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Panic Jazz Fans! Panic! We lost to Toronto! Panic! (We’re oh so good at it.)
Posted by: Shauna Brock on January 26th, 2012
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.Bleary eyed, I woke to a world where for the first time since the first Bush W administration, the Jazz had lost to the Raptors. Peeking through my drooping eyelids, I settled in with my coffee and wandered to my usual outlet for sports news to check the standings, expecting that since the West is as tight as it is, the Jazz had dropped out of the top eight in the conference all together. But there they stood, clinging tightly to the 5th seed like their world depended on it.
Perhaps their world does depend on it. For the last sixteen games, it isn’t just the fans who have been on a wild ride of overinflated hopes and dreams while we watch this little team of castoffs (and by the way, top ten draft picks) rise to a place of prominence that makes the stories going on in Minnesota and Philly pale in comparison. For history’s sake, I’ll say that the Pacers and their rise in the East is just as cool as the Jazz coming back from the Season that Shall Not Be Named.
It appears the players have all bought into the “We Are Utah” idea and have bonded together as a team. They live and die together, not just separately. They are making sure the teammates get the memo – we love you, we’re here for you, now here is how to shake your rut and get over your insecurities. They’re leaving everything on the court. Everything. I’m absolutely sure that after the game last night they were wiping up pieces of Paul Millsap from the hardwood.
Just last week Jazz fans were demanding that Devin Harris be sent anywhere that wanted him. One game does not change a season long slump, but as someone who has been a supporter of Harris in Jazz uniform, I wanted to blow raspberries at all the haters last night. Last night, I heard people whine and gripe about Ty’s coaching choices. It’s so much easier to coach from the couch, isn’t it? He’s as new as these guys. All but the rookies and the guys picked up in free agency have been on the team longer than he’s been a head coach. He’s going to make mistakes just like they are.
But Jazz fans, right now the Jazz sit at 5th in the West. They lose the next few and they won’t be there for long, but they’re clinging, reminding us that the world is a better, much more stable place when they are playing solid ball and ready to hit the playoffs if the playoffs started today. Already this team has exceeded expectations. They lost a double overtime game that they should have won in regulation, but the league is like that.
To paraphrase that famous saying and make it work for this basketball season: there’s 66 games this year. Teams are going to win 22 and lose 22. It’s what they do with the other 22 that counts.
Replies: 14
Views: 711
14 Responses
Shauna, so aptly put. It seems like every fan expects to be a dynasty already. We have wonderful talent, but it is going to take time and probably another good draft. The future is great for this team. We need to give it time.
I don’t think anyone’s panicking but to lose to Toronto at home on their back-to-back with their best player out is just kind of embarrassing. Going up 18 and not being able to finish them off falls a lot on the coaches. Harris sat too long in the 2nd quarter but oh well, let’s go beat Dallas.
@Robert – I think we’ve been spoiled as Jazz fans. The good news is that for the most part, I think we’re still spoiled.
@JC – Mostly, I was being sarcastic with my title. I get so tired of fans living on the edge of the cliff. At least on twitter.
I always sleep poorly on nights the Jazz lose. Last night, I think I got about 4 hours rest (and I woke up with a sore throat).
I’m not panicking. It was a double overtime loss after all, so it’s not like we got blown out at home by a bad team (which would be a bad omen). And Bargnani has been tearing it up and has really lifted Toronto this year. But the game did have many disappointing aspects. We had an 18-point lead and lost it. We got 36 FT attempts and made only 24 of them (66% shooting is Dwight-Howard level BAD). Specifically crunch-time FTs were missed. Our shooting at the SF spot (Hayward, Howard, Miles) was terrible. Our three-point shooting was (and is) terrible.
One scary thing is that we’re one-dimensional. We have scoring inside or…not. Teams with big inside defenders are going to give us trouble because we don’t have much of an outside threat. Also, if Al or Millsap is out injured, it’s also going to be tough.
My 2c.
Yup our outside threat, well isn’t a threat. I wonder how realistic Mo Williams would be in a jazz uni? I’m not saying get rid of “so and so” but just thinking how effective he is from outside and they are loaded at the guard position.
Nice post! I see so many bright spots on this team. As long as they play hard every night and give it their all at every position, this team will be progressing. Last night was tough, but i’m sure it was quite a learning experience. Great things are happening before our eyes. A little patience and realistic expectations will go a long way this season. Maybe we do make the playoffs? Who knows.
I have seen stretches of greatness (already) from this team, but we do have stretches of growing pains manifesting themselves. The great surprise that this season has brought, is that the growing pains are fewer than expected. I know that this makes me smile at least. This team is going up, not down. No need to panic.
We all knew this time would hit some speed bumps along the way this season and that’s exactly what happened last night. For one, we had a fairly major injury. I have little doubt that if Jefferson had played last night, and continued to share the ball like he has been, the outcome would have been much different. Millsap and Harris did everything they could to keep it close and I applaud Devin for bouncing back. The absolute absence of our bench is what killed us. CJ played alright, but other than that they all forgot to show up. Also, what is the deal with Hayward? The guy has completely disappeared. I get that he’s playing out of position and everything, but you would think a professional basketball player would find a way to make things work. I mean, it’s not like he’s playing C instead of SG, he’s playing SF. Last night he had 2 points in almost 37 minutes. That’s just really disappointing.
Anyway, I think we see a fired up team come out tomorrow night and have a decent shot at beating a Dirk-less Mavericks team.
team* not time
@Shauna–I like the idea about the season in thirds. Probably very true. I wonder how many games that we’ve already won came from the third you’d expect to lose. At Denver for sure. Maybe Philly and the Clippers. But I think last night was one most of us would have marked as a win even before the season started (even assuming the Jazz would struggle this year). Maybe those things sort of even themselves out.
I definitely have no reason to panic – if someone told me the Jazz would have won 10 games by this point I’d have been ecstatic! The guys had a rough game last night (especially Gordon Hayward who just does not have the conditioning to play that many minutes), and Coach Ty lost his way a few times throughout the game (too slow to call timeouts, too few TOs used overall, poor line-up management) but it’s still just one game that we lost while missing our second-best or maybe best player. Watson had a bad game and Howard and Hayward were truly terrible, and the Raptors netted some bizarre shots late in the game. It’s fine. Next game please =P
Hopefully the Mavs give us some Texas hospitality that we can take advantage of.
I would rather get blown out than get my heart shattered to pieces. Also, sure Harris shot the ball well, but when making a free throw when it mattered?… I think he was betting on the Raptors to win. I’m glad he had a good game. Hopefully it will add to his trade value.
Add to Harris’s trade value. Trade for who? Who you going to get to replace him? Old guys who’s contract is up? Someone worth something, then who you going to send with him? I think for the future we need a good young PG, but for now, we should be happy with who we have. I doubt we find anything this draft worth having either.
Silly people who blame any one person for last nights loss just dont have a clue. The team missed 12 free throws, Harris was only responsible for 4 of those. The team went 4 of 18 from 3pt land. The team only had 16 assists Harris being responsible for 6 of those. The Team had 18 turn overs. The Jazz Bench was outscored 22 to 51. So looking at these deficiencies, you can see there is plenty of blame.
Blame Millsap for two late turn overs, Blame Al for being injured, Blame KOC for trading away DWill and Brewer and letting Korver and Mathews get away. Blame Bear, for not getting the fans into the game enough. Heck, blame the Fans for not being a good enough 6th man, or supporters of their team. And while your at it, kick the dog and take out the trash.
Those thrilled with next yrs draft, take a look at your prospects. Its full of PF’s, Centers, and Shooting Guards. We need SF’s and PG’s, and the only ones worth having will be gone by the time we get our picks. There are 3 I like watching, but doubtful to not at all is our luck with the draft picking any of them. In case your wondering Anthony Davis PF is tearing it up, Harrison Barns SF would be a nice snatch but wont be available, and Jeremy Lamb SG but we are overstocked for two of those positions and getting any of the 3 is very doubtful.
I hear people talking about Marshal PG, I read he is projected 14 to 23 in the draft. He has assists, and can supposedly pass and lead a team. Lets remember that he isnt scoring well, and he cant shoot from outside. Move Hayward to the PG and you have your Marshall. Knocks on Marshall are athleticism and scoring, which translates into no defense and no Offense. Cool, go run someone elses team.