NBA

Francisco Elson – Really?

September 2nd, 2010 by Mychal Lowman

The rumor mill has been talking about the Jazz signing Francisco Elson, the only Dutch NBA player of Surinamese descent. A legit seven-footer, Elson is a veteran player with the height and length to give Utah some depth behind Al Jefferson and Mehmet Okur. He also has championship experience after picking up a ring with the Spurs in 2007.

Do you know how hard it was to find a picture of him that wasn't of him getting posterized? Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images North America

Here’s Hollinger’s Scouting Report:

Elson’s main selling point is his mobility for his size. Even though he’s 33, he still runs the floor better than most centers and is a good pick-and-roll defender who can check smaller players. However, he lacks muscle and bigger centers maul him inside. As a result, he fouls a lot (more than once every seven minutes) and doesn’t grab many rebounds.

Offensively, Elson is too thin to play the post and mediocre at best as a midrange jump shooter, hitting 35.8 percent of his long 2s over the past three seasons. He’d get more baskets around the rim but he has terrible hands; plus, he has poor instincts as a scorer and rarely finds easy buckets off cuts and feeds.

Lacks muscle?  Gets beat up by centers? Terrible Hands? Rarely finds easy buckets off cuts and feeds? He might just fit right in with a long line of similar Jazz big men.

It’s always nice to have an extra big body and six extra fouls to go around. Obviously with Okur out the Jazz would love to find someone who isn’t going to foul at a high rate and knows the system. And while Fesenko certainly has potential, he’s taking his dear, sweet time to sign the tender from the Jazz.

That’s why (okay, deep breath. I can’t believe these words are going to leave my mouth) the Jazz need to go out and sign Jarron Collins. There I said it. Yes, Jarron Collins. If Fes isn’t coming back, the Jazz should bring back Collins.

[Editor's Note: I am not on board with this. Repeat, I am not on board with this.]

The Jazz said they got tougher this year. Collins likes hard fouls. Sign him. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Michael Chow)

Collins could relief minutes for Al Jefferson while Okur is getting healthy, and then later in the season, when everyone is healthy, he can be the foul machine that Sloan enjoys. With Jefferson and Hayward a few new joining the team and learning the new system, adding Collins could make the process of gelling as a team easier. He is a good locker-room presence and the players know him. If the Jazz are going to sign a guy who is going to foul then why not a guy who is huge and knows the system?

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How I Spent My Summer Vacation: Fesenko Edition

August 20th, 2010 by Salt City Hoops

Ross Siler weighs in on Fesenko's performance against Macedonia

Ross Siler’s summary of Fesenko’s game against Macedonia earlier this week highlights the mystery surrounding the big man’s future. He bounced back with 15 points today in a win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but appears to be continuing his history of uneven play.

To his credit, he’s no Nenad Krstic, who you may have heard has caused a bit of trouble during his summer play for Serbia:

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Breaking Up is Hard to Do

August 17th, 2010 by Jefferson

By Jefferson W. Boswell
Special to Salt City Hoops

Last week, a Philadelphia Eagles fan was ordered to remove his Washington Redskins McNabb jersey during the Eagles’ morning practice.  Donovan McNabb, former NFC Pro Bowl starting quarterback, holder of numerous Eagles’ team records, who had spent the first decade of his career with Philadelphia, had become a pariah.  Recall that McNabb was traded by his organization to division-rival Washington for two late round draft picks and a ham sandwich.

Last month, a LeBron James fan was escorted out of the stadium at a Cleveland Indians game (sporting his crisp white Miami jersey).  Along with just about every other non-Floridian sports fan, I abhorred ‘Bron’s “Decision” – which has been likened to dumping your girlfriend on National television in front of nearly ten million viewers.

Lest we forget, even our beloved Karl Malone, whose jersey hangs in the rafters and his bronze statute guards the arena, chased his proverbial greener pastures with the hated Lakers.

As a Jazz fan, the sky was falling when Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, and Wesley Matthews bolted for larger markets and deeper pockets.  I’ll admit, I considered cancelling my subscription to League Pass and transferring my allegiances to the ABF (the American Beekeepers Federation).  Miraculously, though, Kevin O’Conner pulled a rabbit out of his hat and landed both Raja Bell and Al Jefferson (the jury is still out on unproven rookie Gordon Hayward).

Amidst a changing roster, Matthews will surely be missed by basketball aficionados along the Wasatch front for his hard nosed hustle and willingness to play lock-down defense night in and night out.  Korver will still be near and dear to the hearts of the ladies of Utah – and the three-point line in Energy Solutions Arena.  Even Ronnie Brewer, who would dive cut and slash through the paint (only to slash his hamstring in Memphis) will be missed in the year to come.  Boozer has been vilified and denigrated and abused – but when he played, he was a monster on the glass and almost automatic for 18+ points (granted, however, in six seasons with the Jazz, he averaged only 59 games per season). Maybe I’m in the minority, but I’m grateful for what Booze brought to the team, when he actually played.

Having spent many hours, days, months, and years cheering for these players – celebrating in victory and commiserating in defeat, I ask myself:

Only time will tell if I can set aside my allegiance to the Jazz and cheer for Wesley Matthews to continue his Cinderella run in the NBA.  I will check on Wesley’s continued success and hope that his glass-high top fits in Portland, as long as the Trailblazers are safely in the rear-view mirror when the Playoff push begins.  But then again, when he steps onto the floor against the Jazz with the opposing team’s name on his chest, all’s fair in love, war, and basketball.

If the Chicago Jazz succeed (and compete in the East with the preemptively crowned Miami Heat), it will be because Boozer stayed healthy, Korver was keeping defenses honest on the perimeter, Ronnie B was slashing to the hoop – all coupled with a young, strong point guard in Derrick Rose and a defensive-minded Joakim Noah.  Watching and cheering for Chicago to climb the Eastern Conference standings won’t be the same contradiction – their success in red and white couldn’t push Utah out of the playoffs like Portland.  While I wish these former-Jazzmen the best, I’m still looking forward to the ribbing the ESA crowd has – for Boozer in particular (mark your calendars now for February 9, 2011).

Now that he is safely enshrined in the Hall, I can admit: when Karl stepped on the court in Laker gold, I was cheering for him…unless he was playing against the Jazz.  Re-read that sentence: I was cheering for HIM; not the Lakers.  As much as I would have liked to see the Mailman sporting the hardware he so desperately coveted, I find it oddly fitting that his most injury plagued season came in a Lakers uniform.  His iron-man ability couldn’t follow him to Hollywood.  In that fateful game five of the 2004 Finals, Malone watched in street clothes as his last chance for the Larry O’Brien trophy slipped out of reach.  As we saw in his HOF speech, it was Larry Miller and Jerry Sloan and John Stockton that shepherded Karl Malone to the Naismith Hall of Fame – not Dr. Jerry Buss and Phil Jackson and an aging Gary Payton.

Rest assured, I won’t be attending any games sporting the opposing team’s jersey.  Security won’t have to escort me from the stadium à la the LeBron James and Donovan McNabb fans – but I don’t think its so wrong to want to see our former heroes go on to success wherever their paths may lead them – as long as they choke when they play the Jazz.

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Jefferson Boswell will be a regular contributor to Salt City Hoops.  He can be reached at jeffersonboz [at] gmail [dot] com.
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Final Sendoff: Boozer the Bad Girlfriend

August 16th, 2010 by Salt City Hoops

By Dan Evans
Special to Salt City Hoops

Baby, I told you not to call me at this number. (Phil Velasquez, Chicago Tribune / July 9, 2010)

The trouble with analogies is that they often are so specific to the person giving the analogy that rarely does it translate well to the people hearing it. We’ve all spent our fair share of time listening to someone comparing why life is like [insert their passion here]. Unfortunately, I don’t understand how life is like sewing, nor do I care. With that in mind, I want to close the book on the Carlos Boozer Era with a small-ish comparison.

When I was in high school, I dated a girl that I thought was way out of my league. Before “Jen”, I’d dated only girls that were available to me, not the girls I necessarily wanted to date; I never strayed from my place in the food chain. I assumed that was where I belonged and I was happy to take what I could get.

Along came Jen. She was on the Drill Team and dated guys with nice cars. We hit it off in class (I told jokes, she laughed). Soon our relationship moved outside of school and we started hanging out. Eventually we were dating and having fun… when I learned what I was dealing with.

Jen was used to a ton of attention; she was used to getting her way. More importantly, she was used to guys who pandered to her nonsense. Given my dating experience with girls who were simply grateful to be around me, navigating Jen’s world was a bit of a shock. I was so excited to be dating her that I put up everything she did: the inconsistencies, the weird excuses, the tantrums, and the general brattiness that a very spoiled person shows. After a month or so, I started to sense her pulling away, which made me even more desperate to keep her, and even more eager to please her. This, of course, was annoying to her and eventually drove her to break up with me.

The day came, I was sad, and felt sorry for myself for a minute. But as time went on I could see her brattiness more clearly and eventually realized I dodged a bullet. After the dust settled, I realized that I could date an awesome girl AND be happy – a huge revelation at the time. I saw Jen last year at a party, and couldn’t help but feel sorry for the guy she was with. Imagine the crap he puts up with.

So, all that talk brings me to Boozer. When he signed with the Jazz he was the first major free agent to come to Utah. (When Jeff Malone and an aging Jeff Hornacek are your competition, it’s an easy win). As a fan base we were so excited to get him that the unwise among us neglected to give proper weight to the fact that he double crossed a benevolent blind man to come to the Jazz. Huge red flag. (Another red flag?  Renting his house in LA to Prince. It’s like something narrated by Charlie Murphy in a Dave Chappell skit).

We were so excited to have a major free agent choose us that most of us didn’t do proper due diligence on the investment. We bought into his story about teaming with Deron Williams to bring the Next Stockton-to-Malone. We got stoked about the 20/10’s he’d post, and about the ambidexterity. It was exciting!

The 04/05 season set the tone: he started out well, and then injury struck. 51 games played.

05/06 missed more than half of the season due to injury. At the end of that season, I remember much of the talk about him being about getting rid of him. We were sick of him. Hated him. Couldn’t stand him. 33 games played that season.

Preseason in 06/07 was all about how he was excited about the team, wanted to play hard, etc. Boozer’s back was against the wall, and he delivered his two finest statistical seasons. I distinctly remember after the 07/08 season being very hopeful that he’d extend his contract.

08/09: Injuries, trade rumors (if you remember, almost constant that season), and listless play. After the season, with rampant speculation that he’d opt out of his contract, he decided to do the noble thing and stay for another season. No need to mention that he decided to stay in Utah in the weakest market for free agents in years, but only after testing the market. 37 games played that season.

09/10: Another exercise in frustration with the Boozehound with inconsistent play being chief among the frustrations. From a fan’s perspective, Boozer appeared to play hard when he felt like it, not play hard when faced with even the smallest obstacle, and team chemistry suffered since nobody could know on a given night which Boozer they’d get. The season ended in disappointment with Boozer sitting out the pivotal last game of the regular season with a sore rib, and of course, he decided to leave. He was always all about taking care of himself.

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The Jazz fan reaction was fatalistic, outraged, depressed. Most of the chatter was along the lines of: “KOC is screwing up the franchise, we can’t keep anybody here long, Utah is a bad place to play, etc.” It was two straight weeks of fans and the local media talking about the Jazz being a little kid in a big boy world. Then something wonderful happened: The Jazz traded for Al Jefferson.

Jefferson is not too far off the Boozer path statistically, several years younger, and bigger than Boozer. His opening press conference was something of a revelation: He was grateful, happy, and even a little giddy to be a Jazzman – stopping just short of kissing Deron Williams on the mouth. He showed the type of unbridled enthusiasm usually reserved for kids at Disneyland. He even spoke about how Utah is an awesome place to live and how he wants to recruit other free agents. To hear him speak that way was refreshing. It was a huge relief to not only bolster the Jazz roster, but bolster it with someone so happy to be here.

See, the Jazz have plenty to offer a free agent. The Jazz have been a winning team for a quarter century, boast a top 3 point guard, one of the best coaches in the game, a very smart management team, and an owner willing to improve the team. The Jazz don’t have to put up with guys like Boozer to have production. The pieces are already in place to attract the types of free agents that the Jazz need to build a consistent contender. Now all we need as a fan base is to start acting like we’ve been there. If we do that, people will come.

I, for one, am looking forward to a brave new era of Utah attracting free agents who are excited to be here. In the meantime, we will enjoy another winning season, and perhaps someday we’ll have an awkward encounter with Carlos Boozer at a party. Hopefully he’s in a good place and is having success. But what a nice feeling to walk away relieved to be in a better place ourselves.

Dan Evans is a new contributor to Salt City Hoops. Follow him on Twitter.

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Stories of a Small Market: Jazz Photo Night

August 13th, 2010 by Jeff Lind

This is the first in a series of short stories highlighting the good parts of being a member of a rabid fan base in a small market.

My dad loves basketball. Loves it. So when my parents moved to Utah in 1981, he made a plan to get Jazz season tickets. In 1983 he got his wish and he had his tickets. Because my mom wasn’t as much of a sports fan, part of the spousal negotiation of buying these tickets was the agreement that he was going to take the kids with him as often as possible for some dad time. The only problem: His four kids were 7, 5, 3 (yours truly), and 1. Anyone that has wrestled a small kid in a grocery aisle knows that these are not ideal ages for attending professional basketball games. If anything testifies of my dad’s undying allegiance to this game and team, it’s the early years as a Jazz season ticket holder. There were multiple times where he paid good money to have his kids either A) fall asleep halfway through a game or B) read a book through the third quarter. I can’t believe he suffered through it. The investment paid off, however, and he now has eight kids that love the Utah Jazz. Gone are the days of him trying to talk a small child out of a Disney video at home and into a basketball game; now there are fights for those seats.

By the time I was eight in 1988, I was a full fledged Jazz fan. I knew and loved the franchise. This was small market Salt Lake, and we felt like this was our team! These were our boys! But being a smaller market meant that the team had to do more things to gain public interest. As a result, they used to hold events where season ticket holders could go to the arena early, wait in line, and meet random members of the team. On one such night, my older brother Scott and I were thrilled when my dad asked if we would attend a fan appreciation night with him. Scott had just gotten a small yellow, green, and purple basketball for his birthday that he would get signed, and we could each get a picture with one of our basketball heroes.

The night came, and we drove to the Salt Palace early. We stood in line with the other season ticket holders, anxiously anticipating our chance to get placed with players. The odds of getting a good player were slim, though, because you could be paired with anyone on the roster. Scott and I stood there in line, excitedly talking about which players we would like to be paired with (Please, oh, please bring on Stockton or Malone!). As we approached the front of the line, my brother nervously gave me his basketball. He explained that my luck was much better than his, and I would most likely get put with one of the great Jazz players. It was flawless 10 year old logic and it made sense . . . I mean, I did have good luck! I took the ball and remember being excited to get it signed for him. John Stockton, here I come!

Minutes later we were at the front of the line, and the attendants separated me from my brother. We were taken in opposite directions, and were led off to various points in the gym where basketball players and Polaroid cameras were waiting. I remember passing player after player–Darryl Griffith, John Stockton, Mark Eaton–until finally I ended here:

That’s right: that’s me with the one and only Kelly Tripucka. And if you look closely, you’ll see Scott’s basketball, now victoriously signed by Tripucka, in my lap.

So, you’re probably wondering where Scott ended up.

Jeff will be a regular contributor on Salt City Hoops. Follow him on Twitter!

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Karl Malone: Best power forward of all time

August 11th, 2010 by K.Malphurs

Karl Malone was gracious and humble as he was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame this weekend. His incredible accomplishments over a long NBA career are well documented and as John Stockton mentioned, they seem even more incredible as the years pass by.

It seemed strange, then, to follow the jokes and put-downs that showed up during the ceremony on Twitter and in the comments sections of most of the stories. Clearly Malone’s past mistakes are not forgiven by many. On the basketball side, many people seem to remember Malone as someone who would carry a team to the playoffs, and then disappoint. Few took the time to give him credit for carrying assorted rosters of cast-offs and has-beens deep in the playoffs. Pau Gasol couldn’t even win a single playoff game when he was the alpha dog in Memphis. Unfortunately for Malone, his basketball epitaph for many will be the two missed free throws in Game 1 of the 1997 Finals and the infamous turnover right before Jordan’s game winning (offensive foul) shot in the 1998 Finals.

We have had plenty of time since Malone retired to forget a lot of games and maybe our memory has failed in us. Have we been unfair to Malone? Is he the best power forward of all time? Maybe we remember the bad. So let’s beat this dead horse: Here is the case for and against Karl Malone as the best power forward of all time:

The case for Karl Malone as the best power forward of all time:

When you look at Karl Malone’s stats compared to Tim Duncan it is hard to make the case that Duncan is a better player that Malone. Why? Because it is hard to make the case that many players are better than Karl Malone by looking at the stats. He is 2nd all time in career points and 3rd all time in win shares (an estimate of the number of wins contributed by a player) with more win shares than everyone but Kareem and Wilt. Tim Duncan would need 6 more years of his average production to equal Malone. As it currently stands he is still isn’t within shouting distance of the Mailman. However, any Duncan supporter might bring up the fact that of course Malone’s career numbers would be better because he played 19 seasons. If we take that away and just compare averages here are some points in favor of Malone:

  • Scoring: Malone averaged 25 points per game. Duncan 21.1.
  • Efficiency: Malone shot 51.6% from the floor and 74.2% from the line. Duncan’s respective numbers; 50.8% and 68.7%.
  • Reliability: Malone’s work ethic and incredible conditioning was legendary and that shows in the numbers. He played in 99.3% of the Jazz possible games during his 18 year career in Utah . Duncan so far with San Antonio has only played in 94.5% of the possible games. Over an 82 game NBA season that means that Malone would play in about 4 more games than Duncan.
  • Longevity: The same conditioning led him to be able to play for so long at such a high level. Not to say that Duncan can’t do that, but let’s see if he is still playing as effectively as Malone was when he was 39 and still contributed 11.1 wins (10th in the league) to the 2002-2003 Jazz team.
  • Front line help – Sure this is a little subjective, but I think that playing with the Greg Ostertags and Felton Spencers of the world didn’t help Malone quite as much as playing along side David Robinson helped Duncan.

The case for Tim Duncan as the best power forward of all time:

Even the most pro-Duncan fan has to respect and take note of points made above in terms of strong regular season production over a long period of time. However, those battles aren’t something that even really interest Duncan fans since they have the following points in their favor:

  • NBA Titles: 4 > 0. While basketball is a team game it is common practice to assign more credit to individual players who help the team win. Duncan ’s teams have won in the playoffs and he has received his share of praise for those accomplishments.
  • Playoff Stats: This is where Malone fans might wish the stats contradicted common viewpoints, but unfortunately they don’t. This is where the questions above about how maybe our memory has failed in us in remembering Malone’s playoff performance get answered. Unfortunately for Jazz fans the answers aren’t good and they are the main reason why I think someone can make the case for Tim Duncan being the best power forward of all time. Malone’s numbers dropped across the board from the regular season to the playoffs. He shot considerably worse (from 51% to 46%) in the playoffs and his WS/48 minutes dropped from 0.205 to 0.14. Compare this with Duncan who had almost identical shooting percentages and WS/48 numbers. One thing to consider is that Duncan has more Win Shares (28.6 compared to 23) in the playoffs despite playing in 23 fewer games. Those are just a few stats that I researched, but they all paint a very similar picture. Just like it is hard to make the case that Duncan was better than Malone in the regular season, it is also look like it is hard to make the case that Malone was better than Duncan in the playoffs.

Those are the arguments for both sides. As a Jazz fan I tend to side with Malone. While the playoff stats was something that was tough to digest (again since I had to live though it the first time) it still doesn’t completely overshadow Malone’s incredible career.

I would like to congratulate Karl Malone for his induction to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. You are the greatest power forward of all time in this biased Jazz fan’s mind.

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Karl Malone HOF Week: A Tribute

August 11th, 2010 by Salt City Hoops

by Brian Henderson
Special to Salt City Hoops

Can I bring these guns into the ceremony? (Photo: ESPN.com)

Karl Malone will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday, joining only 295 other individuals who have ever played the game. Like many in Jazz Fandom, I want to give my own tribute to the Mailman in anticipation of his enshrinement into basketball immortality. For an unprivileged teenage kid from Salt Lake City, I had an unusual opportunity to interact with Karl Malone.

Before my senior year of high school, I managed to land a job as a ball boy for the Utah Jazz. (Before I became a ball boy, Karl opened a shoe store in Salt Lake City, where during the grand opening, I met an executive with the NBA who would become a dear friend and life mentor to me, and who has opened more doors to me than I can begin to count. I owe Karl big for that.) Karl’s upcoming induction ceremony has given me an excuse to reminisce on my experiences with him during that 1993-1994 season. You can find all the stories you want about whether he is the best power forward to have ever played the game. The numbers are there, as are the awards (minus the elusive titles). Instead, I want to tell you a few personal stories about Karl Malone off of the court, and how they reflect the same traits that made him great on it. Character counts in this walk to the Hall, if not formally, then certainly in the place taken by players like Karl in the minds of fans in the pantheon of basketball’s greats in Springfield, Massachusetts. Here, then, are a few anecdotes. (Forgive my personal indulgence in this post.)

It took me two years of Rocky Mountain Revue summer league hard labor, phone calls, letters, notes, stop-by’s, and even local celebrity endorsements–thank you, Ron Boone–to become a Jazz ball boy. (To this day, it is the hardest work I’ve ever done to get a job.) But in the end, after toiling through the fall 1993 training camp with my heart pounding through my chest during every practice, hoping against all odds that I would be hired, I got my opportunity when the “boss man” simply said, “First home game is next Friday. Show up at the arena at 4 o’clock.” I went through the roof. Instantly, my unrelenting pursuit paid off. Two years felt like ten to this teenager. As far as I knew, I was the only ball boy who managed to overcome zero connections to the front office, the players, or the coaching staff. I remember thinking, on behalf of all the kids in Utah who had ever dreamed about having such an up close and personal experience with the team, that I would take none of it for granted. With college looming, I knew I only had one season on the job. So I savored every minute of it.

We all know Karl had a lion’s heart on the court, and we all saw how he wore that heart on his sleeve in the spotlight–his relationship with Larry Miller serving as Exhibit A. Tears flowed between the two like Niagara Falls in a rainstorm. Karl’s energy and expressiveness on the court, and his interaction with fans, made his game truly entertaining to watch. Remember his “poster pose”? Or his unbridled celebration with Stockton and Hornacek after “The Shot” against Houston? He showed the same heart in private, too. He was always helping people out away from the cameras. He didn’t want the recognition for those moments. I admire him for that. I was one of the people he wanted to help. About 3/4 the way through that season, before a home game, he called me over to his locker and asked me if I had plans for the summer. “Let me send you down to New Mexico. I’ll get you a job at one of my car dealerships. You’ll have a great experience and save some money for college.” It was a generous offer, and one I turned down with some difficulty.” Just let me know,” he said. “I’ll get you a job if you want it.” It wasn’t the right situation at the time, but I have always appreciated his gesture. There are a thousand stories like mine, I am sure of it. Karl’s heart made him great on the court, and off it as well.

Karl Malone was a workhorse. The second most productive workhorse of all time in scoring, behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His on-court production was unrivaled and his blue collar mentality drove his entire career. After all, he did play all 82 games for ten seasons, and in the others only missed a handful more with the Jazz. In a recent interview with KSL-TV, he said, ”Not one time did I step on the floor physically and think that somebody was in better conditioning than I was.” He was simply always prepared, and got the job done. One night, after a game, the team was headed straight from the Delta Center to catch the charter flight for a road trip. But Karl had called in a food order–for everybody. “Do you have a driver’s license?” he asked me. “Yessir.” (It was not the time to admit that my only accident had come in the heart of downtown during the past NBA season on the day I skipped school to sneak into the Delta Center and watch Michael Jordan and the Bulls practice. Jazz fan Karma, no doubt.) He pitched me his wallet and the keys to his massive truck (with a two foot lift), and told me to be back in 25 minutes. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, now that’s trust.” Later, I realized I was about the safest place for his keys and his money, since he would have had me drawn and quartered had anything happened to his truck, or his wallet, or his food. So I tore off in Karl’s ride (after almost needing climbing gear to get up into it), grabbed the food (after convincing the restaurant employee the call wasn’t a hoax by showing him Karl’s driver’s license), and made it back in time to pass the food onto the bus as it was backing out of the arena. Karl got it done, by any means necessary on the court, and off it as well.

Finally, my greatest thrill that season happened with the entire team, but represents what Karl made us all feel during his 18 seasons with us in Utah. As the team marched through the 1994 playoffs, excitement in Utah built to a fever pitch. We dismantled David Robinson and the Spurs in five games during the first round. Then, the epic Denver Nuggets series went seven games before the Jazz prevailed. It was May 23, 1994. Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals was in Salt Lake City. As was the pre-game custom, the ball boys lined up on the court to form a gauntlet through which players passed and high fived us and one another during team introductions. The eventual NBA Champion Houston Rockets were in the building. The house lights went dark. The notorious Delta Center crowd roared to life. The deafening noise ricocheted off every corner of the building. The air was electric. Fireworks lit up the court. The entire building rocked in anticipation. I was standing on the court with the team, twenty thousand people screaming for the Jazz to defeat the favored Rockets–Hakeem, Mario Elie, Kenny Smith, Robert Horry, Sam Cassel and company. Could we do it? As longtime PA announcer Dan Roberts introduced the last of the starting lineup, one of the players hooked me with his arm and dragged me into the team huddle somewhere near center court. In the middle of a scrum with Karl, John, Jeff, and the rest of the team, I was pummeled by them all–play punched and jostled around until I was dizzy. The huddle broke. The lights came on. The team ran to the bench. Looking up at twenty thousand people screaming for a Jazz victory, I was alone on the court, and ambled off feeling like I was at the center of the basketball universe. I was. That’s how Karl made all of us feel. He put us at the center of it all.

So, as Karl heads to the Hall on Friday, congratulations are in order. Yes, he’s human. Yes, the Jazz fell tantalizingly short every time. But Karl made us believe.  And in every one of those moments, we were all thrilled to be part of it. We all owe Karl big for that. Here’s to the greatest power forward who ever played the game. The guy with the lion’s heart, and the unrivaled work ethic. The guy who gave this 17 year old kid and everyone else an opportunity to be part of one of the greatest careers in NBA history, and who took care of so many of us away from the limelight along the way.

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2010-2011 Utah Jazz Schedule: Point-Counterpoint

August 11th, 2010 by Salt City Hoops

By Mychal Lowman and Jeff Lind
Special to Salt City Hoops

With the release of the NBA schedule yesterday, Jeff Lind and Mychal Lowman take a look at how it affects the Jazz. They each answered 6 questions about the upcoming season. Call it a Point-Counterpoint. Let’s go!

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1.) Based on last year, do you think the Jazz’s strength of schedule this year is harder or easier?

Jeff’s Take:

I look at strength of schedule as a combination of two factors: A) strength of opponent and B) scheduled games.

*2010-2011 Strength of Opponent: *

  • Opening weekend is going to be tough. A back to back out of the gate against all around rival Denver and always tough Suns.
  • Tough road trip mid November – Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, Charlotte, then back home to meet OKC
  • March looks like one of the lighter months opponent-wise (it’s a hard thing to say any month in an NBA schedule is “easy,” especially in a month with 6 games in 9 nights), but March is also marked with two games against Minnesota, and some coasters like Philly, Washington, Toronto, and Sacramento.
  • It’s a good thing March is a bit easier because April is going to be a brutal finish. I mean, last year’s April was tough (@LAL, OKC, PHX), but this year the league is just being mean. A double dip from LAL, a visit from matured divisional rival Portland, a sprinkle of San Antonio, and topped off with a visit from the always tough Nuggets (season bookends). It’s going to be an intense month, especially if we have another WC photo finish.

*2010-2011 Scheduled Games: *

If you break the two seasons into Back-to-Back games (B2B), months with 16+ games in them, number of 4+ game road trips, and longest road trip the numbers compare pretty similarly year over year:

. Back to Backs 16 + Game Months 4+ Game Roadtrips Longest Roadtrip
. 2009-2010 19 1 4 5 Games in 8 Nights
. 2010-2011 19 2 4 5 Games in 9 Nights

The two things that stick out to me about this is:

The Jazz have the same amount of B2B’s but they are worse this year with two more A/A games scheduled.

The Jazz have an extra 16+ game month this year.

Last year the Jazz had an easier entry into the season that they squandered. The team took too long trying to figure itself out, and wasted an opportunity to get some space in the west. As the season went along it got progressively more difficult. Luckily, the team got progressively better. This year, the schedule starts and ends tougher. It has more difficult B2Bs. It’s a tough, balanced schedule and the Jazz don’t have a few months to figure it out. They have to be ready to go from opening tip.

Mychal’s Take:
I agree with Jeff. Last season it really seemed that Utah squandered easy chances to secure high seeding in the playoffs. Can you say Minnesota? On paper it looks like they’re facing the same amount of B2Bs and the Jazz have two 16+ game months this season. But is it harder or easier? I say it’s a bit easier. I think if we had last year’s Jazz squad on this schedule they’d have had a hay day. I’m not saying this Jazz squad is not as good. On the contrary, I think they’ll be even better. But it’s going to take this team some time to develop into their new roles. That first 4 game road trip scares me because hopefully by that road trip the Jazz have begun to gel into Jerry’s Flex Offense.

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2.) Is Deron Williams’ claim that no Sunday home games increases the amount of back to backs merited?

Jeff’s Take:
Sort of… but it’s kind of a lame argument. I mean,not playing on Sunday definitely increases the B2Bs, but other teams deal with these types of issues too, and it’s not just small market teams. The Lakers had 20 B2B’s last year, and they play on Sundays… their issue is TV schedule (saying that, LAL only have 15 scheduled this year). What it really means isn’t that the Jazz have more B2B’s then other teams in the league in a given season, but they consistently have more than the others do.

Mychal’s Take:
Yes and no. Not playing on Sunday in Utah definitely causes bumps in the schedule but as Jeff pointed out other teams go through scheduling processes that force them in unfavorable scheduling. Is it fair that Utah doesn’t play on Sundays? No. Does it help them make money? Yes. Ultimately, Deron needs to see that you’re an athlete working in an entertainment business. So you have to make concessions for your patrons. Will the Jazz have more B2Bs than most teams every year? Usually. But is it still possible to win a lot of games? Oh yes.

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3.) Can the Jazz avoid their annual dive-bomb for a month? If not, in which month will it occur?

Jeff’s Take:
They have to this year. Running the flex depends on having a group of players working together from the opening whistle to the final buzzer, and the Utah Jazz organization is predicated on having a lean group of undervalued players exceeding expectations. The schedule is tough enough this year, that they can’t afford to lose the gimme’s to the Minnesota’s and Clippers (’09). If it’s one thing the Jazz should have learned the last few years, it’s that one game can make all the difference. After the final Phoenix loss last year , I sat in disbelief wondering what would have been had they won one more game against the Wolves, or started out the season like they finished, or… It was maddening. This year’s team can’t afford to take a month off (also, with Deron’s contract coming up, the Jazz need to show him that they can win now… the last thing the Jazz need is to lose a franchise player because they can’t consistently perform to our potential).

Mychal’s Take:
While I agree with Jeff that Utah can’t afford another year with a 10 game stretch of going 3-7 or 2-8, I think I found on the schedule the scary stretch that we could be saying at the end of the year, “If only the Jazz could have….” That stretch? The January 5 game road trip. In that road trip the Jazz face Washington, New Jersey, Boston, Philadelphia, then travel cross country to play in LA against the Lakers. Then come home the next night and play San Antonio. Then they face our arch nemesis Minnesota. Stretches like this are historically the times the Jazz have played below what they’re capable of. I don’t have to stretch my imagination to see the Jazz trip up against these lottery bound teams and fall short against Boston, LA, and San Antonio.

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4.) When will the Jazz make their annual turnaround/make Greg Miller & Kevin O’Connor look like a genius/winning streak?

Jeff’s Take:

This question rests on the shoulders of Al Jefferson and Raja Bell. It seems some fans have already crowned Kevin O’Conner as off-season genius 2010, but it seems premature. What if Al doesn’t gel properly in our offense, or what if his defense really doesn’t improve under Sloan? What if Raja loses his defensive step or has an issue with his wrist? Right now we’re riding on the blue sky of the off-season. Don’t get me wrong… I love what happened in the off-season. Love it. I think they’re better on paper this year then they were going out last year, but it’s just blue sky. The Jazz is a bubble economy right now and we won’t know if they have the assets to back up our investment until the season starts. I’m thinking Al will be serviceable in month one, starts showing flashes of brilliance in late November, and is melting minds come December. By that point, If AK plays to his contract, Raja shoots like he should & plays solid D, Milsap is playing like we know he can (20/10), and Memo is raindancing again then we could have the official O’Conner coronation come January.

Mychal’s Take:
I know December has usually been a month many a Jazz fan would like to forget but I think that is going to be the time where the Jazz start showing signs of brilliance. I think that’s when the Jazz will hit their stride. I think November is going to be a rough month as players are trying to find their roles. I will admit I’m drinking the O’Connor kool-aid already. Now if Sloan can get Big Al rolling in the Flex, trusting his teammates, and playing strong defense we could be seeing a Jazz renaissance of exciting proportions.

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5.) What will be Utah’s most pivotal set of games?

Jeff’s Take:

There are two sets of games that will be crucial. The first is the annual Eastern road trip (@MIA, @ORL, @ATL, @CHA). The Jazz need to do well on this trip to solidify our confidence as a team. The second crucial set (and I’d argue MOST important) comes during the last week of the season (@LAL, POR, @SA, @NOL, DEN). It’s ridiculous. Major WC and divisional implications. The Jazz are always in the mix, and the WC is always a dogfight come April. Maybe I’m just haunted by the end of last season, but history says that this set of games will *significantly* impact the Jazz’ seeding in the playoffs.

Mychal’s Take:
I agree once again. That first Eastern conference trip will show us if this is the team that is ready to ascend into the upper echelon of teams or if the Jazz truly did take a couple steps back. I think the Jazz will do well on this trip because of one special player: Raja Bell. Raja Bell is going to be such an addition on road trips. He will keep this team focused. He will become Sloan’s secret police. He will keep the troops in line if there are a few road bumps. The last end of the season is just going to be exciting. Yes the Jazz fans will be having heart attacks every two nights with pivotal games being decided every night. With the division and playoff seeding on the line, the beginning and the end of the season will decide a lot for the Jazz this year. Exciting stuff. As Craig Bolerjack would say, “Buckle your seatbelts!”

6.) ESPN’s “Summer Forecast” has the jazz taking a step back for 2010-2011. They predict the Jazz will go 47-35, finishing 6 games worse than last season, and ending up in the playoffs as the 7 seed. Now that the schedule is released do you see the Jazz winning more or less than 47 games and do you think this is the season the young bloods: OKC and Portland usurp control of the Northwest from Denver and Utah?

Jeff’s Take:

I saw this yesterday and blood squirted out of my eyes. Yes they lost Boozer, Wesley, and Korver, but they got some SOLID additions in the process. Twice a year, every year, the collective media has selective amnesia regarding who Jerry Sloan is and what he does:

Amnesia period 1: Preseason

The Jazz are the perennial underdog. Under appreciated and disrespected. No one EVER expects the Jazz to do well.  And if someone *does* they hedge immediately and heavily.

Amnesia period 2: COY Voting

(no description necessary).

As far as Portland and OKC go, I’m terrified of Portland. If those guys stay healthy, they are going to be a horrible team to play. We’ll see if Oden can ever truly get healthy, but even without him, they are insanely talented. Now… OKC… Yes. They are good… really good, but 2!? I just don’t see it. I love Durant and Westbrook. I think they (and the OKC organization) are class acts and will certainly be amazing, but let’s be careful about taking them over the West’s field. Yeah, they hung tough against a disinterested Laker team last year, but there were a lot of teams that got better this summer, and one of those teams ends in two z’s. I think it’s entirely feasible to see the Jazz finish ahead of Dallas, Portland, and San Antonio but I’m feeling confident that they’ll finish ahead of OKC and the Nuggets (sorry Denver… with Carmelo looking toward NY, Chauncy looking toward another birthday, and with the addition of yet another character in Al Harrington, I don’t see you beating the Jazz consistently). OKC has been playing on raw talent, but I still think they need some time to develop into elite status. They have the guts and grit to be great, but it will take a perfect storm for them to land at 2 in the west.

Mychal’s Take:
When I saw where the Jazz were picked to finish I couldn’t believe it. I, like my SCH compadre here, had to take a tissue to wipe the blood from my eyes. After a quick trip to my optometrist I had to check the papers and make sure Sloan hadn’t been fired. I have just come to expect the following equation:

A Talented Team + Sloan = At least 50 wins.

Heck,

An Untalented but Hardworking Team + Sloan = 45 wins.

But with lower expectations this might be the year Sloan can sneak off with a COY award. It looks like there is a definite love affair with Kevin Durant’s Thunder but I also believe in perfect storms. While I think the Thunder are much improved they caught a lot of teams off guard last year. That won’t happen two years in a row. The Jazz found that out the hard way after they went to the Western Conference Finals. I don’t see how Dallas is rated above the Jazz. The Jazz had their number last year. San Antonio? The Jazz ruled that series. And Denver? Hit your TIVO and look at how the Jazz dismantled them without two of their starters. But I’m glad that the Jazz are off the radar finally. It seems that target is off our backs and it’s on Portland and OKC. I do agree with Jeff on Portland. If Portland is healthy this upcoming season they’re going to be a mean team to play. They’re deep and talented and young. OKC has a solid rotation but the Jazz still can pound it in down low and take advantage in the paint. In my opinion, I think the fight for the division will be between Utah and Portland. With that said, watch out for OKC. If Cole Aldrich develops quickly as a defensive stopper for them this will be an interesting year. I see the Jazz finishing in the 4 spot this year in the West.

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Jeff Lind and Mychal Lowman will be regular contributors to Salt City Hoops.

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Karl Malone HOF Week: Special Delivery

August 10th, 2010 by Salt City Hoops

By Jefferson W. Boswell
Special to Salt City Hoops

Many NBA players engage in a ritual when they step up to the charity stripe. Jason Kidd, for example, used to blow a kiss to his wife and kids (since a nasty divorce, his routine has obviously changed a little). We all remember Jeff Hornacek wiping the side of his face – his own tribute to his family. But then there was the Mailman. He would dribble the ball a couple times, spin it in his hands, and then mutter a few words. With a gentle push and a mild arc, the cowhide globe would hit home – at career rate of just under 75%, (to amalgamate Hot Rod and David Locke). No one really knew what he was saying up there….except for my Grandma.

In the late 1990′s, the Mailman was at the peak of his career. Two MVP awards, two NBA finals appearances, All-NBA, All-Defensive, All- Everything. My Grandma, on the other hand, was in the twilight of her life. She had been a widow for a decade. Although she could hardly see, she would park herself in her recliner, only feet away from her big screen television, and cheer for the Jazz with all of her might. Unlike her beloved Jazz, there was no off-season for her to take a vacation from the countless doctor’s visits and endless prescriptions.

As so often happens for those fortunate to live as long as she did, she lost her balance, fell, and broke her hip. After surgery and a long recovery, she was instructed to undergo physical therapy. During a particularly brutal session of physical therapy, she was resting in her wheelchair – when in walks none other than the Mailman – Karl Malone in the flesh. Just seeing him caused her heart to skip a beat (dangerous for a woman in her 80s).

The therapist said, “Come meet one of your biggest fans, Karl.”

I can almost see my Grandma nearly fall out of her wheelchair and melt like a Popsicle. After introductions and exchanging pleasantries, my Grandma, Alene Boswell, asked the question that had captivated Utah for a decade.

“Karl, what exactly do you say when you are up there taking your foul shots?”

With a smile and a wink, he said, “I’m talking to you up there, Alene. I say, ‘Come on now, Alene, don’t let me down.’”

Even though her health deteriorated and she eventually lost most of her memories, that story was never far from her lips. She passed away on Mother’s Day in 2000 (and never had to see her beloved Mailman in a Lakers jersey).

Karl Malone recently told KSL’s Rod Zundel, when asked if he’d have changed anything in his career, that he wished he would have “done more in the community.” From my perspective, you did just fine, Karl. Congratulations on entering the Basketball Hall of Fame this week. You’ve been in the humanity Hall of Fame for a while now.

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Jefferson Boswell will be a regular contributor to Salt City Hoops. He can be reached at jeffersonboz [at ] gmail [dot] com

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Sloan and O’Connor Re-up with the Jazz

August 5th, 2010 by Salt City Hoops

Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

“Second Rounder? Yes, only Second Rounders.”

In a move that should surprise no one, the Jazz announced today that they have signed GM Kevin O’Connor to a multi-year contract extension. Jerry Sloan also confirmed that he will honor the contract extension he signed in December and will coach the team during the upcoming season.

It’s safe to say that the announcement of the KOC extension would have been met with a much more negative reaction from Jazz fans had O’Connor not taken Minnesota GM David Kahn out behind the woodshed earlier this summer and, to paraphrase the great Kelly Dwyer, somehow convinced him to give up Al Jefferson for a ham sandwich. If that deal doesn’t go down, you can bet there would be major unrest in Jazzdom.

The press release lists O’Connor’s accomplishments as GM:

Among some of the key moves orchestrated by O’Connor during his tenure with the Jazz are acquiring the draft picks (through trades) that led to the selection of Deron Williams and Gordon Hayward. Other acquisitions include, trading for Al Jefferson, the free-agent signings of Carlos Boozer, Matt Harpring and Mehmet Okur, and draft finds like C.J. Miles (34th overall in 2005), Paul Millsap (47th overall in 2006), Mo Williams (47th overall in 2003) and Wesley Matthews (undrafted in 2009)

That probably gives him a firm grasp on Best Second Round Draft Picker in NBA History. He’s also particularly adept at picking up second-tier players who flourish in Jerry Sloan’s system. In that vein, the rest of the accomplishments listed in the press release, such as the +.500 record in 10 of 11 seasons,  would probably be more accurately attributed to Sloan.

The bottom line is that the Jazz are poised to keep their front-office intact and competitive in a league that shuffles coaches and GMs around like cheap office furniture. So what do you think? Are you excited for a few more years of the KOC era?

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