Jazz 119, Warriors 114
The feeling was unmistakable even at the pregame shootaround that the Jazz thought they were going to handle the Warriors.
Shootaround itself went a couple minutes shorter than usual and ended with Deron Williams punting balls into the upper deck at EnergySolutions Arena for Kosta Koufos to retrieve. When Koufos couldn't find a working elevator to go upstairs, there were even more laughs.
As he came out and talked to reporters, Williams did so humming the Mario Brothers theme. It probably was to be expected: The Warriors had lost to Oklahoma City and Minnesota before arriving in Utah and the Jazz were in need of a little comic relief.
Of course, Monday night's game was anything but a laugher. The Warriors jumped on the Jazz 13-4 in the first three minutes. They erased a six-point halftime lead with a 9-0 run in the third quarter even after losing Stephen Jackson to a hamstring injury.
They also refused to go away in the fourth quarter. C.J. Watson and Anthony Morrow hit three-pointers after the Jazz had gone ahead by nine. Later in the quarter, Watson had a steal and dunk and Morrow hit a jumper on the break to keep the Warriors close.
Most alarming for the Jazz was that Williams, Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer couldn't hit a shot when the Jazz needed it most with their lead dwindling in the fourth quarter. The Jazz could thank Paul Millsap for making plays at both ends to get them over the hump.
Korver went 1-for-6 in the fourth quarter and 0-for-3 from three-point range. He thanked me after the game for jinxing him at shootaround with a question about relishing the chance as a three-point shooter to play a three-point shooting team like Golden State.
Of course, he was only kidding. In fact, it didn't take long for the Jazz to pick up right where they left off at shootaround. Williams was riding Koufos about Texas' victory over Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.
Whenever Koufos tried to ask Williams what bowl Illinois played in, Williams cut him with one "Hook 'em Horns" declaration after another. Williams also promised Koufos he'd be retrieving a whole rack of balls from the upper deck the next time.
Had the Jazz played New Orleans, Detroit or Indiana - - the other three teams on this homestand - - they might have lost Monday. They were fortunate to beat Golden State and will try to build off it Wednesday against the Hornets.
* * *
My youngest brother-in-law is a sophomore at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a huge Warriors fan, for whatever reason. We watched the second half of the Warriors-Raptors game last week while I was on vacation. He's got League Pass on his computer.
Sure enough, the Warriors fall victim to that whistle from the crowd late in the second quarter, leading to a free dunk for Korver at the other end. Not even two minutes later I get a text message from him.
"Stop blowing whistles in the middle of the game," he wrote. "I know it was you."
I have to admit the Warriors are pretty entertaining to watch - - they take jumpers with no conscience, pretty much let all of their players bring up the ball and are never really out of a game thanks to their three-point shooting.
But the Warriors are a lost cause right now. They came into Monday having used 22 different starting lineups in 35 games. Even Rob Kurz, a rookie forward from Notre Dame, has started three times for Golden State this season.
* * *
You already know Jazz coach Jerry Sloan isn't going to be too happy seeing C.J. Miles' line in the box score. That would be 21 minutes, four points, three fouls and no rebounds, assists, steals or free throws.
It also was pretty incredible to watch the Jazz commit 10 team fouls in the third quarter. They were in the penalty with 6:53 left in the quarter. They did catch a break as Golden State converted only 9 of 14 free throws.
* * *
Before the game, the Jazz were leaning toward assigning Kyrylo Fesenko to play with the Utah Flash in this week's D-League Showcase. They opted to wait to make the decision until this morning; Flash coach Brad Jones was at Monday's game.
The Flash will play Tuesday night and Thursday as part of the Showcase, which is being held in Orem. The Jazz were not planning on sending down Morris Almond, though that could be reevaluated this morning as well.
The Jazz can assign either player to the Flash up to three times this season. With Jarron Collins and Paul Millsap back from injury this week, Almond and Fesenko both were inactive for Monday's game.
* * *
You couldn't ask for a more ironic milestone than Hot Rod Hundley calling his 3,000th Jazz game Wednesday. He'll have an audience of Jazz fans listening who will be unable to watch the game thanks to the KJZZ/DirecTV squabble.
--Ross Siler
Shootaround itself went a couple minutes shorter than usual and ended with Deron Williams punting balls into the upper deck at EnergySolutions Arena for Kosta Koufos to retrieve. When Koufos couldn't find a working elevator to go upstairs, there were even more laughs.
As he came out and talked to reporters, Williams did so humming the Mario Brothers theme. It probably was to be expected: The Warriors had lost to Oklahoma City and Minnesota before arriving in Utah and the Jazz were in need of a little comic relief.
Of course, Monday night's game was anything but a laugher. The Warriors jumped on the Jazz 13-4 in the first three minutes. They erased a six-point halftime lead with a 9-0 run in the third quarter even after losing Stephen Jackson to a hamstring injury.
They also refused to go away in the fourth quarter. C.J. Watson and Anthony Morrow hit three-pointers after the Jazz had gone ahead by nine. Later in the quarter, Watson had a steal and dunk and Morrow hit a jumper on the break to keep the Warriors close.
Most alarming for the Jazz was that Williams, Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer couldn't hit a shot when the Jazz needed it most with their lead dwindling in the fourth quarter. The Jazz could thank Paul Millsap for making plays at both ends to get them over the hump.
Korver went 1-for-6 in the fourth quarter and 0-for-3 from three-point range. He thanked me after the game for jinxing him at shootaround with a question about relishing the chance as a three-point shooter to play a three-point shooting team like Golden State.
Of course, he was only kidding. In fact, it didn't take long for the Jazz to pick up right where they left off at shootaround. Williams was riding Koufos about Texas' victory over Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.
Whenever Koufos tried to ask Williams what bowl Illinois played in, Williams cut him with one "Hook 'em Horns" declaration after another. Williams also promised Koufos he'd be retrieving a whole rack of balls from the upper deck the next time.
Had the Jazz played New Orleans, Detroit or Indiana - - the other three teams on this homestand - - they might have lost Monday. They were fortunate to beat Golden State and will try to build off it Wednesday against the Hornets.
* * *
My youngest brother-in-law is a sophomore at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a huge Warriors fan, for whatever reason. We watched the second half of the Warriors-Raptors game last week while I was on vacation. He's got League Pass on his computer.
Sure enough, the Warriors fall victim to that whistle from the crowd late in the second quarter, leading to a free dunk for Korver at the other end. Not even two minutes later I get a text message from him.
"Stop blowing whistles in the middle of the game," he wrote. "I know it was you."
I have to admit the Warriors are pretty entertaining to watch - - they take jumpers with no conscience, pretty much let all of their players bring up the ball and are never really out of a game thanks to their three-point shooting.
But the Warriors are a lost cause right now. They came into Monday having used 22 different starting lineups in 35 games. Even Rob Kurz, a rookie forward from Notre Dame, has started three times for Golden State this season.
* * *
You already know Jazz coach Jerry Sloan isn't going to be too happy seeing C.J. Miles' line in the box score. That would be 21 minutes, four points, three fouls and no rebounds, assists, steals or free throws.
It also was pretty incredible to watch the Jazz commit 10 team fouls in the third quarter. They were in the penalty with 6:53 left in the quarter. They did catch a break as Golden State converted only 9 of 14 free throws.
* * *
Before the game, the Jazz were leaning toward assigning Kyrylo Fesenko to play with the Utah Flash in this week's D-League Showcase. They opted to wait to make the decision until this morning; Flash coach Brad Jones was at Monday's game.
The Flash will play Tuesday night and Thursday as part of the Showcase, which is being held in Orem. The Jazz were not planning on sending down Morris Almond, though that could be reevaluated this morning as well.
The Jazz can assign either player to the Flash up to three times this season. With Jarron Collins and Paul Millsap back from injury this week, Almond and Fesenko both were inactive for Monday's game.
* * *
You couldn't ask for a more ironic milestone than Hot Rod Hundley calling his 3,000th Jazz game Wednesday. He'll have an audience of Jazz fans listening who will be unable to watch the game thanks to the KJZZ/DirecTV squabble.
--Ross Siler
1:05 AM
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1 Comments:
Yes, the warriors are fun to watch but Don Nelson couldnt coach himself out of a paper bag.
CJ's confidence has been hit...he'll bounce back. I hope.
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