You can't blame Wafer or Lowry (or even Artest) for the way they played. Collins was right that the speed at which they attacked the basket matched the pace the Jazz wanted to play at and rendered Yao irrelevant. But the team was desperate and needed to create and the last time we played the Jazz, Lowry used the same approach to lead us back from 13 points down. The difference tonight was that the referees were not calling anything, in part because these guys didn't attack the rim effectively and were obviously looking for bailout calls. That's why I think we need James White to become a regular part of our rotation ahead of Wafer -- because he can actually finish when he attacks the rim. Switch out White for Wafer and we get crazy dunks on those plays and you wouldn't call it ugly or selfish.
I consider the flopping and the fouling down in the post plenty of nonsense. But yes, other than that they execute very well. Considering they've had the same coach and run the same stuff for 20 years, it's easy to see why.
How they sell their flops with precise yet not overboard embellishment. How they set the best legal moving picks. How they make the most out of pushing and shoving while the refs were looking elsewhere. How they carry over the home success on the road.
Didn't you start the thread with the title something like "Do you want to be more like the Utah Jazz" ? Something like that.
The same and to truthful, I didn't even like Deron Williams until this season where he carried the team on his back with scoring and defensive play. He showed me he was an elite young point guard, right up there with your Chris Pauls and Rajon Rondos as the new all stars of the league. But I still will wish him failure as long as he is on the Utah Jazz. Hate the rest of them more then I hate the over hyped Lakers and Celtics.
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I admire their fouling and flopping. They have guys that will hack and take cheap shots all game long but they can also go into flopping mode at the drop of a dime.
I hate/admire their execution, as most of you have already mentioned. Especially off the PnR. Their PnR's are a thing of beauty -- very difficult to defend and nearly automatic. Plus, I envy the way players like Brewer are always cutting to the basket. Definitely something I wish our guys did a lot more of.
They are extremely well coached; they execute, execute, execute in a structured disciplined way; they have a boatload of talented players that can shoot consistently; they have both size and speed. When they are running on all cylinders, they may be the best team in the West AND every time I see them play I want to throw up.
OK to put my most serious face forward: The Jazz are very effecient. They know what they want to do. If they didnt, Sloan wouldn't still be there. They are very consistent in what they want to do. Sure, they miss open shots some times, and they make circus ones, but everyone does that. Aspects of the Jazz' game I can respect: 1. Play hard 2. DWill (he does it the right way, one of the few Jazz who do) 3. Fundementally sound on offense Aspects of the Jazz' game I can NOT respect: 1. Flopping 2. Setting Hard picks, but whining when one is set on them (partly goes back to number 1) 3. Fouling. Consistently. Daring the refs to make a call. 4. Did I mention Flopping?
I love the way Jerry Sloan all but called Kirilenko a p**** when he had an emotional breakdown in the playoffs. What I'd give to see Sloan and Tracy McGrady alone in a cellar in Gitmo.
I could make a video of all the flops players do in a game. The Jazz get into your head doing it, and I don't agree with it, but fouls and flopping are part of the game because the NBA league office won't do a damn thing about obvious flops from the looks of it. BTW, I almost fell out of my chair laughing at a flop that Artest did in the last game against SA as Bowen ran by and breathed on him. There's lots of nonsense in the NBA then.
Sloan, who takes out players going wild and bark at them. RA is a good coach, but two things really fatal: 1. Allow too many selfish plays, allow too many hot head plays, not discipline. 2. Can't draw a set play at the end of game to save his life. Rely on "read and act" in critical positions is like suicide for the most time, especially with young and inexperienced PGs.
