Jazz 118, Memphis 94
Not much will be remembered about the Jazz's 118-94 victory over Memphis even two days from now. But it was interesting to hear Jerry Sloan's comments, specifically when it came to his team nearly letting the Grizzlies back in the game in the fourth quarter.
You'd have to consider it encouraging as a fan. The Jazz's win was utterly predictable - - Memphis finished with the NBA's worst record last season, the Jazz advanced to the conference finals - - especially with the Grizzlies committing 25 turnovers.
But Sloan wasn't going to let his team leave without letting them know that a higher standard is expected. The Jazz led by as many as 25 in the fourth before letting the Grizzlies nearly cut that lead in half once the Jazz lost their focus.
"It looked like we were on cruise control and then they hit two or three shots and that's disappointing that you could finish a game up that way," Sloan said.
"I don't think that's the proper approach to make yourself better and make your team better is to just let them run around and let them do what they want to do. That's what people call garbage time and that's what makes garbage players."
You could see it coming at the end of the third quarter, when Juan Carlos Navarro drilled two three-pointers and Brian Cardinal beat the buzzer with a third. In the fourth, the Grizzlies took advantage of threes by Cardinal and Casey Jacobsen to make it 100-87 with 5:41 left.
More Sloan: "The finish wasn't real good to make yourself better and that's the thing that we're constantly affected with every time we go to work is 'How can we get better?'
"You don't get better by just taking shots, hanging out, playing and start committing fouls. I don't think that helps your team at all."
The Jazz restored order when Gordan Giricek coaxed in a three-pointer before the shot clock expired and Carlos Boozer scored off the pick-and-roll. But Sloan said playing as casually as they did against Memphis eventually would catch up with the Jazz.
"I don't see what that teaches you," he said. "Obviously, I'm a cranky guy, I guess, when I say that because I shouldn't be that way. I'm not giving them enough rein to do what they want to do.
"When you get beat by 40 or 30 points like can happen to you, then hopefully they'll come back and understand what we're trying to accomplish."
* * *
The Jazz are now 3-0 this season against teams coming to Salt Lake City for the second game of a back-to-back set. These are the games that they have to win and so far they've been doing just that. We're going to keep track of this all season.
Sacramento won't have either Mike Bibby, who's out until sometime in December with a thumb injury, or the suspended Ron Artest for Monday night's game with the Jazz.
--Ross Siler
You'd have to consider it encouraging as a fan. The Jazz's win was utterly predictable - - Memphis finished with the NBA's worst record last season, the Jazz advanced to the conference finals - - especially with the Grizzlies committing 25 turnovers.
But Sloan wasn't going to let his team leave without letting them know that a higher standard is expected. The Jazz led by as many as 25 in the fourth before letting the Grizzlies nearly cut that lead in half once the Jazz lost their focus.
"It looked like we were on cruise control and then they hit two or three shots and that's disappointing that you could finish a game up that way," Sloan said.
"I don't think that's the proper approach to make yourself better and make your team better is to just let them run around and let them do what they want to do. That's what people call garbage time and that's what makes garbage players."
You could see it coming at the end of the third quarter, when Juan Carlos Navarro drilled two three-pointers and Brian Cardinal beat the buzzer with a third. In the fourth, the Grizzlies took advantage of threes by Cardinal and Casey Jacobsen to make it 100-87 with 5:41 left.
More Sloan: "The finish wasn't real good to make yourself better and that's the thing that we're constantly affected with every time we go to work is 'How can we get better?'
"You don't get better by just taking shots, hanging out, playing and start committing fouls. I don't think that helps your team at all."
The Jazz restored order when Gordan Giricek coaxed in a three-pointer before the shot clock expired and Carlos Boozer scored off the pick-and-roll. But Sloan said playing as casually as they did against Memphis eventually would catch up with the Jazz.
"I don't see what that teaches you," he said. "Obviously, I'm a cranky guy, I guess, when I say that because I shouldn't be that way. I'm not giving them enough rein to do what they want to do.
"When you get beat by 40 or 30 points like can happen to you, then hopefully they'll come back and understand what we're trying to accomplish."
* * *
The Jazz are now 3-0 this season against teams coming to Salt Lake City for the second game of a back-to-back set. These are the games that they have to win and so far they've been doing just that. We're going to keep track of this all season.
Sacramento won't have either Mike Bibby, who's out until sometime in December with a thumb injury, or the suspended Ron Artest for Monday night's game with the Jazz.
--Ross Siler
12:23 AM
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1 Comments:
Thanks guys for your great work on this blog. I wait eagerly. Keep up the good work!!!
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