.
After watching the game tonight, I’ve got 2 words: Demarre Carroll. That guy almost singlehandedly kept us in the game. What a beast! The hustle, the attitude, the strength, the speed, the scrappiness! LOVE this guy! Hope we give him a multi-year contract. He plays defense like Raja Bell used to. All he needs to do is work on his shooting. He’s worth having just by how much he hustles. He is a true impact player, if not much a scorer.
Congratulations to the Jazz organization. We’ll do even better next year! Let’s go Jazz!!!!
Another dumb ass comment by jazzman. You are an idot! They only comments you ever post is negitive remarks about Hayward. We all know why you hate him but I am going to disrespect the blog and the team and go there. Just shows you know nothing about basketball. I guarantee you will eat your words. Look what he contributed in April. He is a big reason we made the playoffs whether you want to accept it or not. He is a quality player and a very humble person. He is not getto like a lot of other players. He plays with class and dignity. Like I have said before find another band wagon to ride. Looks like all of us are sick of your comments and negitivity.
@jazzman, lay off Hayward, he is one of the main reasons that we were even in the playoffs. He didn’t have it going on offense because he was worn out from picking up Devin Harris’s inability to play defense against Parker. And on top of that he had to guard Ginobli, I believe that he did a great job all season.
Why don’t say something positive for once, if we didn’t have Hayward in there who would you want to play his position? Burks is unproven, Howard is a total ball hog, CJ….I don’t even want to start on him. So just shut up, stop bashing Hayward.
Go Jazz!!
And Carrol, while he is a great hustle player, he isn’t a great enough player to play the minutes that Hayward gets. Would he have been able to stop Ginobli and Parker, maybe for a little while, but not for as long as Hayward did.
Good job Jason, thanks again for the post game conversations. Same goes for all the others that have participated and made this a fun season. Let’s see if we can get the roster tweaked over the offseason and then have an even better year next year.