Meet
The Whipping Boy
Posted by: Zach on April 9th, 2011
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.During the past several weeks, I’ve heard a whole lot of people criticizing Andrei Kirilenko. The comments are generally centered around his highly oversized contract and numerous injuries. Whether he likes it or not, he has been given a new role by Jazz fans, The Whipping Boy. That role has a history in itself. Who could forget the great Greg Ostertag, an often disappointing, sometimes infuriatingly incompetent big man. I believe he (and possibly the loss of shot-blocking Mark Eaton) is what gave rise to a burning desire in many Jazz fans to acquire a “true big man.”
Later down the road, there came along a man by the name of Carlos Boozer. His tendency to be injured what felt like most of the season and unwillingness to play defense solidified his place as the new whipping boy. Tension between the fans and himself continued to grow, and it was no surprise when he took off for Chicago without looking back. Most fans were glad to see him gone, though nobody can argue he was a great attribute to our team offensively when he was healthy.
With Boozer gone, there was no obvious frontrunner for the role. The 2010-2011 season wore on, and still nobody emerged from the flames. Raja Bell showed signs that he could be the man as he continued to do nothing every game and make the team worse. Fes drew criticism but most people who didn’t have their heads in the clouds already knew he was awful. Al Jefferson wasn’t doing well and was another promising candidate. But as the team broke down more and more, it was its leader and all-star, Deron Williams who emerged as the unlikely winner. His inability to lead on his own and often overblown clashes (the extent of which few really know) with Coach Sloan turned the hearts of Jazz fans against him. He continued to put up big numbers and put the offense on his back game after game, but a severe wrist injury rendered him unable to perform like the all-star he was. Coach Sloan’s resignation was the final straw. The media crushed Deron’s name to a pulp and the insinuating fan speculation and anger brought things to the boiling point. Our once-beloved DWill was traded away as the team continued to spiral out of control.
Now that the dust has settled on a season where the Jazz went through a record-breaking midseason collapse, the next victim seems to have emerged. Andrei Kirilenko’s inability to stay healthy when the team may have needed him most, alongside his highly-criticized max contract, may have led him to fill the role left open once again. Criticism of AK is nothing new. It’s obvious he is not the max contract player that Jazz management once thought he was, and his frequent injuries have certainly been frustrating. However, I think his contributions to this team are too often downplayed. The team’s ball movement is much better with AK on the floor. He is, at times, one of the only players moving around on offense and he is generally a pretty solid defender. He can get to the basket and knows the Jazz offense better than anyone on the team. He didn’t get his knee injury (that likely made March 23 the last game he’ll play for the season, and possibly the last game as a member of the Jazz) while tripping over a bag while going to answer the doorbell. He never tried telling everyone else what to do or blamed others for the team’s failure while not taking credit himself. He got injured diving for a loose ball. I’m not sure anyone else on the team would have gone after that ball if they were in AK’s place. The guy’s got heart. He’s had his ups and downs, but his contributions to the Jazz have been very significant. While many would be content to drive him out of the state with torches and pitchforks, I’ll miss AK if he’s gone, and I think this team would miss his abilities too. He really more of an interim whipping boy for the team right now while the season comes to a close. The question is, who will be the new whipping boy if he’s gone next year? Big Al? Devin Harris? Even Milsap? Only time will tell.
Replies: 11
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11 Responses
Not to stir the pot but you must be a younger person. Your title to some is a racial slur. Just sayin..
@LK: Definitions of whipping boy:
-scapegoat: someone who is punished for the errors of others;
-A whipping boy, in the 1600s and 1700s, was a young boy who was assigned to a young prince and was punished when the prince misbehaved or fell behind in his schooling. Whipping boys were established in the English court during the monarchies of the 15th century and 16th century. …
A fitting term simply referring to one player taking the most blame for the team’s mistakes and shortcomings and who gets criticized the most by fans. Sorry if you felt offended by that…
As this once proud franchise begins a difficult rebuilding process, it’s probably best for an injury prone veteran like Kirilenko to find a new address. I wouldn’t mind bringing him back with the idea he would play a reserve role, and for low dollars, but that’s not likely to happen.
It sucks if he decides to go. Another player that we get nothing for, just like Carlos Loozer. Way to go KOC. I know hind site and whatnot, as well as he contract was to high to for any other team to find it appealing, but still….
I was one of the biggest proponents to trade AK this season. Not because he’s not a great player, but because he had an expiring superstar-level contract. He was our biggest potential to improve our team. With that contract, it’s possible to GET a superstar, or two talented players to improve our depth, etc etc. Jazz FO didn’t, so now the next best option is probably to re-sign him for $5-8M.
I’ve never blamed AK for his contract, it was totally up to management. It really killed our flexibility to re-sign the Boozers, Korvers, and Matthews, Brewers and Maynors. Which in turn led to a semi-rebuild, Sloan retiring, and a win-now entering-his-prime Williams being traded. It was all caused by over-paying AK, and that’s on the FO.
I’m with kc. It is and always has been on koc
I honestly don’t think he’ll leave. He’s stated numerous times that he’s more than willing to re-sign for less. Only time will tell though.
All the players get to be whipped at times. Look at Milsap, he gets whipped a lot, and is one of the hardest workers in the league.
Back to AK. I like him, always have. Wish he could have stayed healthy and happy his whole career, but it hasnt happened. Still love the guy.. Hope he gets resigned for around 6 mil, comes off the bench and stays healthy.
As far as AK’s contract hurting us. Well, it kept us from retaining Mathews. But there are several ways to look at it. Even if we had the money, everyone thought it was too much to match for an undrafted rookie. I disagreed, but most people didnt feel he was worth the contract Portland gave him. They were wrong.. If Mathews had a different manager, maybe he would have signed with us for less, if you believe the “I didnt know we got offered anything” per Mathews. Eh, that one hurt.
The others lost because of the supposed AK contract, good ridance. Boozer, gone yay. He never played a full game let alone a full season for us. Korver, never played defense here. Had either tried I might be speaking a different tune, but they didnt.. Brewer isnt even doing so well now.. So I wont cry over any of the others being lost.
Are we not doing so swell, of course not, but those guys didnt win us a ring either.. Let them go already. In time I think this time of pain will be forgotten, and we will be happy they left..
Want a whipping boy, look to Alban and the others who post all the negative junk.. They never seem to help do they. How about the guys eating up funds who never play, or when they do play never get any better. Whip them for a while.
I have self admittedly developed a mildly-irrational distaste for C.J. Miles this year. Not all of it is his fault, but when the jazz are losing badly and he is 2-15 from the field it doesn’t help. Please KOC do not exercise his option!
JRN I understand the bad taste, but does it help or hurt the team? Take CJ away from the equation, that leaves you Hayward, Evans and no back ups. Looking at the draft there are not alot of guys to take for SF or SG.
We may resign AK, and we may move Milsap over for some games, but that only helps out the SF.. Still leaves a hole. I say give him one last chance and pull him from the bench. That way your not killing yourself with his play, and though he may not be the best plug its still a plug. Who knows, maybe he will find some consistancy.. You would hate to watch him walk away and actually explode next season wouldnt you? Especially if we are hurting in that position..