Physical limitations
Every time I hear about the Jazz described as a physical basketball team, I chuckle.
That was the old Jazz, if anybody is paying attention.
This is one of the softest Jazz teams I have ever covered, and that was never more evident than in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
San Antonio dominated inside, easily got to the basket and ran into as many hard screens on Sunday afternoon as I did. (No, tripping over the dog does not count).
In the first two rounds of the playoffs against Houston and Golden State, the Jazz did not play a tough, experienced, battle-tested opponent like the Spurs.
Offensively against the Rockets and Warriors, Utah got easy shot after easy shot, whether or not the Jazz executed crisply or handled the ball well. Against San Antonio, however, movement into position was contested and shots were challenged.
The Jazz didn't seem to know how to react, at least until the fourth quarter.
Even then, Utah's soft-as-tissue defense prevented a Deron Williams-led rally from putting serious pressure on the Spurs.
Trailing 90-80, the Jazz's interior defense disappeared again and Tim Duncan made it a 12-point game with a dunk. Moments later, same thing. Duncan's easy layup gave the Spurs a 94-82 lead.
Still, the Jazz played Game 1 against San Antonio much like they played Game 1 in the opening round against Houston. They never got close to winning, but they never let the Spurs run away and hide.
If the Jazz can somehow elevate the physical nature of their play, keep Carlos Boozer out of early foul trouble and continue to get a foul-free Williams playing like Kobe Bryant, they have a chance to make this into a prolonged series.
— Steve Luhm
That was the old Jazz, if anybody is paying attention.
This is one of the softest Jazz teams I have ever covered, and that was never more evident than in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
San Antonio dominated inside, easily got to the basket and ran into as many hard screens on Sunday afternoon as I did. (No, tripping over the dog does not count).
In the first two rounds of the playoffs against Houston and Golden State, the Jazz did not play a tough, experienced, battle-tested opponent like the Spurs.
Offensively against the Rockets and Warriors, Utah got easy shot after easy shot, whether or not the Jazz executed crisply or handled the ball well. Against San Antonio, however, movement into position was contested and shots were challenged.
The Jazz didn't seem to know how to react, at least until the fourth quarter.
Even then, Utah's soft-as-tissue defense prevented a Deron Williams-led rally from putting serious pressure on the Spurs.
Trailing 90-80, the Jazz's interior defense disappeared again and Tim Duncan made it a 12-point game with a dunk. Moments later, same thing. Duncan's easy layup gave the Spurs a 94-82 lead.
Still, the Jazz played Game 1 against San Antonio much like they played Game 1 in the opening round against Houston. They never got close to winning, but they never let the Spurs run away and hide.
If the Jazz can somehow elevate the physical nature of their play, keep Carlos Boozer out of early foul trouble and continue to get a foul-free Williams playing like Kobe Bryant, they have a chance to make this into a prolonged series.
— Steve Luhm
4:46 PM
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1 Comments:
Good observation about the team being 'soft'. I was waiting for an Horry-style, casually-dismissed 'playoff foul' on that greedy Finley...never happened.
Who on the Jazz might be chippy? Okur can be cheap, but mostly flopping and faking on hard fouls...Boozer's not, AK's not, Harpring just wants to keep pouring money into his investment fund...maybe D-Will. Kid really wants to win.
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