The Official NBA Regular Season 07-08 Thread

[BobboFitos]

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[censored] jazz game

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[rant] Jerry Sloan Jazz teams tilt me so bad, especially on the road, because:

1. They play not to lose, not to win. My theory is that everyone's afraid of getting in Sloan's 'dog house' if they do anything that doesn't fit into his 'system,' which includes taking a shot before 20 seconds have elapsed, taking a 3, etc.

This is particularly true if they get a lead. Everyone just holds the ball like there are 30 seconds left in the game, even if it's the 2nd quarter. They play their best when they're down 5-8 points, imo, because players are willing to take some chances and use their talent. Once they get the lead, everyone just freezes and waits for the other team to catch up.

2. He'll always play a veteran who 'knows the system' over a rookie. Look at Ronnie Brewer, who he kept buried on the bench in favor of Giricek (sp?), who can't guard anyone and is an inconsistent shooting specialist. Even Paul Milsap got limited minutes, even though he's the only interior player who can block a shot and makes very few mistakes (which you'd think Sloan would like), in favor of Jaron "the statue" Collins, a vet whose work ethic Sloan likes, but simply has no game, and would be hard-pressed to make most NBA squads.

3. He emphasizes 'toughness,' that old school philosophy of making opponents pay for driving the lane, which simply doesn't work in the post-Jordan NBA, where the game is geared to promote backcourt scorers. All Sloan's approach does is give the team a bad reputation with referees, so you get what we saw last night--Derek Fisher and Kobe driving the lane, throwing their bodies into anything they can find, drawing little or no contact, and still getting 3-point plays. Why? Because everyone knows the Jazz always foul players driving to the hole.

4. Anytime someone locally talks about finding a replacement for Sloan, everyone starts talking about how well respected he is, one of the best 5 coaches, bla bla bla.

5. Personally, I don't think he's horrible. If you want to win a bunch of regular season games, more than expected usually, he's your guy, because he has a very regimented, predictable system that teams have trouble against it pressures them to play defense for a long time, makes it hard (in theory) to get easy buckets, and challenges the opposition physically.

However, once you get to the post season, there are no more surprises, other teams don't mind getting physical with you, and they figure out your 1-dimensional system over the course of a series.

When the Jazz beat the Rockets in the 1st round last year, I think that was the 3rd time a Sloan team had beaten a higher seed (even though they had the same record) in 20 (?) post-seasons. I think that's pretty revealing, and I think that's why there will be no championships in Utah as long as Sloan is coach.

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Well, I love Jerry Sloan, but you raised some interesting points.

[tuq]

Horrid, really good write-up on the Jazz.

I wonder how Mavs homers are coping with all this attention that their boy JET is getting coming off the bench. Barea is their equivalent of Marc Iavaroni starting ahead of Bobby Jones for the Sixers in the early 80s - when he was at best the 8th best player on the team. Or maybe it's Eddie Jones, I'm not sure who will move back to the bench once Devin Harris comes back. The homers around here seem to have tired of Terry over the years but maybe this will help.

[ClassicBob]

Harris is the starter once he gets back, and Barea will go back to (8th?) man. Terry coming off the bench is a great thing. He's never been a point guard, always a shooting guard. However, he was put in the position of point guard, so he tried to get everyone else involved before looking for his own in previous years. Now, there are no pretenses that he has to run the offense, he can jump off the bench and start gunning.

I expect his shooting to cool off (60%!), but I definitely think it's a better role. In his limited time, Harris has looked great at running the offense. I think their is some credence to Mark Stein's remark regarding this lineup switch being the closest thing to a roster shakeup that Avery could pull off, and so far, I like it.

[tdarko]

tuq,

1. Barea isn't really that bad. Excellent at penetrating, has a decent shot and makes good decisions. If he weren't so undersized he would be sought after in the league.

2. The reason Barea is starting while Devin is hurt is b/c (quoting Avery) they want to keep JET in the same sixth man role--they also think that their team is much more dangerous w/ Terry in a shoot first role off the bench than in the pass first pg role controlling the offense.

3. Barea moves back to the bench and gets small minutes when Devin comes back even though he showed that he can produce--but he showed that he has a ton of energy and can spark runs last year.

4. The homers (me) were sick of JET at the point b/c your PG can't be a statue on defense, shoot first mentality and get little assists each night. JET had many nights where he was cold cold cold and was 5-22 from the field and on those nights he kills you b/c he has 3 assists and gives up the lane every time on the other end of the floor. Now that he has a specific role which is more conducive to his style I think I will like him more--mainly b/c he won't suck as much.

[tdarko]

CB,

Why did you have to say what I said while I was typing up my post and eating an apple?

[sethypooh21]

Cue JJB manlove from Clark...

[sethypooh21]

Acie Law starting at PG for Atl tonight.

[tuq]

ClassicBob, tdorko - thanks. It reminds me of how the Suns ahve been trying to make Leandro Barbosa into their backup PG for years when his primary skill is putting his head down and trying to beat his defender to the paint. Interestingly enough the same thing that Devin Harris is best known for, although he evidently has better passing skills.

Also, wow Charlotte really sucks. It's tremendously hard to believe they're actually better without Morrison and May. I mean seriously they're terrible, they got ass-secksed tonight by the Suns without Amare and with Sean Marks getting substantial minutes. I refuse to give that much credit to the Suns.

[Green Kool Aid]

LOL Bulls.

Countdown to Paxson firing?

[MikeyPatriot]

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LOL Bulls.

Countdown to Paxson firing?

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What has Paxson done to deserve to get fired? LOL @ me if you are leveling.