Jazz 117, Warriors 96
If you were in the locker room after the Jazz's surprisingly easy win over Golden State in the season opener, you would have heard Deron Williams messing with Ronnie Brewer about his steal-turned-breakaway-dunk late in the third quarter.
I thought it was the play of the game, with the Jazz leading by 9 and possibly having to sweat out a fourth quarter after being in control for so long. Instead, they scored the last five points of the third to go up 86-72.
Anyway, Williams wanted to make sure it was noted that Brewer barely got over the rim on his dunk. To which Brewer shot back that Williams was one to talk considering he doesn't dunk. Brewer kept saying, "Two points," over and over again.
The real point is, the Jazz were feeling tremendous after their victory. Carlos Boozer was watching highlights on FSN in the locker room and pointing to his teammates to offer congratulations ("Great play, Dre!" after Andrei Kirilenko's huge block on the fast break).
It was a game in which the Warriors had everything to play for. Instead of avenging their playoff loss to the Jazz, though, the Warriors missed a dozen free throws, shot 26 percent from three-point range and had no answer for Boozer.
The play that sticks out most in my mind from Boozer came early in the third quarter. The Jazz opened the quarter with some ragged play and needed a bucket. They went to Boozer, who plowed to the basket past Andris Biedrins for two points.
I've always thought Nellieball was gimmicky - - the Warriors started three guards, a small forward and a toothpick center Tuesday - - and the Jazz absolutely punished them. Boozer and Paul Millsap combined for 48 points and 24 rebounds in the opener.
"We're still big. We haven't gotten any smaller," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "Boozer still had a big game. That's what you hope you're able to take advantage of."
"We played our pace, we didn't try to get in a track race with them because they would win that," Williams said. "We just kept it to our pace and drove them into the ground."
The two most encouraging signs for the Jazz were Brewer's play and Kirilenko's play. Brewer struggled on defense early against Baron Davis and Monta Ellis but finished with 18 points and four steals.
Kirilenko had nine points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and five blocks on a night when he made 3 of 10 shots. He followed up a missed three-pointer by C.J. Miles for a dunk in the second quarter and later pulled down a rebound while surrounded by three Warriors.
That offensive board earned Kirilenko a trip to the foul line, where he made two free throws. Kirilenko's blocks also helped trigger the Jazz's runs in the second and third quarters. A real strong night for him after a summer of controversy.
* * *
The most impressive stat of the night? The Jazz demolished the Warriors even though All-Star Mehmet Okur finished scoreless. Okur played only 16 minutes, missed all three shots he took and has to wonder if he's a target of referees.
You might remember last week, when Kobe Bryant complained after a preseason game that he injured his wrist on a play where Okur kicked out his legs while trying to draw a foul on a jumper. Bryant called it a favorite European player move.
Barely 20 seconds into the second quarter Tuesday and Okur was called for such a foul against Matt Barnes. It was his third personal and effectively ended Okur's half and later his night. As soon as referee Ron Garretson saw the sequence, he whistled Okur.
Bryant's comments were linked to by a couple of basketball Web sites and you wonder if Okur is going to be more closely watched. His job doesn't get any easier Thursday with Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets coming to EnergySolutions Arena.
* * *
One thing I have to get used to is watching Sloan bring in players at set times. Phil Jackson very much coached by feel with the Lakers and would leave players in for a couple of extra minutes if they got on a roll. It was a nightly question when Bryant would go to the bench.
From Tuesday's game, Williams had it going in the third quarter, when he was playing ticked off. He had nailed a three-pointer, found Brewer for one basket and set up Brewer for another two free throws before Sloan sat him with 5:19 left.
I've heard the argument that Sloan's rotations maximize what he gets out of players because they know they only have six minutes . . . or eight . . . or 10 to do something before they're coming out. There's definitely something to be said for that.
However, the Jazz probably could have put away the Warriors had Williams stayed in. Jason Hart checked in for Williams and struggled, missing a three-pointer and throwing away a pass as the lead slipped to 9. And Williams wound up coming back with 1:44 left.
* * *
The Warriors had their players emerge from the crowd for pregame introductions and walk down the aisles onto the court. Pretty cool, but they should have somehow included the suspended Stephen Jackson, standing out in the parking lot with a bunch of fans.
--Ross Siler
I thought it was the play of the game, with the Jazz leading by 9 and possibly having to sweat out a fourth quarter after being in control for so long. Instead, they scored the last five points of the third to go up 86-72.
Anyway, Williams wanted to make sure it was noted that Brewer barely got over the rim on his dunk. To which Brewer shot back that Williams was one to talk considering he doesn't dunk. Brewer kept saying, "Two points," over and over again.
The real point is, the Jazz were feeling tremendous after their victory. Carlos Boozer was watching highlights on FSN in the locker room and pointing to his teammates to offer congratulations ("Great play, Dre!" after Andrei Kirilenko's huge block on the fast break).
It was a game in which the Warriors had everything to play for. Instead of avenging their playoff loss to the Jazz, though, the Warriors missed a dozen free throws, shot 26 percent from three-point range and had no answer for Boozer.
The play that sticks out most in my mind from Boozer came early in the third quarter. The Jazz opened the quarter with some ragged play and needed a bucket. They went to Boozer, who plowed to the basket past Andris Biedrins for two points.
I've always thought Nellieball was gimmicky - - the Warriors started three guards, a small forward and a toothpick center Tuesday - - and the Jazz absolutely punished them. Boozer and Paul Millsap combined for 48 points and 24 rebounds in the opener.
"We're still big. We haven't gotten any smaller," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "Boozer still had a big game. That's what you hope you're able to take advantage of."
"We played our pace, we didn't try to get in a track race with them because they would win that," Williams said. "We just kept it to our pace and drove them into the ground."
The two most encouraging signs for the Jazz were Brewer's play and Kirilenko's play. Brewer struggled on defense early against Baron Davis and Monta Ellis but finished with 18 points and four steals.
Kirilenko had nine points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and five blocks on a night when he made 3 of 10 shots. He followed up a missed three-pointer by C.J. Miles for a dunk in the second quarter and later pulled down a rebound while surrounded by three Warriors.
That offensive board earned Kirilenko a trip to the foul line, where he made two free throws. Kirilenko's blocks also helped trigger the Jazz's runs in the second and third quarters. A real strong night for him after a summer of controversy.
* * *
The most impressive stat of the night? The Jazz demolished the Warriors even though All-Star Mehmet Okur finished scoreless. Okur played only 16 minutes, missed all three shots he took and has to wonder if he's a target of referees.
You might remember last week, when Kobe Bryant complained after a preseason game that he injured his wrist on a play where Okur kicked out his legs while trying to draw a foul on a jumper. Bryant called it a favorite European player move.
Barely 20 seconds into the second quarter Tuesday and Okur was called for such a foul against Matt Barnes. It was his third personal and effectively ended Okur's half and later his night. As soon as referee Ron Garretson saw the sequence, he whistled Okur.
Bryant's comments were linked to by a couple of basketball Web sites and you wonder if Okur is going to be more closely watched. His job doesn't get any easier Thursday with Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets coming to EnergySolutions Arena.
* * *
One thing I have to get used to is watching Sloan bring in players at set times. Phil Jackson very much coached by feel with the Lakers and would leave players in for a couple of extra minutes if they got on a roll. It was a nightly question when Bryant would go to the bench.
From Tuesday's game, Williams had it going in the third quarter, when he was playing ticked off. He had nailed a three-pointer, found Brewer for one basket and set up Brewer for another two free throws before Sloan sat him with 5:19 left.
I've heard the argument that Sloan's rotations maximize what he gets out of players because they know they only have six minutes . . . or eight . . . or 10 to do something before they're coming out. There's definitely something to be said for that.
However, the Jazz probably could have put away the Warriors had Williams stayed in. Jason Hart checked in for Williams and struggled, missing a three-pointer and throwing away a pass as the lead slipped to 9. And Williams wound up coming back with 1:44 left.
* * *
The Warriors had their players emerge from the crowd for pregame introductions and walk down the aisles onto the court. Pretty cool, but they should have somehow included the suspended Stephen Jackson, standing out in the parking lot with a bunch of fans.
--Ross Siler
2:12 AM
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