Um... didn't we like just do this?

Oh yeah... we did. Not just once, but twice.

The Jazz are coming off of a win against the Warriors that was kind of a blowout. Until the Jazz turned into the Jazz we know and let the Dubs back into it in the 4th quarter.

The SG ratings after 1 game...

1. CJ Miles... Exactly what we expected. When he gets set before shooting, he's solid. When he doesn't, we're screwed.
2. Ronnie P... He's not a PG. Plain and simple. But he's got this 2-guard thing down.
3. Kyle Korver... He even blocked a shot!
4. Wes Matthews... Everyone's favorite, he started but struggled mightily.

The Blazers, meanwhile, were destroyed by the Celtics on the same night (in Portland, no less). As was noted over at Bust a Bucket...

Deficient Trail Blazer coaching aside, the Boston Celtics won this game because they efficiently exploited the Blazers key weakness: the Blazers' shaky interior defense. They got the ball inside on almost every possession and beat the Blazers in the paint 44-28. The Celtics had 4 players in double digits and for much of the game seemingly got to the rim at will.

It is kinda surprising given their recent trade for Marcus Camby, but I'm guessing it'll take a bit for Camby & the Blazers to get acclimated with each other. Meanwhile, they only got something like 7 assists total in the game... a number that was almost doubled (12) by ex-Blazer Steve Blake in his first game for the Clippers last night. Brandon Roy is playing, but he's playing hurt. That can't be good for the team. Rudy Fernandez was supposedly bad last time out.

Rip City Project has some thoughts that should make Jazz fans super-excited...

If Portland wants to win, it starts on the defensive end. They have to find a way to get stops against the Jazz. I’m not afraid that they can’t score on them, it just won’t matter if they can’t stop them. Boozer/Millsap/Okur/Kirilenko/Williams have all had their moments wreaking chaos on Portland this year. If they don’t defend with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and effort than the result may not be pretty.

Like is stated there, Marcus Camby isn't going to just make everything better. The Jazz know that, and they should continue to attack inside. Boozer is rolling. 'Sap is getting his minutes and impressing (and will get more chances with Okur out again tonight). AK has somehow found Bugs Bunny's magic potion from Space Jam (or a time-machine to take him back to 2002)... though he's now the guy you don't want taking a jumper with Brewer gone. Koufosenko won't see any time unless the Jazz are up by 50 with less than 2 minutes left in the game.

Back outside, Williams has been struggling with his shot of late, but is still making everyone better. As we saw yesterday, if CJ Miles is willing to set his feet before shooting, he can be deadly. The problem, of course, is that he doesn't do it often enough. Someone needs to work on this with him. Matthews & Korver are both threats to hit from downtown. Ronnie P. brings energy... and a lot of unneeded passes if he's given control of the offense. He needs to be used solely as a 2-guard. Sundiata Gaines has disappeared.

Over at Blazersedge, they're trying to pump up the Blazers. Which makes sense. They're batting for the playoffs, even with the injuries. They're coming off of an embarrassing home loss. Throw in something about needing to play with heart and all... I'd generally agree. But, for tonight, I hope it fails. Miserably.

After tonight... I wouldn't mind. Ross Siler feels that the Blazers will be the Jazzster's first round opponent in the playoffs, and I wouldn't mind that. It'd be a fun series. But, for tonight, I hope the Blazers play worse than the Nets have been playing all season. Sorry, it's not that I hate the Blazers... it's that they're playing the Jazz.

Comments (0)

Name

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

Add Comment