1. Good job Jazz! The T-Wolves always seem to give the Jazz trouble, so I'm glad they didn't trip up our guys in our last "easy" game of the year before the six-game spanking machine coming up (San Antonio, New Orleans, Dallas, Denver, Houston, San Antonio) followed by the playoffs.

2. "...allowed Utah to become the fifth team with at least 50 victories — along with San Antonio, New Orleans, Phoenix and the Los Lakers..." Los Lakers? Hee hee! But search Google for "the Lakers will be wearing" and click the first result. Maybe the News meant to say Los Lakers after all. :-)

My binocculars are ready for the playoofs.

We love the TURKISH DELITE! This man can play the game. His drives to the hoop and rebounds are where it all starts. Then he will desrtoy you when you pack it in. Memo is a monster and when he plays physical the Jazz can win. He has an extremely nice longball. Sinan's fellow countryman is one of our biggest keys. I can't wait to see him hav'n coffee and Dunkin' Donuts friday night (and then some juicy Turkey). Fess needs to saddle up for 5-7 minutes against the Spurs so he can pound on Oberto Gonzales and introduce him to the flavor of the ESA floor. Also Matt Boner needs a warm welcome to ESA (remember when he downed Williams in the WCF last year). Toughness counts now and the playoffs start Friday Night where Rebounds loose balls, bumps, bruises, elbows and floor burns will be in fashion. Let em bust butt and then "SEND SOME MORE OF EM IN" we can go 10 deep. Increase effort at all times and reduce minutes as needed. Go Memo, go Sinan, Go Jazz. It's TURKEY TIME. Um tastes like chicken.

Memet is looking good. We like him.

Gary S. is right, our 6 game remaining schedule will be tough as they are all fighting for playoff position out west and we are still 2 games away from clinching a playoff spot.

Jimmy thinks getting the top seed is completely out of the question and that we need to start rooting for certain teams to win in order to better our matchups.

Jimmy would be happy if Houston finished with the fifth seed (to the Jazz's 4th) so we need to root for them to pass Phoenix. Jimmy would also like to see New Orleans finish first so that we could see them in round 2. That would make it so that if we did advance we would only have to matchup against 1 of Phoenix/San Antonio/Los Angeles.

Cha Cha Cha Cha-ching!

Did you guys know Harpring was a football player?

it's sad that we have to start rooting for other teams to lose because the jazz didn't take care of business. At least the last few games will be against good teams....I'm tired of the T-wolves...spurs anyone??

Those last 6 games are killer.

I hope the Jazz can go at least 3-3. If not, playoffs might not happen.

Friday's game is huge with the Spurts coming in.

Next Saturday at home against the Denver Thuggs is the biggest game of the year.

you are correct.
also, am i the only worried that the jazz have beat these gutter teams only due to their 3 point shooting?

Anyone else tired of hearing "Booner" say absolutely to every other word? Speaking for myself I can definitively answer this, ABSOLUTELY!

Great job Jazz. Very well knocked-down shots by Memo on 3rd period. My countryman made me smiled and i send him my best regards. Korver did good job too. Korver and Memo are like howitzer. We need 2 or 3 more games to say we're at playoffs. Tomorrow morning i'll drive to Ankara and come back to Istanbul at night. About 600 miles. Then at 3 am of Saturday, i'll be in front of my TV to watch the game with SA. I hope we win otherwise i use my howitzer :-) By the way, thanks to "Memo to Memo".
GO MEMO TO MEMO, GO MEMO , GO JAZZZZZZZZZ.

I see them winning 4 of the final six. I think they will get the 3 home games and then also Dallas. Is Dirk back? I believe they have the potential to go 6-0 to finish off the season. They have proved they can pick up a few big wins on the road when they won at Boston. I hate the word potential because all it means to me is "could be" and not is. I think they can go 6-0 but to me 4-2 seems more probable

Bolder's new one was - this one is good for ma ma ma money - classic

Nothing beats the cha cha cha cha-ching

Jazz will go 5-1, losing only to the Hornets in New Orleans.

The Jazz cannot win in San Antonio, but I think that they will be focused enough to go out there and get a big time win. However, I'm totally dreading the fact that they could get these guys in the playoffs! SA would probably have homecourt over them if they win a few more games!

These last 6 are very critical for the Jazz because I don't really think they will stand a chance winning a playoff series without homecourt.. UNLESS... EVERYBODY (INCLUDING MEMO AND KIRILENKO) steps up! Without them... on the road, we're in trouble.. you saw what happened with Minnesota.. Imagine how bad we'd lose to say the Suns!

Again the Jazz showed they can lose to bad teams if they don't play tough D. And when they picked up their D in the second half, they quickly pulled ahead. If you're shooting 60% and the other team is shooting 50%, you're not going to be ahead by much, and if suddenly you miss a few shots, your lead vanishes. The way things are working out might be perfect because the Jazz players are realizing what is needed. Also, I think it did good for AK to sit the pine and watch the team in action. His numbers are down, but his value to the team is up because he is willing to hit the open man, he is not trying to make the impossible pass so often as he used to do, and he is working hard on rebounding and defense. I don't think he deserves to be a max money guy, but he is still valuable to the team. I love Ronnie Price, by the way. What a hustler and what a dangerous shooter. Too bad he missed SportsCenter last night by two inches. As for Bolerjack, I can't stand all the cliches and repetitive garbage.

I also think that the Jazz will go 3&3 the remaining 6 games. But even if they don't--they are in. Look at Dallas, Golden State, Houston and Phoenix's remaining schedule, and quite frankly if we lost 5 we are still in. Home court throughout would be nice but that was gone awhile back. FACT--when the playoffs come the only thing important to me is if we can win it all. Too win a round or two and not get to the finals is not good enough. I'm prepared to accept less than a TITLE this year however, but the future is bright fans, and the playoffs will be a hoot.

I have been thinking a lot about defense lately. It is logical to associate defense statistically to rebounds, turnovers, blocks, turnovers,and steals. I wanted to see the difference in statistics between a mediocre defensive team like the jazz and the best defensive team the Celtics.
Here is what I found:

Rpg differential. Both teams are very similar rank 4th and 6th
Boston +2.97
Utah + 2.80

Blkpg differential. Similar, teams are both bottom tier 19th and 26th
Boston -0.25
Utah -0.81

Stlpg differential. Very similar, rank 7th and 8th
Boston +1.33
Utah +1.21

Turnover differential. Very similar, rank 8th and 6tth (- good)
Boston -0.90
Utah -1.23

Fouls differential. Somewhat similar in rank, similar statistically rank 18th and 23rd (+bad)
Boston +0.44
Utah +0.88

So the Jazz and the Celtics are very similar in every way of defensive statistics. Yet the bottom line is this:

Opponents FG%
Boston rank 1st 41.2%
Utah rank 21st 46.2%

Opponents 3pt%
Boston rank 1st 31.4%
Utah rank 12th 35.7%

These results lead me to believe that these defensive stats play a small role in actual defensive. Otherwise both teams would not be so similar statistically. This leads us too 2 possibilities.

1.      Good defense comes from great coaching and defensive strategy.
2.      Great defense is something that can not be taught by coaching, but it is solely a function an athletes natural talent and abilities.

Some may argue a 3rd option that it is just hard work or intensity. I actually think that is part of number 2.

Anyway,there is a solution to figure this out but I am out of time for now. So if anyone is interested maybe you could look up the Celtics FG%, 3pt% from last year. Same Coach, different players-get my drift?

Atta boy Boozer! All the defensive stats don't mean nearly as much as Boozer committing to play defense and then actually moving his feet, challenging shots, and being physical in the paint all the time. If Boozer mixed it up as hard as Harpring does the Jazz would be much better.

The one constant difference between our wins and our losses is Boozer's defense (of course nobody on-air will ever say it, but it's obvious...even D-Will alluded to it yesterday and I'm sure he was talking about Boozer). The rest of the team feeds off of him. If he plays defense and physically all we need are 17 and 12 a night from him and we'll win. Jefferson was shocked a few times when Boozer d'd up yesterday.....look at the difference in his line from Sunday to yesterday, that will illustrate the point the best.

Can someone find the Jazz's record this year against the teams they are playing in the final 6 games?
For example they are 2-2 against the T-Wolves. I just want to see the series record for each opponent that remains this season

There is some excellent analysis by John Hollinger on ESPNdotCOM, I'd definately recommend it. I agree that the Jazz go 3-3, maybe 4-2. I actually think that the way it is now is the way it will finnish and the Jazz will be playing on the road in the first round.

@ adam d

The problem with assuming that just because the numbers "arent that different" the defensense isn't that much better, is that these numbers a are small and small differences are a big deal. An overall efficency rating that compines all of the numbers you just listed gives you a better picture of what is actually going on. Two different ratings that I found showed the following.

Holingers Ratings
Boston 95.9
Utah 104.4

NBAStufferdotCOM
Boston 100.7
Utah 109.5

Can you find the records for us?

Magnus,

Thanks for your suggestions but,I think you missed the point of my work.

That is, doing well statistically in defensive categories does not mean that you have a good defense.

I demonstrated this by showing that the defensive stats of both teams are very similar. If you were going soley by these defensive stats you would be inclined to think they both had great defenses. Yet the ultimate stat for defense is opposing team fg% in which boston's is much much better. If the reason for this does not show up in the stats, what are its main contributors?

see 1 and 2 from last post.

Well I had time to check Bostons opposing fg% from last year and it is quite horrid. That means a coach can sit on the sidelines and yell defense until he is blue in the face but it is the players natural talents and abilities(enthusiasm included) that make defense-not coaching. Otherwise Doc rivers would have had great defense last year.

Bottom line. If we jazz fans want a good defensive team, do what Boston did. Dont change the coach, change the roster.

DEFENSE!! We finally saw some defense in the second half of the Minnesota game. I like Special K, but he often gets beat off the dribble and can't recover with his great jumping ability and long arms. He is also not as strong as most of the forwards he goes up against. I love Brewer, but the other team's shooting guard has their best shooting night against him. May I suggest that Miles and Price start, and the other two come off the bench. Great team defense wins championships!

Uh, we gotta get through the west before we could have a shot at boston . . .

Jazz by five.

You are missing the boat on this one. Celts hired an assistant coach who is responsible for the changes the Celt's defensive philosopy. That's the difference this year. The jazz on the other hand have had the same defensive philosophy since they have been here. FOUL and Foul some more. Send people to the middle, clog up the lane and leave the 3 open etc. Same hollinger report talking about New Orleans not fouling teams and sending them to the line which actually improves their team defense. the Jazz?? number one in the NBA in fouling!! Jazz go 3 and 3 at best! if they lose to SA Friday,look for a 2 and 4 mark. If we get Phoenix in the first rd. We are in trouble! especially without home court. Better look to next year with Korver all year and a better record plus home court advantage. This is not our year. We were lucky last year!! it's not going to happen again!! wake up people.....4 and 2? 5 and 1 we suck on the road people!!

the truth,

1-So your telling me that this "assistant coach" could coach the yokel celtics of last year into being the best defensive team? Where can we get one?
Face it defense is all about the players.

2-Actually Jazz are 12th in the league at 3pt defense. And 21st all around fg%. Opposisite of what you said.

3-What actually matters with fouls is the differential. Before today I would have agreed with you on this but boston fouls a great deal also and they are number 1.

Nice try but I think your missing the boat my friend.

PS

Look for me on this message board when the Jazz make it to the 2nd round.

Jazz will go 2-4 if they are lucky. they could possibly go 1-5 or lose all six games.

Boozer is not big enough to be a defensive stopper and never will be. He has never been with any team he has played for professionally and before.

He's good at scoring and rebounding, that it that is all he will ever be good at.

It's time to get rid of him while he still has value.

He will never lead this team to championship.

This team needs a real team leader some who can take over a game when you need it, in crunch time. This franchise has never had that player.

Memo does more and boozer does less = jazz win.

Scoring and rebouding didn't help undersized Barkley to win championships.

Man some crazy comments everybody talking about how bad the Jazz will turn out these last six games, and about who should be benched, traded, or fired. I mean last time I checked as far as concerning the last six games of the season, the Utah Jazz have the least amount of losses to the top nine teams in the Western conference than any other team in the Western conference, so going off of that alone you people should be saying they have a better chance of winning than losing, and of those last nine teams Utah has given more 20+ point losses to more of the top nine teams than any other team in the Western conference so to say they will have no chance and do really bad is just flat out ignorance taking over your opinions.

And as far as who Utah should trade and bench maybe you all should look at all the starters stats, not just the scoring, and who you would like to replace them with look at there stats also. And think about how that player will effect the team as a whole. Because I am seeing allot of people just not thinking about things before posting them. Take this example into mind. Everyone talking about bench Kirilenko put CJ in ok good idea we know CJ can score and defend a little, but point is you will be giving up 4+ rebounds, 4+ assists, 1+ steals, and 1+ blocks a game and for what maybe possibly a two or three point scoring increase at that position, because he wont be the main go to guy and the fact that there are already three guys who can score will just be more of a reason his scoring will be around what Kirilenko and Brewers are right now and it will effect the team greatly so look at other positions to and how changing things will effect the team before posting up none thought out comments.

Jazz are 10-9 on the road since January! With losses to Portland (twice), Sacramento, Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami. None of those teams are headed to the playoffs. They have, however, in the same span, beat Houston, Washington, Denver, Boston, and Phoenix. Stop with all the junk about the Jazz not winning on the road! It's just plain not true! that's like saying the Jazz in Decemeber are the same team as today. Home court would be nice, but it's not absolutely critical to beating ANY of the teams we'll face in the first round. Odds are we will.

Just a break down for the doubter: we're 2-1 against Phoenx, 1-1 against Houston, 1-1 against San Antonio (lost in San Antonio by 6), 2-1 agains the Hornets, 3-0 agains Golden State and 2-1 against Dallas. The Lakers are the only team we have a losing record against (1-3). That's 12-8 against ALL western playoff contenders. The Jazz don't lose at home (except against LA), and the way it stands right now we play Phoenix in round one, Hornets or Denver in 2nd rnd, and winner of San Antonio/Lakers in WCF. I'd preffer Houston, but really, I like the way it looks!

Sorry Adam D, I see what you where going for now. I should have waited until I had time to digest what you where doing to post a response.

I love what you did with it though and I 100% agree with your conclusions.

trade boozer? start cj and price over brewer over ak? what are jazz fans thinking these days. and almost all of you predicting 2-4 or 3-3. you have no right to call yourselves jazz fans if you think that.
cj and price dont start because ak and brewer haven proven themselves. they also dont start because we need someone good off the bench

everyone that will be in the ESA we need to be loud and crazy we have to help our team for the W. I have been told that everyone should wear light blue so that we can bring the same energy we did in game 3 of the confrence finals. lets rock the ESA

I will be in ESA, but I'm not going to be loud, I suffer from sever flu and I hope the Jazz wins, and I'm sure I will get sick again because I will forget and I will go crazy with the game.

The Truth.

Memo better bring this intensity and hot shooting to the playoffs or the Jazz are 1 and done.

re: Adam D

Thanks for the laugh!

You could have summed up your idea as such: Good defensive teams have a big man that alters shots. (Boston, SA, Hornets, Detroit)

You can't compare the Jazz to the Celtics for the simple fact that they play in different conferences. You don't think the Jazz's numbers would be inflated playing 52 games in the Eastern Conference?

And just becuase the numbers might be better doesn't mean that THEY ARE better. (See Dallas/GS playoff series or Detroit/LA Finals)

A better comparison would have been against the Spurs or Hornets.

Here's a fact for you. The Jazz's opponents average 30 FTA and 100 pts a game. The Spurs' opponents average 21 FTA and 91 pts a game.

Hmmm.. might the extra free throw shots be hurting the Jazz in close games??

That's what you get from a coach who thinks Defense and Foul are synonyms.

Fire/Retire Sloan

Don't think I've lost the fire for the Fire/Retire Sloan campaign.

I have just lost the fire to type well-worded, basketball-brillant posts that are ALWAYS on Topic, and Yet somehow the Dnews screeners REFUSE to post.

Guess the Truth Hurts.

If you want more Sloan Hater, Pass along your dismay for the conspiracy to silence THE Voice of Reason of the Utah Jazz.

Fire/Retire Sloan

How many points do the Jazz average and how many do the Spurs Average? I hate using those averages to determine a teams defense. I think it is misleading. The Jazz also have a slightly faster game pace which leads to more possessions for the other team which gives them more opportunities and that leads to more points. I do agree that a better comparison would be with NO or SA. You really do bore me becuase you never have anything new to say and not matter what happens you have the same argument even if it doesn't apply. Get over your hate for Sloan and cheer for the Jazz. LHM will not get rid of Sloan so just give it up and quit wasting your breath.

Sloan hater,

I like you because your an out of the box thinker and at times I agree with you. Your fundamental flaw is that you are purely opinionative rather than objective. Mostly I am thinking about the fact that you believe Sloan can never win a championship as if this sort of thing can be known with surety. As soon at you admit that there may be even a slight chance of this I will think less of your opinion.

Anyway, your notion that all you need is a big man altering shots is ludicrous. Though dont get me wrong it certainly helps, but basketball is a team sport and defense is performed by the team not a single player. Since your not interested my objective factual argument Ill give you my opionion.

Good defensive teams are athletic enough to not get beat off the dribble. They allow little penetration and all the while the shot clock is ticking down. All the opposing team can do is force a bad shot. This type of play does not show up in stats and thats why stats have little to do with being a good defensive team.