Meet
And ….we’re back.
Posted by: Shauna Brock on November 2nd, 2012
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.So you know that scene at the beginning of Friday Night Lights where the team is taking turns beating the crap out of Tim Riggins? They slam into him over and over again because he shows up to practice half-drunk. For some reason, watching the game tonight, that scene kept coming into my mind. Okay, let’s be fair. No one showed up half drunk (as far as we know.) But I really do want Paul Millsap to get free hits on every single player on the team at the next practice.
Two games in, there isn’t a lot to say regarding this team. So, all I am going to do is a quick rundown on what I’ve seen and what I’m hoping for.
1 – The Jazz’s unending streak of being lackluster on the road continues. It makes me feel almost good about the state of the world to know that the more players change the more they stay the same.
2 – The Williamses are great. It’s good to see Mo back and I like Marvin’s style.
3 – My favorite player? Ty Corbin’s glare. It was on display all over the court tonight.
4 – The three-point shot has finally come to Utah. It’s something that I like seeing because it means that we’ve evolved into a modern team. Better yet, when one of the guys goes up to shoot one, I’m not screaming “NO!!!!!!”
5 – Who is this new Enes Kanter? Whoever the Jazz kidnapped and replaced him with can definitely stay. Even if he’s an alien. Especially if he’s an alien. Maybe he’s a Martian.
6 – Al Jefferson needs to start coming off the bench. It’s time. I respect the veteran mindset, I really do. But Al needs to start coming off the bench if he’s not being traded.
7 – Defense, children. Defense. It’s not a difficult word. Defense.
8 – Gordon Hayward is all grown up. Now, he has to be the man we know he can be, put this team on his shoulders, and lead it.
9 – I’m okay waiting on Alec Burks. He needs more time, definitely, but it won’t kill him to be slowly worked into the rotation into a way that he can be the leader of that second group for a while.
10 – Paul Millsap.
Replies: 8
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8 Responses
I’ve actually been a little unimpressed by Millsap on the offensive end so far, even in the preseason. With the exception of the timely 3 tonight he can’t make anything outside 5 feet. He seems to be forcing things a little too. I guess that could go for all our bigs though. None of them have been consistently scoring the ball and they all seem to be trying too hard, or not hard enough (Al Jefferson). But that’s just what I’m seeing. Great win Wednesday, disheartening loss to a shorthanded, bad team tonight. I’m interested to see how they respond. Good thing is, we’re only 2 games in. PLENTY of time to regroup and get things rolling.
AG – yes, there is plenty of time.
Which is why blogging this early in is hard.
@Shauna, I agree with just about everything you listed. Al just does not play good enough D to start. Starters set the tone. If scrubs get confidence against our D they are going to play with like they can score whenever they want. What really angered me was, about 3 minute mark Milsap takes shot and AL IS DOING THE “ITS GOOD” FG STANCE!!! and the loose ball fall at about a ft from his feet. This is our center in a close game. I lost it there. Get the rebound dude.
2nd unit needs a dog like Burks to take it to the opposing team.
mmm I love Williams brothers too… but I really think that a pg cant take more than 6 or 7 shots…. Mo takes 13 i think??? well is an idea
My second thought is that is time to move seriously Big Al, I think Robin lopez was kicking him butt all last night long… and is just Robin lopez…
instead, I really like this team
GO JAZZ GO!
I also am impressed with the Williamses, Marvin was especially a big surprise for me. I know everyone is in love with Gordon Hayward, but I still see a little hesitation in him sometimes. I’d like to see a little more scoring from Kanter and/or Favors before we send Al to the bench, but I suppose you can’t score if you are not on the floor. Since many of the next dozen games are on the road, we have to improve defense and confidence in being able to win away from the ESA. Thanks for the post Shauna.
@Deb – I am liking the trial by fire at the beginning of the season for the team. They have to win on the road. So let’s get it going. I hope.
@Guido – I have fewer issues with a pg taking shots. We loved D-Wil and he was often the high scorer on the team. But with this team, he doesn’t need to take as many as long as the other guys are hitting shots. So we’ll see how things shake out. What I didn’t like last night were the few times he seemed to take shots he just didn’t need to take.
@Omar – I just don’t know about Al. I do like him as a player, but there is just something that doesn’t spark him the way I expect to see a starter sparked. I really don’t think it’s ego. I think he just checks out half the time. But you can’t do that in a close game.
@Shauna, that one play really burned me. Instead of posing, Al (our center) should be going after the rebound!!! It was like a 2 point came and our center is posing while ball bounces in front of him. He is not a rim protecter, maybe I am old school, but I like my centers to be dogs and protect the rim and fight for every rebound. Al doesnt do that. I love it when Kanter give hard fouls at the rim, no lay ups. Al just doesn’t have that mean streak. Thats why I am so high on Burks, when KG was picking on Al @Boston last year, it was Burks (a rookie) that was talking trash to KG and getting in his face?! Didn’t anyone else that. Kanter going at dumb-scrub Eddie Curry against Mavs, Favors going at Brand in that game also. I want guys that whether winning by 20 or losing by 20, they are gonna hit hard to the buzz sounds. Al does hit when the game starts or when the game is a close game in the fourth.
*Al does NOT hit when…