[New York Sun] Jazz, Rockets Find Success Without Blockbuster Trades

Thanks for the article, pretty good observation and even though i agree we don't need a blockbuster trade, a guy like Cassell wouldn't hurt us.

 

For writing by a Journalist from another city, this isn't bad work.

I tend to agree--this team COULD be great, but they still have work to do.

 

In December before getting Korver the Jazz were 4 wins, 11 losses. Korver's arrival since then has coincided with 18 wins, 3 losses.

I call that a blockbuster trade.

 

This is a good article, other than saying Carl was in the D-league. He wasn't ever sent down.

I find it interesting that his observation of why Rafer was shut down was the defense.

Did anyone here think that was the reason why Rafer scored nothing in the 4th?

 

It was the opposite Rafer's man at times was cheating off of Rafer. There defense was all over the place though. But mostly they got back in the game because Artest was on and Rafer and Tmac were off.

 

Considering the quality of writing on the chronicle, I don't think this qualifier's needed.

I agree with the article, and surprised that he noted how Utah has been pounding teams, while we've been "getting by" a little too much. Usually journalists would never make such comments.

 

Whoa!!! I'd say adding Korver was a HUGE move! Who cares about name recognition when you can add one of the best shooters in the game, winning at a 90% clip since the deal!

I'd even be so bold as to suggest the Rockets do the same!

 

I think his point is that Korver isn't a Shaq, Gasol, Marion, Kidd, etc. The results show it was a great move, but at the time it certainly wasn't a blockbuster, just a probably good move for the Jazz. That said, yeah, if we could add a piece like that, it'd be great, but we don't need a blockbuster either.

 

Understood, but I guess my point is that the article is rather a moot point when the best trade of the offseason is a "non-blockbuster" trade.

So "blockbuster" is based on the names involved, number of teams involved, number of players involved...?

Getting Gasol was great for the Lakers considering Bynum went down and what little they gave up for him, but he has never, and will never scare me. We all know what Shaqs gonna do to the Suns and Marion is bolting for FA in 30 games. Still a great move for Miami to free up all that dead cap space. The Kidd deal, as proposed, would be like paint thinner to the Mavs rotation (and future draft status).

But, as soon as Utah got Korver for a bag of chips, I realized that was the move of the season... so far...

 

I agree with the article. Nice win streak for the Rockets, but a lot of the wins have been close calls. On top of that, we haven't been playing really tough competition.

What Utah has been doing recently is still more impressive to me. If I had to rank the Western Conference teams right now, I'd put us above Denver, Golden State, and Portland. The other "big 6" (SAS, LAL, PHO, NOH, UTA, DAL) are still ahead of us.

 

Everyone is panicking in the Western Conference, I hope the Rockets stand pat.....or make a minor trade.

This team has enough pieces to make noise and if the cards fall right win it all.

No need to follow the herd.

DD

 

He's dead on about the Rockets: the way teams beat us is waiting for us to go into an offensive lull, because our execution in the crunch is still not good at all. It just comes down to consistency, sticking to the game plan of ball movement, and maintaining focus. Hopefully they'll develop it before the playoffs begin.

For the Jazz, I'm not as afraid of them this year as before. Giricek was a pretty good outside shooter against the Rockets so in my mind they haven't gained anything special in Korver. The one thing different between this year's regular season Jazz and last year's playoff Jazz is that they don't have Fisher anymore. That loss will make itself felt in the playoffs.

 

We lost a game to the Jazz cus of Korvers consecutive 3's in the late 4th, when was the last time Giriceck did that to us.

 

Still gelling. The guys are still learning how to play with each other and new sets and new plays. Remember that former players have said it could take up to 2 years to get this offense.

Learning a new dance is hard.

 

Giricek shot 53.8% from 3-pt land in last year's playoffs. He made quite a few big ones against us.

 

I just checked all seven box scores from the series. Giricek shot 8-12 three's against us. That's 67%.

 

AND in the last five games of the series Giricek went 8-9 from three point land.

 

What was more shocking and saddening is how he got into McGrady's head on defense.

 

Yeah, Fisher will be missed by Utah come playoff time. I don't know how, but he did a good job checking T-Mac in last year's series. Something tells me Kyle Korver won't be able to do the same.