2017 Playoff bound!!!

[url]http://www.clipsnation.com/2017/4/18/15342262/2017-nba-playoffs-first-round-game-1-recap-and-game-2-preview-with-slc-dunk[/url]

[QUOTE]part of the reason why these two teams have only 51 wins this year is that at times they play down to their competition[/QUOTE]

Jazz have mostly dominated the weaker teams this year. What we haven't seen much is them stepping up against the top teams like in game 1.

[QUOTE]Derrick Favors is a very nice stand-in, but Jordan is bigger, more athletic, and just better. [/QUOTE]

They are listed at the same weight though Derrick had supposedly lost a lot of weight and Jordan is listed one inch taller though at 7'5" Favors may have a longer reach. More athletic and at this point better sure but if Favors can play like last game than it's at least competitive

[url]http://www.slcdunk.com/2017/4/18/13122780/nba-playoffs-2017-los-angeles-clippers-utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-deandre-jordan-derrick-favors-stepping[/url]

[QUOTE]Rant Point 5: Do You Really Think G-Time is Leaving?[/QUOTE]

I can see it

[url]http://www.sbnation.com/2017/4/9/15236666/joe-johnson-highlights-jazz-clippers-blazers-20000-points[/url]

[QUOTE]Johnson was never going to pass up that ball on Saturday night.[/QUOTE]

If the double had came he would have.

[url]http://www.slcdunk.com/2017/4/17/13306958/nba-playoffs-2017-free-agency-golden-state-warriors-san-antonio-spurs-utah-jazz-bang-for-buck[/url]

[QUOTE]The Utah Jazz General Manager has been very smart, he and his scouts have made more hits than misses, and his number crunchers haven

[url]http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2017/04/19/emptying-the-noggin-jazz-fall-in-game-2-to-clippers/[/url]

[QUOTE]I haven’t looked at the numbers, but the Jazz have not shown they can defend when Withey is at center in this series.[/QUOTE]

Give Bolomboy a shot? Too bad they didn't let us see more of him in regular season. Hard to throw him to the wolves now

[QUOTE]This was a good performance with a lot of positives.[/QUOTE]

clipps have to be worried that they couldn't run away

[url]http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5191079-155/jazz-notes-rodney-hood-comes-off[/url]

[QUOTE]Jazz rookie Joel Bolomboy was placed on the active roster. The power forward from Weber State was inactive in Game 1. Snyder made the move because he needed another big man, in case of foul trouble. In somewhat of a surprise move, shooting guard Alec Burks was made inactive.[/QUOTE]

Has to be Lyles

[QUOTE]There

[QUOTE]Andy Larsen: Alec Burks is officially out of Game 3 against the Clippers due to a platelet rich plasma injection in his left knee, according to Jazz PR.

Andy Larsen‏: Jazz statement on Jeff Withey: The Utah Jazz released the following statement:

[QUOTE]Utah Jazz center Jeff Withey has been accused of domestic violence in a police report filed by his Playboy Playmate of the Year ex-fiancee, Kennedy Summers

[url]http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43942039&nid=304&title=jazz-investigating-withey-allegations-coach-says-its-irresponsible-to-comment-more[/url]

his lawyer says he is innocent

[url]http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43939711&nid=304&title=jazz-practice-rudy-gobert-out-for-game-3-is-hack-a-jordan-a-good-idea[/url]

[QUOTE] I think the other situation is offensive rebounding. He's a heck of an offensive rebounder, so we're not going to get many of those."[/QUOTE]

Especially not when your strategy is to get back on D instead of hitting the offensive glass this year. Booker could sure help though and he couldn't be any worse at hitting 3's than Lyles and Diaw have been!

[QUOTE]I agree with Snyder. It doesn't make a ton of sense to use Hack-a-Jordan when you're down multiple possessions in the fourth quarter. The most likely scenario for any Jordan trip to the line (a 48.9 percent free throw shooter this season) is him making one of two free throws. That means what otherwise could be a 6-0 run might be turned into a 6-3 run. In other words, it's a pretty low-variance strategy, and the Jazz needed something bigger to break their way.[/QUOTE]

Can't keep letting him dunk uncontested.

[url]http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865678263/Utah-Jazz-notebook-Rudy-Gobert-out-for-Game-3-will-Jazz-use-Hack-a-Jordan.html[/url]

[QUOTE]

[url]http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865678246/Jazz-are-going-nowhere-if-Gordon-Hayward-doesnt-play-like-a-star.html[/url]

[QUOTE]Either way, the Jazz can mitigate that if Gordon Hayward plays like the superstar he intends to be. If he doesn

[url]http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865678195/Jazz-notes-Utah-better-without-Rudy-Gobert-Blake-Griffin-compliments-Jazz.html[/url]


[QUOTE]

[url]http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5200830-155/jazz-no-surprise-rudy-gobert-ruled[/url]

[QUOTE]Gobert is making progress in his rehabilitation. He is walking without a limp or crutches, and has progressed to working out on exercise machines. He also is able to shoot free throws at team practices.[/QUOTE]

unless one of those exercise machines is a treadmill than he is a long ways off I imagine

[QUOTE]the Jazz have decided that Gobert will not play until there is no chance of reinjuring his knee, which may take some time.[/QUOTE]

already saw that happen with Hood

[QUOTE]Snyder said Favors is fighting through fatigue after he played 33 minutes in Game 2, the most action he has seen since playing 34 minutes on March 3 in a win over the Brooklyn Nets.

"He's trying to raise his level," Snyder said. "He's different than Rudy, so we have to play to his strengths. He's on the floor exclusively at center for 35 minutes, and that hasn't happened this year. So this is new to him."[/QUOTE]
He was the center before Rudy emerged. That was a different Favors though

[url]http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5200652-155/kragthorpe-utah-jazz-eager-to-stage[/url]

[QUOTE]a team that went 22-19 on the road should have won roughly 36 home games this season. The Jazz instead were merely 29-12 at home.[/QUOTE]

The crowd hasn't been that crazy like it will be Tonite so hopefully things will be different even without Rudy.

[QUOTE]home-court dominance has diminished leaguewide this season, with home teams winning 57.5 percent of games. That's an all-time low, according to ESPN The Magazine's recent analytics report.[/QUOTE]

guess that makes the Jazz record look a bit better?

[url]http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5194912-155/monson-jazz-have-one-key-to?page=2[/url]

[QUOTE]The real solution is an unlikely intercontinental reach, wholly outside anyone's control: Gobert has to heal up. Not just heal up, but be ready to play.[/QUOTE]

I think even if he made it back to play just a few minutes each half off the bench could be huge

[url]http://saltcityhoops.com/jazz-clippers-finding-adjustments-for-games-3-4/[/url]

[QUOTE]When Gobert plays, he has an elite ability to wall off the drive of a ball handler and still get back (more often than not) to defend the roller. Derrick Favors just doesn

[url]https://jazzfanatical.wordpress.com/2017/04/20/these-weeks-in-the-utah-jazz-7/[/url]

[QUOTE]I know

[url]http://www.slcdunk.com/2017/4/21/15380828/the-downbeat-2075-the-utah-jazz-home-playoff-game-edition[/url]

[QUOTE]He talks about how the 2007-2009 Carols Boozer and Deron Williams team went 37-4 at home. Compared to this team which is deeper went only 29-12.[/QUOTE]

but not deep

[url]http://purpleandblues.com/2017/04/20/utah-jazz-chris-pauls-homer-comments-much-ado-nothing/[/url]

[QUOTE]Homer: Someone who shows blind loyalty to a team or organization, typically ignoring any shortcomings or faults they have.[/QUOTE]

sounds about right

[url]http://purpleandblues.com/2017/04/19/hope-utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-return-series/[/url]

[QUOTE]Rudy Gobert is without a doubt its heart and soul.[/QUOTE]

and not even part of your big 3 a few months ago! :roll:

[QUOTE]Utah

[url]http://purpleandblues.com/2017/04/19/how-the-utah-jazz-can-rebound-in-game-3/[/url]

[QUOTE]Raul Neto remains the best backup point guard on the team and had he been 100 percent, I

[url]http://purpleandblues.com/2017/04/21/utah-jazz-derrick-favors-capitalize-chance-redeem/[/url]

[QUOTE]Favors was once considered one of the key components to this Jazz team. As recently as last season, many had him pinned as even more vital and talented than Rudy Gobert[/QUOTE]

As recently as this season you had him as part of the Jazz's big 3 along with Hood and Hayward! :wtf:

[QUOTE]That

Andy Larsen: Diaw on Gobert:

[url]http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2017/04/21/emptying-the-noggin-so-much-right-until-it-wasnt/[/url]

[QUOTE]The Jazz went cold at the 7:50 mark of the fourth quarter. They got stuck in isolation basketball and the Jazz are not a good isolation team (27th in the NBA this season). They went over five minutes without a field goal and Chris Paul took over the game in that stretch. The Clippers went on a 15-0 run and that won the game for the Clippers.[/QUOTE]

They're so good when they move they ball too. :rant

[QUOTE]Derrick has never wanted to be a center. He has always said he is not a center. This series, he is matching up against the biggest center in the NBA and the wear and tear is evident.[/QUOTE]

not close to the biggest center :facepalm

[QUOTE]Raul Neto played the back-up point guard minutes in the second half and made two huge shots (for 5 points) in three minutes.[/QUOTE]

Why didn't you keep him in the game?

[url]http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43958581&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-jazz-let-4th-quarter-lead-slip-to-go-to-2-1-series-deficit-vs-clippers[/url]

[QUOTE]Chris Paul took over and scored nine consecutive points between the four minute mark and the two minute mark of the game, that turned a two-point Clipper deficit into a seven point Clipper lead.

"He's just good, number one," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "He trusts the actions that we are running, number two, and he has an amazing feel. He really does. He's just a tough, tough guy. He's stubborn in a very, very positive way. All the great ones have that in them. They are stubborn enough like they aren't going to lose."[/QUOTE]

That's the difference between Hayward being a very good player and a great one. You really have to think about how much you want to pay Hayward.

[QUOTE]And then some of it was that the Jazz got very isolation heavy in the fourth. That worked better when the Jazz were able to get the switch so that Raymond Felton or Jamal Crawford was defending the action, but it's still not a reliable way for the Jazz to score.

We've seen this from the Jazz before: late in games, they rely on some simple sets. They don't get as many actions, nor as much movement. Referees swallow their whistles. And as a result, they find it difficult to score.[/QUOTE]

Is this the genius coach or the players?

[QUOTE]But the Jazz aren't even close without Hayward's contributions.[/QUOTE]

I keep hearing he's an all-star. That's what he's supposed to do especially with their best player out

[QUOTE]they also ran a lot of actions that got Paul switched onto Hayward. Paul likes to play centerfield on defense where he can intercept passes and gather steals, but he's not a tremendously effective defender on a wing with the size Hayward has.[/QUOTE]

They must think differently since they had him on Hayward when Johnson hit the shot

[QUOTE]Hayward scored just four in the quarter, and the biggest factor was the way the Clippers defended him. They were holding, pressing, arm-barring him, and everything else they could think of to prevent him from getting the separation he got early in the game. All of those things are illegal, but the referees didn't call the fouls.[/QUOTE]

Again the greats make it happen somehow. Teams have tried to get physical with Rudy and he's learned how to get it done.

[QUOTE]The biggest problem for the Jazz is at the center position[/QUOTE]

duh?

[QUOTE]Derrick Favors played 38 minutes tonight, going just 1-for-3 from the field for two points. He had 0 points and 1 rebound in the second half. He wasn't an impact player at defending the rim, nor an effective rebounder, nor an offensive plus. As a result, he was a -17 in those minutes. That means the Jazz were a plus 10 when he wasn't on the floor.[/QUOTE]

So why not give Withey or even Bolomboy a shot?

[QUOTE]Boris Diaw played at center during those other minutes, and it was actually an interesting look for the Jazz: it allows them to space the floor and play five-out where all five players have to be guarded. But Diaw's a flawed player too: he has trouble hanging defensively, and of course, he can't play all of the minutes at center if he's also starting at power forward.[/QUOTE]

He sucked too. But at least they have cap space for the draft!

[QUOTE] it might be time to force Rudy Gobert's return, unless they feel Gobert is at risk to hurt it further by playing. Even a few minutes, and a walking Gobert, would really help.[/QUOTE]

can't rush him back. He is the future of the franchise. Without him they aren't going anywhere. Imagine the team playing as well as they have in this series with him. They can beat anyone

[url]http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43966362&nid=294&title=jazz-update-clippers-pf-blake-griffin-out-for-playoffs-with-toe-injury[/url]

[QUOTE]Tim MacMahon ✔ @espn_macmahon

Jazz C Rudy Gobert is being evaluated on a daily basis, but a source says it's unlikely that he will be ready to play in Sunday's Game 4.

1:59 PM - 22 Apr 2017[/QUOTE]

oh well. Maybe they can win another without him

[QUOTE]he brought in Raul Neto.

The Brazilian's solid defense wasn't a surprise, but his shotmaking on offense was. [/QUOTE]

not really. Was one of their best shooters last year and was starting to hit shots before he got hurt

[QUOTE]And there are indications he may have earned the backup PG job for the time being. "He was playing those minutes before he got hurt," Snyder said. "While he was out, Shelvin came in and did a good job. We've played a lot of guys there, and we just try to feel the game. It felt like we needed some juice, and he gave that to us."[/QUOTE]

Why don't you need his juice more?

[url]http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865678385/Jazz-crowd-can-get-ugly-but-is-it-really-the-worst.html[/url]

[QUOTE]Welcome to Vivint Arena, where the seats steeply slope all the way to the court. Fans are right on top of the action, just the way the late Larry H. Miller intended. It

[url]http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865678410/Clippers-Chris-Paul-a-la-Stockton-again-shows-why-hes-one-of-NBAs-premier-point-guards.html[/url]

[QUOTE]he's the Los Angeles Clippers' version of legendary Utah Jazz guard John Stockton, proving once again that big

[url]http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5206705-155/utah-jazz-mailbag-how-do-you[/url]

[QUOTE]When Favors is healthy, he's one of the better two-way power forwards in the league.[/QUOTE]

He was. Will he be again is the question? Haven't seen it all year and it started last season really/ That's worrisome. I thought maybe he'd raised his trade value in the first couple of games but game 3 was awful

[QUOTE]Favors faces a pretty big summer. He has to come back next season with good health and show he can return to previous form. Failing that, the Jazz will have to make a decision on his future.[/QUOTE]

They'll be looking to move him I imagine. Even if he is healthy he may not be the best fit next to Rudy. I would guess they'll go into the season with him hoping he can return to form and increase his trade value. If Hayward bolts who know maybe he even signs an extension?

[url]http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5207130-155/clippers-notes-pick-and-roll-preparation-benefited-from[/url]

[QUOTE]Guard Austin Rivers is expected to miss Game 4 due to a hamstring injury. The Clippers are doubtful that Rivers could return for Game 5 on Tuesday in Los Angeles.[/QUOTE]

doubt they'll rush him back unless the Jazz win a couple more games

[url]http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5206575-155/nba-playoffs-clippers-blake-griffin-to[/url]

[QUOTE]Speaking of Gobert

[url]http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5204119-155/kragthorpe-if-quin-snyders-bold-moves[/url]

[QUOTE]The fans were equally angry about the officiating and supportive of the Jazz. As Hayward stood at the free-throw line, they chanted, "MVP!" [/QUOTE]

Yeah right! They got to watch an MVP performance by Paul though

[url]http://saltcityhoops.com/chris-paul-carves-through-jazz-defense-puts-clips-up-2-1/[/url]

[QUOTE]Griffin

[url]http://www.slcdunk.com/2017/4/22/15394932/why-i-still-have-hope-in-our-utah-jazz[/url]

[QUOTE]At the end of the regular season the Jazz showed that (even though there were not much to play for games) they could even beat the Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs. I am not so sure the DWill teams could do that even under the same circumstances. [/QUOTE]

More like a Sloan team. Can't see Sloan making the adjustments that Snyder has

[url]http://www.slcdunk.com/2017/4/22/15392486/nba-playoffs-los-angeles-clippers-utah-jazz-chris-paul-gordon-hayward-deandre-jordan-blake-griffin[/url]

[QUOTE]Paul Pierce played 21 minutes. The man is slower than frozen molasses. The Jazz should have taken better advantage of his being on the floor than they did. Doc Rivers tried everything he could to give the Jazz this game and they just couldn

[url]http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5208901-155/utah-jazz-shootaround-rudy-gobert-upgraded[/url]

[QUOTE]Snyder did confirm Gobert is back to running. Should he be able to play, Gobert would probably be inserted into the starting lineup.[/QUOTE]

jumping? He didn't practice so I doubt he plays. A few minutes each half off the bench could be the difference

[QUOTE]Andy Larsen: Quin Snyder on if Gobert has a minutes restriction: