Jazz 120, Kings 94
As much as you'd like Deron Williams to make the decision independently about playing Saturday in the second game of the Jazz's back-to-back set, Williams acknowledged that Brevin Knight's availability will be a factor.
Knight has been unable to play due to a sprained left index finger. If he is unable to go and Williams decides to sit out and be careful with his sprained left ankle, the Jazz would be down to only one healthy point guard in Ronnie Price.
Talking to him at shootaround, Knight said he might be able to play if he responds well to treatment, but he did not want to play if he couldn't do so to the best of his abilities. I take that to mean he's not returning at much less than 100 percent.
Williams said he was "a little sore" after Friday's game. He should benefit with the Jazz playing both ends of the back-to-back at home, giving Williams the opportunity to treat his ankle fully. He also played only 27 minutes against the Kings, none in the fourth quarter.
Williams put his odds of playing at 50/50 after the game. He said it mostly would depend on how he felt when he woke up Saturday morning. You can understand Williams' concern since his return earlier this month ended after a set of back-to-back games.
The Nets start Devin Harris at point guard, which could be a tough matchup for Williams given Harris' quickness. They're also the hometown team for Knight, who grew up in East Orange, N.J., so there might be some extra incentive for him to get back on the court.
* * *
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has stressed defensive effort to his players from the very first day of training camp and has had some pointed things to say in recent days. There's definitely been some slippage with the Jazz giving up 98.3 points on this homestand.
After watching the Jazz's porous pick-and-roll defense in Monday's loss to Chicago, Sloan said: "I thought maybe sometime I might just put the big guys out at point guard and have somebody set a back screen on them and see how they liked it."
"You've got to get up and play people," Sloan continued. "You can't just lay back and let the guy....Most of them are smart enough they're going to attack a big guy if he comes out soft or lays back in there."
The Jazz have been successful at times with zone defenses and also with trapping off the pick-and-roll, which forces their big men to play more aggressively, but Sloan wants to see his team play traditional defense.
Talking about trapping, he said: "That was one game and those are gimmicky things. Gimmicky stuff doesn't last. You have to play good, solid defense. If we don't do that, then we have to go to other things. That's where guys can be lazier and create a lazy attitude."
Sloan was on both C.J. Miles and Mehmet Okur about their defense in the first half of Friday's victory over Sacramento. He also made a comment that I thought was pretty telling about what is still a young Jazz team.
"The first thing for young guys is to make money," Sloan said, "and then when they get about ready to end their career, they want to start winning a championship. That's why you have a problem because so many young guys want to get numbers."
* * *
It seems like a small factor, but the Jazz started rolling in the third quarter as Sacramento's Brad Miller missed three jumpers to open the second half. Mehmet Okur hit two jumpers off Williams' passes, C.J. Miles was fouled on the fast break and Miles hit a three-pointer.
* * *
The Jazz made 8 of 25 shots in the second quarter and struggled to contain Sacramento's John Salmons, who scored 12 of his 20 points in the quarter. Needless to say, Sloan had some thoughts to share with his players at halftime.
"We felt we didn't close out the first half well," Williams said. "Coach let us hear it a little bit. We just came out more focused. I tried to push the ball a little bit, get out on the break. We got a couple easy baskets and our confidence just built from there."
* * *
Williams was in a pretty playful mood after the game, picking through some Swedish Fish (and pushing for an endorsement deal) and joking "I left college early" as he struggled with the different tenses of build. (Was it builded or built?)
Williams was great, by the way, in the first quarter, which he finished with nine points and three assists. He faked a three-pointer and pulled up for a 20-footer. He used a hesitation dribble to beat Beno Udrih for a layup. He nailed a three-pointer.
He posted up Bobby Brown and got to the line for two free throws. Williams also passed on an open jumper for himself to make the extra pass to Okur for a three-pointer. Another time he drove, took Mikki Moore with him and hit Okur for another three. No surprise the Jazz built - - builded? - - a nine-point lead in the quarter.
* * *
For everyone who was wondering: Andrei Kirilenko was wearing kneepads in Friday's game because his knees have gotten so burned in recent games.
What does a guy who doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving have for dinner on the holiday? Okur told us he had a dinner of roast beef and turkey Thursday.
--Ross Siler
Knight has been unable to play due to a sprained left index finger. If he is unable to go and Williams decides to sit out and be careful with his sprained left ankle, the Jazz would be down to only one healthy point guard in Ronnie Price.
Talking to him at shootaround, Knight said he might be able to play if he responds well to treatment, but he did not want to play if he couldn't do so to the best of his abilities. I take that to mean he's not returning at much less than 100 percent.
Williams said he was "a little sore" after Friday's game. He should benefit with the Jazz playing both ends of the back-to-back at home, giving Williams the opportunity to treat his ankle fully. He also played only 27 minutes against the Kings, none in the fourth quarter.
Williams put his odds of playing at 50/50 after the game. He said it mostly would depend on how he felt when he woke up Saturday morning. You can understand Williams' concern since his return earlier this month ended after a set of back-to-back games.
The Nets start Devin Harris at point guard, which could be a tough matchup for Williams given Harris' quickness. They're also the hometown team for Knight, who grew up in East Orange, N.J., so there might be some extra incentive for him to get back on the court.
* * *
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has stressed defensive effort to his players from the very first day of training camp and has had some pointed things to say in recent days. There's definitely been some slippage with the Jazz giving up 98.3 points on this homestand.
After watching the Jazz's porous pick-and-roll defense in Monday's loss to Chicago, Sloan said: "I thought maybe sometime I might just put the big guys out at point guard and have somebody set a back screen on them and see how they liked it."
"You've got to get up and play people," Sloan continued. "You can't just lay back and let the guy....Most of them are smart enough they're going to attack a big guy if he comes out soft or lays back in there."
The Jazz have been successful at times with zone defenses and also with trapping off the pick-and-roll, which forces their big men to play more aggressively, but Sloan wants to see his team play traditional defense.
Talking about trapping, he said: "That was one game and those are gimmicky things. Gimmicky stuff doesn't last. You have to play good, solid defense. If we don't do that, then we have to go to other things. That's where guys can be lazier and create a lazy attitude."
Sloan was on both C.J. Miles and Mehmet Okur about their defense in the first half of Friday's victory over Sacramento. He also made a comment that I thought was pretty telling about what is still a young Jazz team.
"The first thing for young guys is to make money," Sloan said, "and then when they get about ready to end their career, they want to start winning a championship. That's why you have a problem because so many young guys want to get numbers."
* * *
It seems like a small factor, but the Jazz started rolling in the third quarter as Sacramento's Brad Miller missed three jumpers to open the second half. Mehmet Okur hit two jumpers off Williams' passes, C.J. Miles was fouled on the fast break and Miles hit a three-pointer.
* * *
The Jazz made 8 of 25 shots in the second quarter and struggled to contain Sacramento's John Salmons, who scored 12 of his 20 points in the quarter. Needless to say, Sloan had some thoughts to share with his players at halftime.
"We felt we didn't close out the first half well," Williams said. "Coach let us hear it a little bit. We just came out more focused. I tried to push the ball a little bit, get out on the break. We got a couple easy baskets and our confidence just built from there."
* * *
Williams was in a pretty playful mood after the game, picking through some Swedish Fish (and pushing for an endorsement deal) and joking "I left college early" as he struggled with the different tenses of build. (Was it builded or built?)
Williams was great, by the way, in the first quarter, which he finished with nine points and three assists. He faked a three-pointer and pulled up for a 20-footer. He used a hesitation dribble to beat Beno Udrih for a layup. He nailed a three-pointer.
He posted up Bobby Brown and got to the line for two free throws. Williams also passed on an open jumper for himself to make the extra pass to Okur for a three-pointer. Another time he drove, took Mikki Moore with him and hit Okur for another three. No surprise the Jazz built - - builded? - - a nine-point lead in the quarter.
* * *
For everyone who was wondering: Andrei Kirilenko was wearing kneepads in Friday's game because his knees have gotten so burned in recent games.
What does a guy who doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving have for dinner on the holiday? Okur told us he had a dinner of roast beef and turkey Thursday.
--Ross Siler
12:46 AM
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