Utah Jazz finally get the Memo
Together, a memo by way of pointed words at the break and a Memo named Okur combined to make the difference as the Jazz avenged Sunday's loss at Minnesota with Wednesday night's 117-100 victory over the Timberwolves at sold-out EnergySolutions Arena.
Mehmet "Memo" Okur finished with a game-high 22 points for the Northwest Division-leading Jazz, including 13 during a decisive 38-22 third quarter that allowed Utah to become the fifth team with at least 50 victories — along with San Antonio, New Orleans, Phoenix and the Los Lakers — in the NBA's Western Conference this season.
"It definitely made a difference having Memo out there," said point guard Deron Williams, who had 19 points and a game-high 14 assists for his 49th double-double of the season.
Okur was absent with a stomach virus when the Jazz lost 110-103 on Sunday, but his presence Wednesday opened the floor for Utah — especially during a third quarter in which Utah blew things opens, going from three up at halftime to 19 ahead at 91-72 heading into the fourth.
He finished with three treys in the quarter, helping give the Jazz 12 on the night — the second straight game in which Utah, which hit a franchise-record 15 3s in Monday's win over Washington, made at least a dozen shots from behind the long-distance line.
"They weren't even plays," Williams said of Okur's scoring streak. "One of them was a pick-and-roll; I found him. Another one I think I broke the play and found him. And then another one was transition. I knew he was hot at that point, so I just tried to kind of tried to suck the defense in and he was trailing for a 3."
Okur's scorching hand, Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer suggested, stemmed largely from a defensive predicament faced by Minnesota on Wednesday that was not was an issue when he was sick and out of the lineup Sunday.
"They (the Timberwolves) packed the lane," Boozer said. "They were so worried about layups and dunks with me and DWill (Williams), and they left Memo wide open. They give Memo shots, and Memo is going to knock them down.
"That's the great thing about him," Boozer added. "It's kind of like 'pick your poison.'"
An anecdote for the Jazz's first-half woes came from coach Jerry Sloan, who extolled the virtues of making the extra pass.
"We came in and we talked about some things, made some adjustments," Williams said.
They were noticeable, too.
Recent comments
Sloan hater,
I like you because your an out of the box thinker...
adam d | April 4, 2008 at 10:12 a.m.
How many points do the Jazz average and how many do the Spurs Average...
To Sloan Hater | April 4, 2008 at 8:48 a.m.
Don't think I've lost the fire for the Fire/Retire Sloan...
Sloan Hater | April 4, 2008 at 7:23 a.m.
