It could have been worse yet it also could have been a lot better.  In the end, the Jazz will pick 9th in next month’s NBA Draft.  The odds were against Utah moving up but that didn’t keep Jazz fans from hoping.  The process now begins for the Jazz organization to find the best player available at that spot. 

The Washington Wizards proved to be the luckiest team tonight.  They moved all the way up to #1 and will have the right to select Kentucky guard John Wall.  Philadelphia also moved up the board and will select 2nd.  New Jersey had the toughest night of any team.  They had the best odds of getting the top pick but will have to settle for picking 3rd. 

The Jazz biggest need is a bigman.  There are a few players at that position that should be available at #9.  In my opinion, outside of the top 2, the rest is a gamble.  We’ll see if the Jazz can make the right move!

Shep

The Utah Jazz season came to an end tonight.  The biggest question is whether or not the Boozer era came to an end with it.  We’ll get to that in a minute.

I was convinced that Utah would win this game tonight.  No Jazz team had ever been swept in a 7 game series and I thought this team would come out hungry and at least force a Game 5.  That wasn’t the case.  The Jazz came out flat and uninspired.  The offense had no flow and it almost seemed as if they had checked out already.  Deron didn’t attack the basket until the 3rd quarter and by that time it was too late.  Boozer had a worse game tonight than Game 3.  He got it going a little bit in the 3rd but overall I think he was mentally packing for his new home. 

The Lakers are just the better team.  There is no debating that point.  They have the experience, size, athleticism and swagger that the Jazz don’t.  Gasol was great tonight and Kobe was Kobe.  Deron was asked during the postgame what it would take to get to where the Lakers are and he really didn’t have an answer.  I have an answer…they need Kobe, Gasol and Odom. 

The Jazz have a ton of question marks that we probably won’t have answers to until July.  The biggest is Boozer’s status.  I really don’t think he will be back, but if the Jazz are being honest with themselves, they know they need him to win.  The problem is the decision is not in their hands. 

Adios to the 2009-2010 Utah Jazz season.  It was fun but once again you left me frustrated at the end. 

Shep

I’m trying to figure out the best word that describes my thoughts on tonight’s game.  I guess it’s disappointed.  This was by far the Jazz bestchance to win a game.  They had the crowd behind them, AK was back, Korver was shooting lights out, Gasol and Odom were non factors….yet the Jazz still couldn’t figure out LA.

This game came down to the little things.  It was missed free throws and turnovers that ultimately did the Jazz in.  Yes, Fisher and Artest tripled their offensive output but it’s my opinion that if the Jazz had been able to clean up the little things, they win the game. 

Boozer played ok at best tonight.  The turnover toward the end of the game where teh ball literally hit him in the stomach and rolled out of bounds killed Utah’s momentum.  I’m not blaming Carlos for the loss, but he has to play better.  It’s that simple.  I understand he is at a height disadvantage, but he needs to outwork his opponent and I don’t think he did that tonight.

Now the question is what happens in Game 4.  We all know the outcome of the series.  The question will be if the Jazz roll over or come out and postpone the inevitable.  I guess we’ll find out Monday night at 8:30. 

Shep

The Jazz played well in the beginning and the end but it was the middle part that caused them problems.  The Jazz made a conscience effort to come out with more intensity and it worked.  The problem was that the Lakers were able to hang around and then make a run of their own. 

Once again, size was a huge problem for the Jazz.  The Lakers bigs were beasts on offense and defense.  Bynum, Gasol and Odom combined for 50 points which absolutely killed Utah.  Paul Millsap led the Jazz with 26 points, while Boozer and Miles finished with 20. 

The vibe in the locker room was pretty somber.  They know that it is going to take a huge comeback at home to get back in this series.  The crowd can only lift a team so far.  At some point the Jazz are going to have to find a way to figure out how to counteract the Lakers size.  Easier said than done.  It will also help if the Jazz can start shooting the ball better.  Utah shot 39% from the field and 67% from the free throw line.  That can’t continue. 

Laker players all said after the game that they know this Jazz team will play better at home.  They know that Utah will probably get more calls at Energy Solutions Arena.  However, based on the smiles on their faces, I get the sense that they don’t think it will matter.  Game 3 is Saturday night at 7 o’clock.  If the Jazz are serious about beating the Lakers…it has to start then.

All of tonight’s audio is in the audio vault on teh NBA page.

Shep

I get the feeling that the Lakers are just toying with the Jazz now.  LA has this game completely in hand and Utah seems content to let them.  The Jazz have not fought back tonight.  They have been pushed around all night long.  The fans are chanting “Utah Sucks” and right now, they do.  Paul Millsap is leading Utah with 18 points.  That is not a good sign when a bench player is your top scorer.   

Through 3 quarters the Jazz are shooting 39% from the field while allowing the Lakers to shoot 53%.  That isn’t going to cut it.  It’s not cutting it tonight and it won’t in Games 3 and 4 back in SLC either. 

I am very anxious to gauge the mood in the locker room after this game.  After Game 1 they were upset that they lost but felt good about their effort.  I would expect a different attitude tonight.  You can hear their comments for yourself.  I’ll post all the postgame audio in the audio vault on www.kall700sports.com. 

Talk to you after the game.

Shep

The Jazz are struggling from the field and from the free throw line.  That’s not a good combination if you’re looking for a win on the road against the defending NBA Champions.  At the half, Utah is shooting 35% from the field and 47% from the free throw line. 

Utah’s defense is non-existent.  LA is getting whatever they want.  They are dominating the boards at .  After the quick start by the Jazz, the Lakers have taken this game over.  Utah is falling apart and on top of that they are in foul trouble.  Boozer has 3.  Millsap has 2 and Deron has 2. 

Barring some colossal collapse by the Lakers, LA has this game in the bag.  I’m sure Utah will make a run at some point but every time the Jazz have made a run, LA has had an answer for it.  I’ll be back after the 3rd quarter with another blog.  we’ll see if the Jazz can make a game of this.

Shep

The entire Jazz team said they had to come out more aggressively to start the game.  That’s exactly what they did.  Deron Williams was on fire hitting two3 pointers and leading the Jazz to an early 11-4 lead.  Things got so bad for the Lakers that the refs actually called a technical on Kobe.  Unfortunately the Jazz missed the free throw. 

As well as the Jazz started, they couldn’t keep the lead.  After being up 11-4, the Lakers went on a 9-2 run to tie Utah at 13.  The Jazz really are playing hard but once again, the Lakers height is causing so many problems.  Even when Utah goes inside and takes it to the basket, someone is always there to alter the shot or block it. 

Deron is leading the Jazz with 7 points.  Boozer and Matthews each have 6.  Outside of those three players, nobody else has really stepped up.  Utah needs help from the “others”

As well as the Jazz started playing, they finished the quarter on a sour note and trail by 4 after one.  I’ll be back at halftime with another entry.

Shep

I just got back from Utah Jazz shootaround at the LA Clippers facility.  The team went long on their practice but short with their interviews.  Everyone seemed to be in a hurry, or maybe they were just sick of talking to us.  It’s probably the later. 

The biggest news that came out today was that Andrei Kirilenko will not play tonight.  The team decided it was better to give AK the next 3 days to heal up even more before Game 3 back home.  I asked AK if he had to play tonight, could he?  He said it’s not a matter pf if he can play, but how well.  Ultimately I think the Jazz are making the right decision.  Having AK out there tonight would help but it isn’t going to change the series.  Make sure the guy is healthy and bring him back for Game 3. 

Most everybody else talked about the importance of having a good start tonight.  I asked them if a good start is more a scheme thoing or something mental.  They said it is a mental thing.  Utah has not had great starts in the playoffs this year.  If they can avoid playing catch-up, maybe they will have a better shot down the stretch. 

You know that Kobe and the Lakers are going to play better as well.  They want to make sure they don’t give the Jazz any life in this series.  Expect LA to continue to use their height in the post and on defense force the Jazz to be a perimeter team. 

I’ll be back later on tonight with a posting after the 1st quarter. 

Shep

Here are the highlights of today’s practice.  Before I get to that, we went to the Clippers practice facility where the Jazz were holding their practice.  As you walk in, there is a trophy case.  Yes I know, the clippers and trophy case don’t really go together.  Every single person that walked by it basically laughed that the Clippers even had a trophy case.  I guess last year when the SLC media went there it was completely empty.  This year they have it full of stuff.  What stuff you ask???  How about one Blake Griffin jersey and then a case full of awards that owner Donald Sterling has won.  Mostly awards of appreciation.  If that’s all you can put into a trophy case, maybe you shouldn’t have one!

Back to practice, here is what you need to know

-AK is 50/50 for Game 2.  Looking pretty good for Game 3 back in SLC…

-The team feels optimistic going into Game 2.  They feel like they let one slip away in Game 1 (they did)

-Sloan is sticking with Fesenko as the starting center

-Jazz have to be more aggressive to start the game

-The Lakers height is a problem but the Jazz feel they can still score inside if they execute

Those are the highlights from this mornings practice.  One thing that stood out to me is the teams attitude today.  Overall they seemed to be ok.  I understand it’s only one game but the Jazz have lost 15 straight games in LA and they had a great chance yesterday to snap that streak and take back home court.  I expected for them to be down but they weren’t.  I guess that’s a good sign. 

All the audio is posted on the NBA page of the Audio Vault. 

Shep

Honestly I didn’t think the Jazz would even be close at the end, but to my surprise (and probably yours) the Jazz had a 4 point lead with 4 minutes left in the game.  That’s when the Lakers used their strengths to make sure the Jazz didn’t steal Game 1.  The reason Utah lost this game was because of the size of LA.  Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol have such an advantage over the Jazz that it really isn’t even fair.  Odoms putback late sealed the deal when all the Jazz had to do was get a rebound and see if they could regain the lead.  It wasn’t meant to be.

Deron Williams did all he could.  He finished with 24 points and 8 assists.  Boozer finished with 18 and 12 but he was not a presence inside.  Most of his scoring came out on the perimeter.  LA was too big inside for him to venture in there.  The bench players did their part.  It was the reserves that went on the run to start the 4th quarter and got the Jazz back in it.  Ronnie Price, CJ Miles and Paul Millsap gave it their all. 

As for the Lakers, Kobe had a “quiet” 31 and Gasol finished with 25 points and 12 boards.  Honestly LA didn’t play a great game but they made the plays when it counted.  Both teams will practice tomorrow and go over the tape.  For LA, all you need to do is stay tall.  It seems to give the Jazz enough problems. 

The Jazz need to regroup and find a way to get points in the paint.  This may have been their best chance to steal a game at Staples Center.  I would expect the Lakers to play much better on Tuesday.  We’ll see if the Jazz do as well.

Shep