Archives For NBA Playoffs

NBA Playoffs Round 2: Lakers at Jazz Game 4 Preview

Spencer Hall —  May 10, 2010 — 9 Comments

Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

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Game Details:
Coverage: TNT
8:30 PM MDT, May 10, 2010
EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, UT

ESPN Preview

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By now you all know the details. You’ve come down off the ledge after Saturday’s instant-classic-with-the-wrong-ending. So what do you think about tonight? I think the Jazz come out flat but end up fighting back and eventually win the game on pride alone. There is no empirical basis for that prediction, only one man’s wish to not have to watch a sweep.

In the meantime, let’s talk Derek Fisher for a minute. All the reports of the game are going crazy about Jazz fans booing Fish, which is clearly a euphemism for the nasty, personal, taunting things that are hurled his way every time he plays in SLC, post-Jazz. The booing alone is no reason for people to be upset; Carmelo was booed, Kobe gets booed, Dirk gets booed, even the Red Panda would get booed if she came out to perform wearing a Lakers jersey.

As someone in attendance during the game, I can honestly say it didn’t seem like Fisher was getting booed any worse than any of the other visiting players. Arash Markazi heard some things that he described thusly: “To say their taunts are personal and crossing the line would be a massive understatement.”

I have my opinions on the circumstances surrounding Fisher’s departure from Utah a few years ago, but it seems irrelevant anyway. I can’t, and won’t, defend the actions of the fans who choose to yell personal insults at the players, no matter the back story. It’s always unnerving, in any arena, to watch a fan scream at a player with the kind of venom that reveals nasty things about our society. Pardon the metaphor, but it’s like watching a 14-year old kid shaking cages in a pet store. He’s always tough when they can’t bite back.

I’d like to see the day when the whole “____ sucks” chant is completely forgotten. It’s just embarrassing and isn’t even original. Any chanting that happens should be original at least, and funny at best. Good fan work is exactly that: it’s work. The geniuses sitting behind the basket in Game 3 wearing the same clothes as Kobe from his exotic East India pictures for the LA Times Magazine? Perfect.

Personally, I just want to be entertained. AND ARE WE NOT ENTERTAINED? Fisher may have ripped out the hearts of Jazz fans with his performance in Game 3, but it wasn’t long ago that he gave us one of the greatest moments in Jazz history when he checked into the game straight from the airport and hit a huge 3 to push the Jazz to victory. Few players in the history of the game have had as many big moments in the playoffs as Fisher, and I appreciate it. All I want from a game, or a movie, or a concert, is to be entertained, and Fisher has done more that his fair share of that over the years.

Anyway, let’s bring the noise tonight and keep it interesting and funny. And obviously cancer- and kid-free, sheesh. We probably shouldn’t even have to set that as a baseline. As an olive branch to Fisher, here’s a clip from his website offering some insight into what was going on when he was released from his contract with the Jazz by the late owner Larry Miller.

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If you’d like a little pick-me-up, check out the nice post by nice post by JL Cauvin on why we follow the Jazz. There are a few factual errors, but it’s the sentiment I enjoy.

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Follow the game on the ESPN Daily Dime Live Chat. I’ll be taking questions and posting your comments. Stop in and say what’s on your mind.

In NBA, Utah Jazz , , , ,
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NBA Playoffs Round 2: Jazz 103 – Lakers 111 Game 2

Spencer Hall —  May 5, 2010 — Leave a comment

Happy Cinco de Mayo. In an act of either irony or xenophobia, my neighbor has a big American flag out on his porch today.

ESPN Recap
Jazz 103 – Lakers 111

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Is it possible to get blown out by single digits? Apparently it is because that’s what happened to the Jazz in both Game 1 and again last night in Game 2. There wasn’t a lot to like as a Jazz fan, unless someone who has been clamoring for a Fesenko/Koufos tandem in extended minutes. I may very well have enjoyed a sideshow like that back in December, but it was just depressing to watch them fumble over themselves against the likes of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom. Even a clearly impaired Ron Artest looked downright graceful in comparison to the lumbering two-headed monster called Fesenkoufos.

Then there’s the curious case of Carlos Boozer shooting his first free throws of the series with 8:18 to play in the 3rd quarter. It certainly wasn’t for lack of attention, as Booz traded in his usual “AND ONE!” for a more family unfriendly “$%#@$#$@#$” after nearly every possession in the first half. Most of his shouts were clearly audible in the broadcast, but his frustration with the officiating wasn’t unique to Jazz fans — Jack Nicholson also added to the spectacle with a profanity-laced tirade that would have made Col. Jessep blush. Foul or not, Boozer further solidified his position as one of the most-blocked players in the league, getting swatted 6 times on the night.

Boozer’s frustration led to double technicals with Pau Gasol in one of the all-time great Soft Scuffles in the history of the NBA. One commenter in the Daily Dime chat asked for a poll comparing the relative softness of Pau, Booz, and wet 1-ply tissue paper. Tissue paper came in third.

On the other side of the toughness spectrum, the only bright spots for the Jazz come from the play of Paul Millsap and Ronnie Price. Millsap dominated Ron Artest to the tune of 26 points on just 17 shots to go along with 11 rebounds. Ronnie Price meanwhile continued to be the spark that fuels the Jazz comeback. In a repeat of Game 1, just as the Jazz got within knocking distance down 4 points in the 4th quarter, Price returned to the bench and the Jazz sputtered to the finish. Don’t get me wrong, Price is no Deron Williams, but there are a few games each year when Price’s speed and toughness give opponents fits. For some reason he seems to be able to disrupt the Lakers second unit. I would have appreciated a few more minutes of the Price experiment, just to see how it goes, you know? Let’s ride or die with the guy when he has it going, just one time.

Game 3 is Saturday and the Jazz are going to need every minute of it to pull themselves together. I expect a very different showing as the series returns to Utah. I also expect very large reproductions/manipulations of those photos of Kobe Bryant to be displayed prominently in the arena. Don’t disappoint me, Jazz fans.

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Kobe photo shoot for the LA Times

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NBA Playoffs Round 2: Jazz 99 – Lakers 104

Spencer Hall —  May 2, 2010 — 2 Comments

The moment I thought they had a chance.

After the first quarter, I have to admit I didn’t imagine good things for the rest of the game. The Lakers were getting anything they wanted and Kobe looked like he might put up 60. The quarter ended with the LA shooting nearly 80% from the field. Somehow the Jazz pulled a similar trick to what the Nuggets did in Game 6 in the first round: get dominated but somehow keep the score reasonable.

By the time the smoke cleared and the Lakers cooled off, the Jazz hung around and even took a 4-point lead with four minutes to go in the game. But then: Boozer gets pushed a few times and gives up the offensive rebound to Gasol and then Booz fouls him weakly on the put-back and allows the and-one. And then: CJ Miles tries to flop and leaves Kobe wide open for a jump shot and is additionally punished by the karma gods for the flop by being called for a mysterious foul while laying on his back. The free throw puts the Lakers up 94-93 and the Jazz crumbled.

On the upside, I was just glad to see the Jazz compete. I was worried that today’s game would be a beat down. Ronnie Price was the spark off the bench the Jazz needed. The second unit did a great job of getting the Jazz in the game and making it interesting.

I’ll have more to say about tonight’s game, but in the meantime, here’s Deron’s nasty dunk:


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ESPN recap

Forum Blue and Gold recap

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NBA Playoffs Round 2: Jazz-Lakers Game 1 Preview

Spencer Hall —  May 2, 2010 — 3 Comments

(It was a million years ago, but I still love it.)

Game Details:
1:30 PM MDT, May 2, 2010
STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA
TV: ABC

ESPN Preview

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My prediction for the series: I have this sneaky feeling that the Jazz are going to find a way to win the series, but it’s going to require a win today in Game 1. If the Jazz lose today, I’m going to say the series still goes 7 games, with the Lakers winning the last game at home. Any big upset by the Jazz is going to require super-human effort from Deron Williams. Point guard is the only matchup where the Jazz have an advantage so the injuries to Deron’s wrist and elbow are making me nervous for today’s game.

Still, there can be no complaining from the Jazz. They made their bed when they didn’t show up for the Phoenix game on the last night of the regular season and now they have to sleep in it by playing the Lakers in the 2nd Round. Here’s to a strong showing by Utah.

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NBA Playoffs – Round 1: Jazz vs Nuggets Game 6 Preview

Spencer Hall —  April 30, 2010 — Leave a comment

(It never gets old)

Game Details:
8:00 PM MDT, Friday, April 30, 2010
EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
TV: ESPN2 / FSN

ESPN Preview

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It’s time to put the Nuggets out of their misery and move on. Nene won’t be playing, the Birdman was noticeably hobbled at the end of Game 5, and recent history has shown that this Denver team folds when the energy in the building isn’t going their way. I predict a good effort for the first half and then the Jazz start to pull away, the ESA starts rocking, and the Jazz coast to victory.

In the meantime, the real tragedy is the news today that Wesley Matthews wasn’t included on the All-Rookie first or second team. After being left out of the Rookie-Sophomore game during All-Star weekend, I didn’t think there was any way the coaches would leave out a guy who is not only starting on strong playoff team, he’s putting in big minutes and making crucial contributions.

Clearly this year’s rookie class is strong, with the likes of Tyreke Evans, Brandon Jennings, Stephen Curry, Darren Collison, and Taj Gibson clearly deserving to make the First Team. James Harden and DeJuan Blair were beasts in OKC and San Antonio, so they definitely earned their spots. But come on, did New Orleans really need two players (Collison and Marcus Thornton) on the team? I enjoyed the work of the Swedish gentleman Jonas Jerebko, but the Pistons were terrible. I’d also dismiss Jonny Flynn if the Timberwolves hadn’t picked up 13% of their wins against the Jazz.

All told, what is it going to take for young Wesley Matthews to get some recognition? I’m sure he’d take starting-on-a-playoff-team over everybody-talking-about-me-while-I-play-5-minutes-per-night, but still, it seems like an egregious slight for a guy who has done nothing but play like a season pro the entire year. Ross Siler had a great suggestion that the Jazz send Matthews as their rep to the NBA Draft Lottery. If there ever was a good luck charm, it has to be Matthews. Besides, he deserves it.

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NBA Playoffs: Round 1 – Chatting with the Nuggs

Spencer Hall —  April 16, 2010 — 1 Comment

I’ve been in a fairly catatonic state ever since the debacle against the Suns on Wednesday night. I’m trying to pick up the pieces and reconcile a world where the widow of the deceased owner has more fight and competitive spirit than the players her family pays millions of dollars to entertain. Whatever happened on Wednesday was definitely not entertainment.

There are still a few things to say about Wednesday, but in the meantime, let’s chat a bit about Saturday’s Game 1 for the Jazz in Denver against the Nuggets. I’ll be teaming up with my TrueHoop Network brother Jeremy from Roundball Mining Company to chat about the series on Friday at 1pm MDT. Join us and let us know what’s on your mind.

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