Halfway to a championship
What you heard a lot of in the locker room after Tuesday night's win was talk of validation. With good reason, considering the Jazz are back in the Western Conference Finals for the first time since C.J. Miles was in the fifth grade.
Matt Harpring said he re-signed with the Jazz because he "truly believed that this team was a good team and we had a chance to win. . . I had confidence in this team and I knew if we stayed healthy we could get here. It's been great."
Derek Fisher looked back on facing "so many unknowns" after getting traded from Golden State last summer. "I don't think anybody really knew, including ourselves, how good our team could be," Fisher said.
What the Jazz now have four days to consider is this: They're halfway to a championship. Maybe nobody expects the Jazz to win a title this season but there's no denying the opportunity that presents itself as one of the last four teams standing.
Have the Jazz convinced themselves that a championship is in sight? "Why not?" center Mehmet Okur said. "We're such a young team but we improve a lot and everybody is more focus every day and try to win every ballgame out there. Why not?"
"We're definitely in the mix but it's one game at a time in this next series for sure," Harpring said.
The Jazz have the foundation for years of success with Andrei Kirilenko, Okur and Carlos Boozer all signed to long-term deals and Deron Williams eligible to sign a major extension in the summer of 2008. At the same time, nothing about the future is guaranteed.
Who knows if the Jazz will get this far next season or the one after that. They will have the better part of a week to watch and wait while the Spurs and Suns annihilate each other in the other conference semifinal. They couldn't ask for a better situation.
There's no telling who might sprain an ankle or blow out a knee next season. Who knows if coach Jerry Sloan will even be back. He answered one question Tuesday by saying, "There's nothing long-term about a guy that's 65, except maybe Social Security."
It will be interesting to see whether the Jazz start talking championship in the coming days. They have every right to be proud of what they've done but you don't get many opportunities like the one in front of them.
* * *
It's hard to imagine what Fisher is feeling right now. He's playing some of the best basketball of his 11-year career at a time of family crisis with his baby daughter Tatum's battle with eye cancer.
At the same time, Fisher is aware he is making an impact that's so far beyond basketball.
He mentioned in the locker room that his work to publicize retinoblastoma has led to six children having undergone the same form of chemosurgery treatment as his daughter, with the hope that they don't need to have an eye removed.
Even Fisher's teammates quietly marveled at that number. Six kids since last Wednesday. The longer the Jazz play, the greater a platform Fisher has to tell his family's story and raise awareness. It's just amazing.
* * *
The most remarkable aspect of the Jazz's second-round series was that Golden State either led or was tied in the fourth quarter of all four games they lost. The Warriors could have taken a lead with 2:53 left Tuesday had Matt Barnes not blown a layup.
The Jazz made 10 of 11 free throws to put away the game, after missing six consecutive free throws earlier in the second half. The Warriors lost four games in the series because they couldn't hit free throws or grab rebounds as well as because of Fisher's timely play.
"I don't know if he's pissed off about being traded or what, but he came out with a vengeance and he played well," Al Harrington said of Fisher.
The loss that will haunt the Warriors came in Game 2, when they couldn't close out with a five-point lead in the last 52.9 seconds of regulation. Fisher forced Baron Davis into a key turnover and contested his three-pointer at the buzzer; Davis also missed a key free throw.
* * *
The Warriors were on the brink of a meltdown in the third quarter. With Stephen Jackson, it would have been a sight to see. Jackson once again was a black hole on the court, going 3 of 17 from the field while drawing both flagrant and technical fouls.
Jackson incredibly managed to deliver a chop to the neck of Jazz backup guard Dee Brown with 36.8 seconds left in the third quarter. That would be the same Brown was missed two games of the series with a sprained neck.
"He stunned me but, hey, it's just basketball," Brown said. "I ended up missing my two free throws but it didn't bother me at all."
Jackson received a flagrant foul and then a technical. Barnes was assessed a technical for shoving Boozer out of the way on a rebound. In the fourth, Barnes was called for an away from the play foul on Kirilenko. Nice show of composure by the Warriors.
The Warriors also took 10 three-pointers in the fourth quarter. The Jazz won the quarter 23-14 and despite making 5 of 15 shots. It would have been more of a runaway had Gordan Giricek, Brown, Harpring and Paul Millsap not missed six free throws between them.
* * *
It's just amazing how far Kirilenko has come in the playoffs. From breaking down between Games 1 and 2 against Houston, Kirilenko had 21 points and 15 rebounds Tuesday, scoring seven straight points in the third quarter as the Jazz came from seven down.
Kirilenko attacked Golden State guard Jason Richardson all game, starting in the first quarter when he faked him in the air and drove for a dunk. Kirilenko had two three-point plays, and turned his six offensive rebounds into points as well.
"AK was amazing," Boozer said.
* * *
Giricek's minutes are going to get squeezed in the conference finals the way he's going. The last two games of the Warriors series, Giricek made 3 of 11 shots and totaled six turnovers in 29 minutes.
* * *
The Rockets were flawed because they had so little depth after Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. The Warriors were flawed because they played "Nellieball," conceded rebounding and defense and averaged 34 three-pointers a game in the semifinals.
I'm looking forward to seeing the Jazz play one of two "unflawed" teams whose precision is so incredible. The Spurs play the best team defense in the league while the Suns are so skilled at their offensive system, it's almost breathtaking to watch.
I'm interested to hear whether you'd rather face the Spurs or Suns. Scouting reports are appreciated as well.
--Ross Siler
Matt Harpring said he re-signed with the Jazz because he "truly believed that this team was a good team and we had a chance to win. . . I had confidence in this team and I knew if we stayed healthy we could get here. It's been great."
Derek Fisher looked back on facing "so many unknowns" after getting traded from Golden State last summer. "I don't think anybody really knew, including ourselves, how good our team could be," Fisher said.
What the Jazz now have four days to consider is this: They're halfway to a championship. Maybe nobody expects the Jazz to win a title this season but there's no denying the opportunity that presents itself as one of the last four teams standing.
Have the Jazz convinced themselves that a championship is in sight? "Why not?" center Mehmet Okur said. "We're such a young team but we improve a lot and everybody is more focus every day and try to win every ballgame out there. Why not?"
"We're definitely in the mix but it's one game at a time in this next series for sure," Harpring said.
The Jazz have the foundation for years of success with Andrei Kirilenko, Okur and Carlos Boozer all signed to long-term deals and Deron Williams eligible to sign a major extension in the summer of 2008. At the same time, nothing about the future is guaranteed.
Who knows if the Jazz will get this far next season or the one after that. They will have the better part of a week to watch and wait while the Spurs and Suns annihilate each other in the other conference semifinal. They couldn't ask for a better situation.
There's no telling who might sprain an ankle or blow out a knee next season. Who knows if coach Jerry Sloan will even be back. He answered one question Tuesday by saying, "There's nothing long-term about a guy that's 65, except maybe Social Security."
It will be interesting to see whether the Jazz start talking championship in the coming days. They have every right to be proud of what they've done but you don't get many opportunities like the one in front of them.
* * *
It's hard to imagine what Fisher is feeling right now. He's playing some of the best basketball of his 11-year career at a time of family crisis with his baby daughter Tatum's battle with eye cancer.
At the same time, Fisher is aware he is making an impact that's so far beyond basketball.
He mentioned in the locker room that his work to publicize retinoblastoma has led to six children having undergone the same form of chemosurgery treatment as his daughter, with the hope that they don't need to have an eye removed.
Even Fisher's teammates quietly marveled at that number. Six kids since last Wednesday. The longer the Jazz play, the greater a platform Fisher has to tell his family's story and raise awareness. It's just amazing.
* * *
The most remarkable aspect of the Jazz's second-round series was that Golden State either led or was tied in the fourth quarter of all four games they lost. The Warriors could have taken a lead with 2:53 left Tuesday had Matt Barnes not blown a layup.
The Jazz made 10 of 11 free throws to put away the game, after missing six consecutive free throws earlier in the second half. The Warriors lost four games in the series because they couldn't hit free throws or grab rebounds as well as because of Fisher's timely play.
"I don't know if he's pissed off about being traded or what, but he came out with a vengeance and he played well," Al Harrington said of Fisher.
The loss that will haunt the Warriors came in Game 2, when they couldn't close out with a five-point lead in the last 52.9 seconds of regulation. Fisher forced Baron Davis into a key turnover and contested his three-pointer at the buzzer; Davis also missed a key free throw.
* * *
The Warriors were on the brink of a meltdown in the third quarter. With Stephen Jackson, it would have been a sight to see. Jackson once again was a black hole on the court, going 3 of 17 from the field while drawing both flagrant and technical fouls.
Jackson incredibly managed to deliver a chop to the neck of Jazz backup guard Dee Brown with 36.8 seconds left in the third quarter. That would be the same Brown was missed two games of the series with a sprained neck.
"He stunned me but, hey, it's just basketball," Brown said. "I ended up missing my two free throws but it didn't bother me at all."
Jackson received a flagrant foul and then a technical. Barnes was assessed a technical for shoving Boozer out of the way on a rebound. In the fourth, Barnes was called for an away from the play foul on Kirilenko. Nice show of composure by the Warriors.
The Warriors also took 10 three-pointers in the fourth quarter. The Jazz won the quarter 23-14 and despite making 5 of 15 shots. It would have been more of a runaway had Gordan Giricek, Brown, Harpring and Paul Millsap not missed six free throws between them.
* * *
It's just amazing how far Kirilenko has come in the playoffs. From breaking down between Games 1 and 2 against Houston, Kirilenko had 21 points and 15 rebounds Tuesday, scoring seven straight points in the third quarter as the Jazz came from seven down.
Kirilenko attacked Golden State guard Jason Richardson all game, starting in the first quarter when he faked him in the air and drove for a dunk. Kirilenko had two three-point plays, and turned his six offensive rebounds into points as well.
"AK was amazing," Boozer said.
* * *
Giricek's minutes are going to get squeezed in the conference finals the way he's going. The last two games of the Warriors series, Giricek made 3 of 11 shots and totaled six turnovers in 29 minutes.
* * *
The Rockets were flawed because they had so little depth after Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. The Warriors were flawed because they played "Nellieball," conceded rebounding and defense and averaged 34 three-pointers a game in the semifinals.
I'm looking forward to seeing the Jazz play one of two "unflawed" teams whose precision is so incredible. The Spurs play the best team defense in the league while the Suns are so skilled at their offensive system, it's almost breathtaking to watch.
I'm interested to hear whether you'd rather face the Spurs or Suns. Scouting reports are appreciated as well.
--Ross Siler
4:11 AM
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6 Comments:
I think I'd much rather see the Suns than the Spurs. The Spurs have the experience of been there, done that. Additionally, I think they play the same type of game that Utah does; all about precision. The problem is that the Spurs do it much better and have done it on this stage. I'm not saying that the Jazz would lose against either team, however, I think they'd have an easier time with the Suns.
Excellent work Ross. Also, do I win a hot prize for my previous "Jazz in 5" prediction? ;)
I'm hoping for the Suns. The Jazz played three great games against them this season (granted 2 were very early) and I think that they would have more confidence against them. Simply put, the Spurs scare me!
I don't think that people says we would rather meet suns is thinking right, at this level it doesn't matter who you face, don't think suns will be the same team in the regular season, they will have a lot of energy, the only way to beat either team is to play better.
I think that Okur should play big part in this series, it's his time, where he is not going to gurad Yao, neither get a lot of mismatch with the Warriors players, Okur is going to be a huge mismatch to any team we will face, for his ability to shoot from three.
If Kirilenko played the same all the way, I gurantee the 1st title for Utah Jazz, Kirilenko is the scale of this team, when he plays good, he makes things happen defensivly.
The Jazz have a much better chance against the Suns, it isn't because that they beat them 3 out 4 this season and only beat spurs 2 out 4. It's because to win you have to win 4 out of 7, and in the last 28 matchups against the spurs the Jazz have only won a total of... 4. Not to mention that San Antonio has home court and Utah has never won in the AT&T center in 4 years of trying, including 2 blow-outs this year. In short Spurs have owned us for the past decade, Suns are the better matchup.
The Spurs are gonna' be tough because of their big, nasty frontcourt. Plus Duncan is maybe the most unheralded defender in the last 20 years, and guess who's gonna' be draped all over Boozer for the entire series?
The thing that makes me nervous is that no matter who we play -- especially if it is the Spurs -- Boozer is gonna' be neutralized, which means AK, Memo, Gira, D-Will -- they are all gonna' have to step up.
Still, what a blast to see this young team gain all this experience.
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