Scrimmage notes
What's been most notable about the Jazz's first week has been the level of Jerry Sloan's praise for his players. He's singled out Ronnie Brewer, Mehmet Okur, Kosta Koufos and came back to Brewer after Saturday's scrimmage at EnergySolutions Arena.
Brewer led his team with 20 points and hit 8 of 10 shots, including two three-pointers and two other long jumpers. Sloan was especially pleased with how hard Brewer ran the floor. About the only blemish was the potential winning shot Brewer missed at the very end.
"I'm just amazed at how much he's improved and the way he's worked and the way he's played so far," Sloan said. "I hope he doesn't lose sight of that, what's made him a good player by being able to work hard."
Sloan clearly has been impressed by some of the work his players put in during the off-season. As training camp wrapped up in Boise, he said the Jazz collectively came into the season in the best shape of any team he'd coached.
You'd have to think judging from some of his comments that Sloan believes he has the makings of a special team on his hands.
* * *
The Jazz held a Q-and-A for season ticket holders before they started the scrimmage. Among the things we learned: Deron Williams has a 16 handicap, Andrei Kirilenko was a "little bit jealous" of the gold medals won by Williams and Carlos Boozer and Brevin Knight is exactly the same height as KFAN's David Locke, who hosted the whole thing.
Williams led all scorers in the scrimmage with 22 points, including a three-pointer and three three-point plays. Most interesting was that the Jazz asked Williams to play a little bit as an off guard alongside Gerry McNamara in the second and fourth quarters.
Sloan said afterward that Williams might see time at the position if another team was playing a small lineup. Added Sloan: "Deron can play that because he's done it in the past. It's not a big deal for him." A couple of minutes later, Williams told us that despite his experience with USA Basketball, he still hates playing the two.
Brewer scored 20 points while Kyle Korver finished with 16, hitting 7 of 8 shots. Kosta Koufos had 11 points and hit 4 of 6 shots. Everybody who called Koufos a stiff should have seen him dunking during full-court drills and again during the scrimmage. He's got more hops than you would expect.
From the notes I took: Brewer opened the scrimmage by hitting an 18-footer. Paul Millsap had a huge block on Jarron Collins early. Williams came down court after a jump ball and, even with three defenders in his path to the basket, still attacked for a three-point play.
Millsap stripped Boozer off the screen-and-roll, hit a jumper over him and got free for a dunk. The blue team played Ronnie Price and Brevin Knight together in the same backcourt, a smaller than smaller lineup that definitely brings some energy.
Koufos knocked down a three-pointer. Fesenko tried a 14-footer that missed. That was the first of two jumpers Fesenko tried in the scrimmage. He looked better than he did in Boise, though, finishing two moves around the basket (including one left-handed) and nearly blocking C.J. Miles twice during the same sequence.
Brewer got open beyond the arc on consecutive possessions. The first time, he made the extra pass to Morris Almond for a three-pointer from the corner that missed. The next time, Brewer took the shot himself and drilled the three.
Koufos ran to check into the scrimmage shouting, "Sub, sir. Sub, sir," to the official scorer. Every reporter who's had Koufos answer a question, "Yes, sir" during his brief time with the Jazz got a kick out of that one.
Williams was playing so hard that he scolded Collins for not getting into position quick enough and Miles for not coming up with a steal when he pressured Ronnie Price into a careless dribble.
The first possession after he moved to off guard, Williams attacked for a ferocious dunk against Brewer. Back at the other end, Williams lost track of Brewer and gave up an easy basket. Even though McNamara was playing point guard, the white team still ran its offense through Williams.
The blue team, which didn't have either Williams or Boozer, led by 15 at halftime. In the third quarter, Millsap drained an open 18-footer and took a charge as Miles drove for a dunk. Boozer picked up his fourth foul, a couple of them were tough calls as he came out to challenge on screen-and-rolls.
In the fourth, Brevin Knight pushed the ball and made a great pass on the fast break. Fesenko hit his left-handed shot around the basket but was called for defensive three seconds at the other end. Koufos finished an alley-oop dunk from Miles.
Fesenko never saw it coming as McNamara stripped him and cruised in for a layup. Down the stretch, Boozer scored as part of a three-point play for white. The blue team got Mehmet Okur a great look against a zone but he missed the three-pointer.
Miles went to the line twice in the final minute. He hit both his free throws the first time to make it 76-75. Williams and Miles nearly hooked up for an alley-oop with 11.8 seconds left but Miles was fouled by Millsap. He could have put white ahead but split his free throws to leave the score tied.
Blue had the last shot and went to Brewer, who tried to drive on Korver and wound up missing everything on his shot. With no overtime, the scrimmage ended tied. All in all, it was a lot more structured and a lot more competitive than what we saw Thursday in Boise.
It's probably too much to ask in a scrimmage, but the Jazz were on pace to give up 114 points had the scrimmage been a full 48 minutes. We'll see just how they look defensively when they play the Lakers on Tuesday in the preseason opener in Anaheim, Calif.
* * *
Last thing: Don't know how many of you have walked by Masha Kirilenko's boutique at The Gateway recently, but let's just say there's a fairly interesting photo in the window. The billboard you've probably seen driving into town on 600 South is just the beginning.
--Ross Siler
Brewer led his team with 20 points and hit 8 of 10 shots, including two three-pointers and two other long jumpers. Sloan was especially pleased with how hard Brewer ran the floor. About the only blemish was the potential winning shot Brewer missed at the very end.
"I'm just amazed at how much he's improved and the way he's worked and the way he's played so far," Sloan said. "I hope he doesn't lose sight of that, what's made him a good player by being able to work hard."
Sloan clearly has been impressed by some of the work his players put in during the off-season. As training camp wrapped up in Boise, he said the Jazz collectively came into the season in the best shape of any team he'd coached.
You'd have to think judging from some of his comments that Sloan believes he has the makings of a special team on his hands.
* * *
The Jazz held a Q-and-A for season ticket holders before they started the scrimmage. Among the things we learned: Deron Williams has a 16 handicap, Andrei Kirilenko was a "little bit jealous" of the gold medals won by Williams and Carlos Boozer and Brevin Knight is exactly the same height as KFAN's David Locke, who hosted the whole thing.
Williams led all scorers in the scrimmage with 22 points, including a three-pointer and three three-point plays. Most interesting was that the Jazz asked Williams to play a little bit as an off guard alongside Gerry McNamara in the second and fourth quarters.
Sloan said afterward that Williams might see time at the position if another team was playing a small lineup. Added Sloan: "Deron can play that because he's done it in the past. It's not a big deal for him." A couple of minutes later, Williams told us that despite his experience with USA Basketball, he still hates playing the two.
Brewer scored 20 points while Kyle Korver finished with 16, hitting 7 of 8 shots. Kosta Koufos had 11 points and hit 4 of 6 shots. Everybody who called Koufos a stiff should have seen him dunking during full-court drills and again during the scrimmage. He's got more hops than you would expect.
From the notes I took: Brewer opened the scrimmage by hitting an 18-footer. Paul Millsap had a huge block on Jarron Collins early. Williams came down court after a jump ball and, even with three defenders in his path to the basket, still attacked for a three-point play.
Millsap stripped Boozer off the screen-and-roll, hit a jumper over him and got free for a dunk. The blue team played Ronnie Price and Brevin Knight together in the same backcourt, a smaller than smaller lineup that definitely brings some energy.
Koufos knocked down a three-pointer. Fesenko tried a 14-footer that missed. That was the first of two jumpers Fesenko tried in the scrimmage. He looked better than he did in Boise, though, finishing two moves around the basket (including one left-handed) and nearly blocking C.J. Miles twice during the same sequence.
Brewer got open beyond the arc on consecutive possessions. The first time, he made the extra pass to Morris Almond for a three-pointer from the corner that missed. The next time, Brewer took the shot himself and drilled the three.
Koufos ran to check into the scrimmage shouting, "Sub, sir. Sub, sir," to the official scorer. Every reporter who's had Koufos answer a question, "Yes, sir" during his brief time with the Jazz got a kick out of that one.
Williams was playing so hard that he scolded Collins for not getting into position quick enough and Miles for not coming up with a steal when he pressured Ronnie Price into a careless dribble.
The first possession after he moved to off guard, Williams attacked for a ferocious dunk against Brewer. Back at the other end, Williams lost track of Brewer and gave up an easy basket. Even though McNamara was playing point guard, the white team still ran its offense through Williams.
The blue team, which didn't have either Williams or Boozer, led by 15 at halftime. In the third quarter, Millsap drained an open 18-footer and took a charge as Miles drove for a dunk. Boozer picked up his fourth foul, a couple of them were tough calls as he came out to challenge on screen-and-rolls.
In the fourth, Brevin Knight pushed the ball and made a great pass on the fast break. Fesenko hit his left-handed shot around the basket but was called for defensive three seconds at the other end. Koufos finished an alley-oop dunk from Miles.
Fesenko never saw it coming as McNamara stripped him and cruised in for a layup. Down the stretch, Boozer scored as part of a three-point play for white. The blue team got Mehmet Okur a great look against a zone but he missed the three-pointer.
Miles went to the line twice in the final minute. He hit both his free throws the first time to make it 76-75. Williams and Miles nearly hooked up for an alley-oop with 11.8 seconds left but Miles was fouled by Millsap. He could have put white ahead but split his free throws to leave the score tied.
Blue had the last shot and went to Brewer, who tried to drive on Korver and wound up missing everything on his shot. With no overtime, the scrimmage ended tied. All in all, it was a lot more structured and a lot more competitive than what we saw Thursday in Boise.
It's probably too much to ask in a scrimmage, but the Jazz were on pace to give up 114 points had the scrimmage been a full 48 minutes. We'll see just how they look defensively when they play the Lakers on Tuesday in the preseason opener in Anaheim, Calif.
* * *
Last thing: Don't know how many of you have walked by Masha Kirilenko's boutique at The Gateway recently, but let's just say there's a fairly interesting photo in the window. The billboard you've probably seen driving into town on 600 South is just the beginning.
--Ross Siler
10:13 PM
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1 Comments:
Great update Ross. Can you possibly give us a little more information on Memo Okur? You mentioned that Sloan has singled him out for praise. What has he been doing well? I truly feel that Memo is the difference maker for our team and his post all-star form of last year can push us into the elite. Does he look in good enough form to replicate his second half? In the past, Memo's pre-season form has been a strong indicator for the regular season, with Sloan sometimes disappointed with the shape he comes to camp in.
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