Reader comments: Utah Jazz: Williams' almost-perfect night spoiled by Houston's Landry

36 comments  |  Read story

Why? | 1:44 a.m. April 25, 2008
Let the Rockets back in?

Dwill, you are the greatest, but you are wrong on your statement. Saturdays game isn't the "must-win," tonight's game was the "must-win."

Rockets are as talented as the Jazz, but one thing they definitely have going is that they don't quit.

Where did the "Greed" go that Jazz players were talking about? Welcome back to the dog-fight....
Eye Dee Ten Tee | 4:49 a.m. April 25, 2008
Someone stop the Jazz from reading the editorials that had awarded them the sweep before playing all 4 games.
Also, if you want to win close games, make your free throws. Do we need Hornacek back to teach them how to rub their cheek before putting the orange ball through the orange hoop?

OK. Now we need to win games 4 and 5
Todd, Norfolk VA | 5:21 a.m. April 25, 2008
This article is garbage. A near perfect night? The Jazz will never win a championship until they get the Spurs mentality. When there is blood in the water, you slash all hope. The Jazz played like they didn't care if they won, and they didn't. The Lakers won't let us recover from such a stupid mistake. And by the way, Sloan needs to come out of his stupor and get these guys going.
Comments continue below
Chad | 6:15 a.m. April 25, 2008
Missed free-throws and stupid unforced turnovers kill us yet again. If I see them chuck the ball into the stands once more without anyone guarding the pass, I think I will scream.

Also, should we now start talking about missed calls? If you watch the replay of that last shot, Rafer is all over Williams. It should have been a foul. But it was a no-call. I guess payback (from the refs) is a...well you know what.

The officiating was bad on both sides tonight. I kept wondering when they were going to just let them play ball. That stretch in the 4th with 4 straight fould calls on the Jazz then 2 straight on Houston was ridiculous. 3 of the 4 on the Jazz should have been ignored and probably both on Houston should have been ignored. Pretty sad that the refs set the pace of the game rather than the teams. I think Delaney was trying to get even with the Jazz for their rowdy fan...some class act.

Now that is 2 games with bad or controversial officiating in this series. I was not aware the refs were trying to win a ring...although it sure looks that way.
lamonte | 6:40 a.m. April 25, 2008
The score was closer than the Jazz deserved. They missed free throws, they got beat on offensive rebounds, and they just didn't look very hungry last night.

Todd - I woould hope that guys who will get paid more this year at least 5 times what I hope to make in my career, do not need their coach to tell them to "get going."

OK Jazz, suck it up, take your lumps and get off dead behinds and win this thing.
Anonymous | 7:04 a.m. April 25, 2008
HOUSTON WAS THE BETTER TEAM LAST NIGHT THE JAZZ HAD THEIR OPPORTUNITY AGAIN DERON PLAYED HIS HEART OUT HE GAVE IT HIS ALL IT TO BAD THE OTHER PLAYER DID NOT STEP UP MAYBE WE WOULD HAVE THE WIN AND DERON COULD REST HIS BACK EVEN IF WE WIN THIS SERIES WE WON'T GO ANY FURTHER IF WE HAVE TO PLAY THE LAKERS
Anonymous | 7:11 a.m. April 25, 2008
DERON WAS MVP OF THE NIGHT BUT HIS TEAM MATES LET HIM DOWN BY NOT PLAYING JAZZ BASKETBALL IT GOOD THING WE WHERE NOT PLAYING THE LAKERS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BLOWN OUT GAME I HATE TO SEEM KOBY COMING TO DELTA CENTER AND WINNING ON ARE COURT BUT THE WAY WE PLAYED THAT WHAT WILL HAPPEN AND HE CAN EXTEND HIS CHEST AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ROUND AND JAZZ CAN GO FISHING AND DEREK FISHER WILL GET HIS RING THAT WAS REALLY THE REASON HE LEFT JAZZ TO PLAY FOR THE LAKERS
Anonymous | 7:18 a.m. April 25, 2008
I think that tHe Jazz played a good game lastnight @ the end of the 4th quarter we had to "BUCKLEUP"
I know that they do not want to go back t Houston, but I hope that they do better in the next game, " GO JAZZ"
Jazz Fan From MD | 7:22 a.m. April 25, 2008
The Jazz looked slow and content to play at a snail's pace. If they don't win game four they will be in trouble!
Richard | 7:41 a.m. April 25, 2008
That game was hard to watch. The Jazz didn't deserve to win, maybe Deron did, but everyone else looked like this was a regular season game that meant nothing. I don't know how to feel about this team. Every time they have a chance to do something and get somewhere they pull something like this. I hope Sloan and D-Will yell enough at the rest of the team so they wake up.
Spazz | 7:55 a.m. April 25, 2008
When will Utah get another double z team?
Chad Contradiction | 8:23 a.m. April 25, 2008
Chad- you are contradicting yourself. One second you complain about a "No call" and then you are saying the refs should just let them play. The Jazz were definitely the benefactor of more calls in their favor last night but they just didn't make the Rockets pay for it by sinking free throws. It's a simple as that. I'm a Jazz fan, but the only ones the Jazz can blame for the loss last night is themselves and their uninspired play.
JazzFan | 8:43 a.m. April 25, 2008
If D-WILL would have hit Booze on that last play we'd be up 3-0.

Still, the Jazz will bounce back and win this series in 6.

This was a good loss that should mentally toughen our young team up for the next round. Maybe a blessing in disguise...
SA JazzFan | 8:56 a.m. April 25, 2008
The Jazz are like a couple of guys in a fishing contest who catch as many (or more) fish as anyone else on the lake, and when they get to within an arm's length (or even closer - 1997-98) of the shore, they're so busy slapping each other on the back and clanking their beer bottles together that they don't notice their boat hitting the dock until too late; they snatch wildly at the scattering fish, only to watch the silvery shapes fade back into the murky water. Come on, team, make sure you have the boat ALL the way onto shore (in fact, why don't you just plow it several hundred yards onto the shore like the Bulls, Lakers, and Spurs have done) before you let the fish out...
Dave | 9:11 a.m. April 25, 2008
Did anyone else notice the ticky tack fouls early in the fourth called on the Jazz? The Rockets were in the penalty for over 9 minutes in the fourth. I wish Bob Delaney would give up his grudge match with Sloan. Don't kid yourself and think the officials don't control these games.
Not that the Jazz deserved to win but it was pretty bad last night with Delaney.
Basketball Genius | 9:12 a.m. April 25, 2008
Deron played great until the last 10 seconds first he chucks a pass to a completely covered Korver and then he tries to shoot a fadeaway over a guy six inches taller with Boozer all alone for a dunk for the fist time all series the pick and roll worked but Deron didn't hit Boozer for the easy jam to win. I hope this is a good road bump and we can still get things done in five but it is far from over now.
carl landry's tooth | 9:21 a.m. April 25, 2008
at least this shuts up the 4-0 jazz fans

by the way, tell your okur to stop flopping. halfway into the espn post game video, okur tries to flop on an alston floater, after the 2 points.
AZ JazzFan | 9:38 a.m. April 25, 2008
TO SAJazzFan: That's a pretty interesting metaphor; did you think that up all by yourself?
TDAWG | 9:42 a.m. April 25, 2008
JazzFan - D-Will was probably caught off gaurd that Boozer was near the basket on the last play because Boozer didn't go anywhere near the basket the whole game! He looked totally intimidated and disinterested last night. He hasn't shown up for one game this series. The guy should be dominating inside against this team! If Carlos is afraid of Houstons big men, how will he be against a team that actually has some decent talent inside?!?!
JazzFan4ever | 9:49 a.m. April 25, 2008
1.Watch the film,learn,play and win.
re: landry's tooth | 9:56 a.m. April 25, 2008
it was mutombo who knocked out landry's real tooth. boozer hit the fake ones, that wasen't secured

utah's worse game and they only lose by two points!
Sokol | 10:45 a.m. April 25, 2008
Was it me or did Sloan look so disinterested or even
disoriented that he couldn't tell if he were at Energy Solutions Arena or a Subway? Anyway, Williams needs to call time outs. Tricks like that
do not work.
Moto X | 11:32 a.m. April 25, 2008
Blaming this on the refs or the final play is silly. The Jazz lost the game at the FT line and with their generally crappy shooting from the field. The FT shooting alone caused the loss--AND THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOUSTON AND THEIR EFFORT OR THEIR PLAYERS. Our guys shot way below their average and the game would not have been that close at the end had they made them. End of story.

Stop whining people--you sound like Rocket fans!!!

The series will be 3-1 after Saturday--unless they miss their FT's again and let Houston hang around.

D-Will is a stud. He was not getting much help last night though.

Boozer has to get it going. When will he ever learn that he has to jump into shot-blockers instead of fading away? Our smaller guys can score over their bigs but he can't? That's pathetic.
Alston, Korver, Brewer | 11:35 a.m. April 25, 2008
Alston was the player the Jazz were not ready for. That adjustment will be made for Saturday.

Korver had a terrible night. Brewer should have played in the 4th qurter. With Brewer in to finish at the basket, the Jazz win.

Must not allow players like Landry and Hayes to win the game.

Can Houston play better than tonight?

No.

Jazz still have home court. Jazz in 6.
ZEKE | 12:07 p.m. April 25, 2008
In game 4 get off to a good start,hit free throws,get some rebounds, equals JAZZ win.
ZIM | 12:12 p.m. April 25, 2008
I think Deron made the right play.If he makes the shot JAZZ win.Houston made a great defencive play.
c.j miles fan | 12:23 p.m. April 25, 2008
i don't know why all of you like blab about retarted stuff that "lost" the game...
it's pretty cut & dry williams missed a wide open boozer!!!!!! that's what the difference is between a good point guard & a great one.
they just have to go out & get the next game..
Lazy Jazz | 12:38 p.m. April 25, 2008
The Jazz had numerous opportunities to put this one away, but they didn't play with any energy. Okur got his double digit rebounds, but there just as many offensive rebounds for Houston that seemed to hit the floor next to Okur's flat-footed frame.

I don't blame DWill for that last play. He was the only one to show up from the beginning, you think he's going to look for a teammate on that final drive when none of them have been playing since the opening tip? He tried to win the game himself and had he gotten that shot to go or gotten a foul we'd be singing his praises for taking over the game.
Overrated JAzzhol3 | 1:28 p.m. April 25, 2008
perfect night?? losing to a Yao Ming team is what you define a perfect night. Good luck playing lakers next round or the spurs that is if you get through rockets
Sokol | 1:34 p.m. April 25, 2008
I am in agreement, Brewer is the young, athletic stud, that almost should play the whole game...Man
if only they played Millsap, Brewer and Harpring..
These guys ball...They really try hard.. Must say
Kirilenko, Boozer and Okur dissappear. They soon
will cause fans to do a Deshawn Stevenson 'invisible
swipe' across the face...
To me, someone with cahoni's should say, Kobe is over
rated...just to k's and j's.
FLOPPERS | 2:25 p.m. April 25, 2008
whats up with the utah jazz flopping all the time??
kirelenko on game 2, then this big blub okur tries to flop everytime a rocket body hits him..cmon you sissys!..
Battier flopper | 3:23 p.m. April 25, 2008
Hey flopppers dude! talk about flopping. You should watch Battier flop on defense trying to get the charge every game. Yet, he is considered a great defender because he can flop so well.
Anonymous | 3:38 p.m. April 25, 2008
First of all williams did not have the angle to get the ball to boozer his offense was stagnant! Thats why williams passed the ball to korver but he spazzed out and the play was ruined, williams did what he had to do with a non responsive team. plus you can't blame the last play it was really lost at the free throw line! our focus needs to be better than that! But no worries the Jazz will come through! oh an jazz flopping please... That would be ginobli's #1 trait!!!
Anonymous | 6:37 p.m. April 25, 2008
I am guessing houston's defense had nothing to do with a number of players having a bad game.

Maybe houston should get just a little credit.

What will you all be thinking of sloan if the jazz end up losing this series?

You are all silly counting on boozer for anything.
Anonymous | 7:12 p.m. April 25, 2008
everyone complains about the free throws and how it was lost because the jazz did not hit them. yes, but the rockets would have won game 2 if they were to hit their free throws too.
@ TDAWG | 12:22 a.m. April 26, 2008
D-Will didn't want to give the ball to Boozer because... he might have broken a nail, gotten contact, strained himself, made some sort of effort, done a fade away jumper because he didn't want to break a nail, he knew Boozer had just painted his nails before the game, he knows Boozer is afraid of Olajuwan's picture, errrrrrrrrr Mutumbo, had he gotten fouled and would have thrown his usual bricks at the basket, he knew Boozer was afraid of the Jazz dancers, he knew Boozer wants to be a Jazz dancer...less contact that way, he knows Boozer is overrated and overpaid, Boozer is a yellow bellied sissy! Any questions?

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.

Jazz guard Deron Williams and referee Bob Delaney make their cases about what happened after a foul was called on Williams. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Jazz guard Deron Williams and referee Bob Delaney make their cases about what happened after a foul was called on Williams.