Shane on Boozer won't work (See first game of season). Shane on Dirk works because Dirk is more of a perimeter player than a post-up guy.
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=189566 Treasure hunting: Utah's hidden gold March 21, 2007 The Utah Jazz is the single biggest surprise in the NBA this season. A 12-1 start has led to the fourth best record overall, with an unlikely mix of players that should earn Jerry Sloan mention in Coach of the Year talk. Not too shabby for a team that finished .500 last season. The single biggest difference has been the improvement of Deron Williams, who this time last year was battling for playing time with the likes of Keith McLeod and Milt Palacio. This, combined with the improved health of Carlos Boozer, has instantly placed the Jazz among the league's elite. Not to be lost in the shuffle, however, is the strong play of the bench. Is there a more anonymous second team in the league? The Jazz seems to have a never ending supply of guys who get little buzz but who can flat out play -- C.J. Miles, Ronnie Brewer, Jarron Collins, etc. Depth has been vital to their success this year, with only Boozer, Williams and Mehmet Okur averaging more than 30 minutes. Case in point is the team's record with starters out of the lineup -- 6-2 without Boozer, and 6-1 without Andrei Kirilenko. A daunting opening round playoff matchup with the Rockets is looming. The teams have split the two meetings this season, with the Rockets' win coming without Yao Ming in the lineup. They will meet twice more, including the last day of the season, in a game that may end up deciding home court advantage in the series. How the Jazz fares will depend largely on its ability to contain Tracy McGrady and Ming, and the bench will play a huge part factor. It all starts with this week's guests of honor, each of whom brings a unique skill set to the table. Paul Millsap, Power Forward, Jazz At every draft at least one talented player falls through the cracks and deep into the second round. Such is the case with Millsap who was the leading Division I rebounder three years in a row but was overlooked in part because he played college ball in the WAC at Louisiana Tech. Needless to say, the Jazz hit pay dirt with his selection at 47th overall. The Jazz have obviously had good success with picks from Louisiana Tech, and like his predecessor Karl Malone, Millsap brings a physical presence to the table. He's the ideal backup for the starter Boozer, providing strong rebounding and hustle in short spurts night in and night out. He's perhaps the most efficient player in the entire league, with impressive totals (6.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 51.6 FG%, 69.2 FT%) in less than 18 MPG. It will be interesting to see Millsap's impact in a series against Houston. In the first two match-ups, he was lost in the shuffle, totaling only sixteen minutes, but the first game was opening night, and the second was with Ming out of the lineup. Over the course of seven games, he and Collins should provide valuable fresh legs (not to mention extra fouls) to help slow down Ming. Matt Harpring, Small Forward, Jazz Originally selected by the Magic in 1998 (15th overall), Harpring bounced from Orlando to Cleveland to Philadelphia before finding a home in Utah in 2002-03. Since then he's carved out a nice 25-30 minute niche for himself, averaging points in the mid-teens along with solid rebounding totals. I'm a big fan of Harpring. Like Millsap, he's the kind of hard nosed player every team needs, providing a physical presence from the small forward position. His numbers this year (11.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 48.3 FG%, 74.7 FT%) continue a gradual decline, but he still provides a valuable scoring option off the bench. At this point in his career, health is a significant question mark for Harpring. The knee problems continue to be a concern, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him rested in stretches between now and the playoffs. The Jazz need his experience off the bench, and would be in big trouble against Houston without him. Gordan Giricek, Shooting Guard, Jazz Giricek was originally selected in 1999 (41st overall) by Dallas, who immediately dealt his rights to San Antonio. Three years later the Spurs again traded his rights to Memphis, where he made his NBA debut in 2002-03. The Grizzlies dealt him to Orlando in the mid-season Drew Gooden/Mike Miller deal, and a year later he was dealt to Utah for DeShawn Stevenson. With Williams and Derek Fisher in essentially a double point-guard set, the Jazz lack the prototypical two guard in the starting lineup. Giricek fills that need off the bench, proving a long distance threat that complements the inside-minded Harpring, Millsap and Collins in the second unit. Giricek's numbers were down in the first half of the season, but an improved February (9.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.1 3PG, 51.4 FG%, 83.3 FT%) and March (11.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.4 3PG, 50.0 FG%, 88.5 FT%) have resembled his career norms. The Jazz are using him the right way -- as a quick hit scoring threat off the bench, one they will need if they hope to get past the first round of the playoffs. He's missed the last two games with a rib injury after a nasty collision with Samuel Dalembert, but is slated to return soon.
After the Jazz lose tonight to Memphis the Rockets will be tied for 4th seed in the West. Then we will have the chance to move ahead of them tomorrow when we play the Nookie!
Wait - I thought it was the record, and nothing else, which determined playoff matchups? Isn't that the whole reason that we would have home-court if we pass the Jazz? So, by that same logic, what would happen if THREE teams have a better record than them? (Spurs, us, and the Lakers)? Would Utah still have the 4th seed, but the 6th best record, then what happens? Aaack! Unless this is just another flaw in the system, and Utah could have the 8th best record in the conference, and still be no worse than 4th seed (meaning playing 5th seed (us) on the road?) I actually haven't seen this particular question addressed yet!
Actually, Utah would still have homecourt after losing tonight. In tiebreaker situations, conference record determines homecourt advantage.
Home court is always based on record. Seeding (matchups) are based on something entirely different. With seeding the top 4 seeds go to the three division winners (Mavs, Suns, Jazz) and the best team based on record that is not a division winner (Spurs). These 4 teams are seeded based on record (1. Mavs 2. Suns 3. Spurs 4. Jazz). To answer your question, as long as none of the 8 teams that are better than utah are in their division, then yes, they could be 8th best and still a 4 seed. In our case, the only way we move up a seed is to pass san antonio to get that wildcard seed, and then san antonio would drop to our spot. Utah, being a division winner, doesnt move.
Here's the situation. Utah gets 4th seed regardless of their record if they win their division. Utah gets homecourt advantage over the 5th seed if they have a better record than the 5th seed. We are trying to get a better record than Utah so we can get homecourt advantage as 5th seed.
TWO-WAY TIES a. Results of games against each other. b. Better winning percentage within own conference. c. Better winning percentage within own division (only if tied teams are in same division). d. Better winning percentage against playoff opponents in own conference. e. Better winning percentage against playoff opponents in opposite conference. f. Better point differential between offense and defense.
I'm watching it online right now. It's the "A" Sports channel on TVU. Channel number 53982. pretty poor video, but it's the NBAtv feed.
Gasol scored 16 points in the 1st quarter. Looks like a very strong center can wreck havoc against the Jazz.
Way too many layups and easy baskets for both teams. Lots of points. The tempo favors the Grizz. Stro is doing everything possible on both ends to make it a route for the Jazz. What a worthless goofus of a player.
