Jazz 112, Warriors 104
Sometimes you go looking for a stat in connection with one player's accomplishments that ends up saying volumes about another player. Such was the case Sunday, when Deron Williams had his fourth career 20-assist game . . . leaving him only 30 behind John Stockton in the Jazz record books.
The Jazz now have had 39 all-time 20-assist games in franchise history. Williams has four and Rickey Green has one. Stockton has the other 34, including his 28-assist game Jan. 15, 1991 against San Antonio that remains the team record. Stockton also had 27- and 26-assist games before that.
"I saw him play," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "I was fortunate enough to get to see him play and how easy he did it. I mean, it wasn't easy, but he made it look that way because he played the ball game . . . if you ran a play, he would run it and make guys run it where there was no end.
"Made the game pretty simple. Pass the ball to the guy that's inside for a better shot than always looking for a guy that's taking an 18-footer or three-pointer."
Said Williams: "He was a beast. He played 20 seasons, though. I mean, I've got a couple more. He averaged 14, 15 assists a couple seasons. There's no doubt he's going to hold the record for the most assists for a while, probably all-time. He was just the greatest at what he did."
* * *
Carlos Boozer continued to struggle in his fourth game back from an injured left knee. Boozer had 10 points and nine assists Sunday against Golden State but went 5-for-14, was called for five fouls and did not play the fourth quarter.
Just when it looked like Boozer was getting in rhythm in the third quarter - - scoring back-to-back baskets - - he was called for two offensive fouls. The first came as he hooked his defender on a move, the second as he was called for charging.
Boozer wasn't in the mood to talk afterward, but I asked if he felt like it was going to be a longer road returning than he originally thought. "I'm still encouraged," Boozer said, "Just got to keep working."
* * *
How much difference does an eight-game winning streak make?
"I'm happy, man," Williams said. "My mood is a lot better. Life at home is a lot better. My kids and wife probably like me a lot more. I hate to lose, so when we're losing, I'm in a bad mood, a little depressed. We've been winning. I'm upbeat, happy. Hopefully, we can keep it going."
* * *
The Jazz are on an unquestioned roll, but if they start inching too close to that No. 4 seed - - and a potential second-round series against the L.A. Lakers - - it might be time to borrow from the school of Nelly.
Golden State coach Don Nelson opted to sit leading scorer Stephen Jackson for Sunday's game, a highly controversial decision considering there were still 24 games remaining in the Warriors season and Golden State hadn't yet been eliminated from playoff contention.
Nelson started rookie Anthony Randolph in Jackson's absence, with Randolph delivering a 20-point, eight-rebound, four-block effort.
My youngest brother-in-law, who's a sophomore at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and apparently minors in watching the Warriors, sent the following text message about Randolph in the third quarter: "He's sick and he's younger than me."
But it's not as if playing Randolph and Jackson are mutually exclusive. There are lots of venues to evaluate younger players, if the Warriors are so inclined, including practice, summer league and the NBA Development League.
The Jazz were absolutely beatable Sunday, coming off a draining weekend with Larry Miler's funeral. There's no telling what difference Jackson could have made, but let the record show Golden State had 11 turnovers in the fourth quarter without him.
Walking out to my seat for the game, I couldn't help but look at the face value for tickets in the Warriors' courtside club. They ran $400 and $500, which is a crazy amount of money to pay not to see Golden State's leading scorer play.
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan didn't take exception with Nelson's decision, but obviously did not do the same thing when the Jazz went 26-56 in 2004-05.
* * *
I've been overly pessimistic on the radio about the Jazz's chances in March and April, but it's probably worth an explanation. If you covered the NBA, you'd know what kind of grind it is to get through the seven-month season.
That said, February was probably the easiest month I've had in five years of doing this. Any time you start having multiple weekend nights at home to enjoy, you know the bill is coming due big time later in the season.
That's going to be March and April for the Jazz. They'll play a late game Friday against Denver for television, then wake up early the next morning to fly to Toronto. That's the start of a five-game trip with two sets of back-to-back games.
I don't know if the Jazz can climb the standings here to finish the rest of the season, but it would be a real accomplishment not to lose ground.
* * *
With Denver losing Sunday, the Jazz all of a sudden trail the Nuggets by two games for the Northwest Division lead (and possibly home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs). I asked Williams if he'd ever written off the division.
"If we just keep winning, we'll keep moving up," Williams said. "That's how we've got to look at it. We're not trying to catch one team or look at this team and try to catch them, we're just trying to win basketball games."
* * *
The next time you're in the Bay Area, make sure to visit High Tech Burrito. I'm winning over one Jazz staffer at a time, but High Tech does make exceptional burritos. I'm also ready to make a bold declaration: If you've never gone to Marin Brewing Company in Larkspur, Calif., make sure to do so at least once. I've sampled dozens of brewpubs across the country and their White Knuckle Double I.P.A. might be the best beer I've ever had.
--Ross Siler
The Jazz now have had 39 all-time 20-assist games in franchise history. Williams has four and Rickey Green has one. Stockton has the other 34, including his 28-assist game Jan. 15, 1991 against San Antonio that remains the team record. Stockton also had 27- and 26-assist games before that.
"I saw him play," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "I was fortunate enough to get to see him play and how easy he did it. I mean, it wasn't easy, but he made it look that way because he played the ball game . . . if you ran a play, he would run it and make guys run it where there was no end.
"Made the game pretty simple. Pass the ball to the guy that's inside for a better shot than always looking for a guy that's taking an 18-footer or three-pointer."
Said Williams: "He was a beast. He played 20 seasons, though. I mean, I've got a couple more. He averaged 14, 15 assists a couple seasons. There's no doubt he's going to hold the record for the most assists for a while, probably all-time. He was just the greatest at what he did."
* * *
Carlos Boozer continued to struggle in his fourth game back from an injured left knee. Boozer had 10 points and nine assists Sunday against Golden State but went 5-for-14, was called for five fouls and did not play the fourth quarter.
Just when it looked like Boozer was getting in rhythm in the third quarter - - scoring back-to-back baskets - - he was called for two offensive fouls. The first came as he hooked his defender on a move, the second as he was called for charging.
Boozer wasn't in the mood to talk afterward, but I asked if he felt like it was going to be a longer road returning than he originally thought. "I'm still encouraged," Boozer said, "Just got to keep working."
* * *
How much difference does an eight-game winning streak make?
"I'm happy, man," Williams said. "My mood is a lot better. Life at home is a lot better. My kids and wife probably like me a lot more. I hate to lose, so when we're losing, I'm in a bad mood, a little depressed. We've been winning. I'm upbeat, happy. Hopefully, we can keep it going."
* * *
The Jazz are on an unquestioned roll, but if they start inching too close to that No. 4 seed - - and a potential second-round series against the L.A. Lakers - - it might be time to borrow from the school of Nelly.
Golden State coach Don Nelson opted to sit leading scorer Stephen Jackson for Sunday's game, a highly controversial decision considering there were still 24 games remaining in the Warriors season and Golden State hadn't yet been eliminated from playoff contention.
Nelson started rookie Anthony Randolph in Jackson's absence, with Randolph delivering a 20-point, eight-rebound, four-block effort.
My youngest brother-in-law, who's a sophomore at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and apparently minors in watching the Warriors, sent the following text message about Randolph in the third quarter: "He's sick and he's younger than me."
But it's not as if playing Randolph and Jackson are mutually exclusive. There are lots of venues to evaluate younger players, if the Warriors are so inclined, including practice, summer league and the NBA Development League.
The Jazz were absolutely beatable Sunday, coming off a draining weekend with Larry Miler's funeral. There's no telling what difference Jackson could have made, but let the record show Golden State had 11 turnovers in the fourth quarter without him.
Walking out to my seat for the game, I couldn't help but look at the face value for tickets in the Warriors' courtside club. They ran $400 and $500, which is a crazy amount of money to pay not to see Golden State's leading scorer play.
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan didn't take exception with Nelson's decision, but obviously did not do the same thing when the Jazz went 26-56 in 2004-05.
* * *
I've been overly pessimistic on the radio about the Jazz's chances in March and April, but it's probably worth an explanation. If you covered the NBA, you'd know what kind of grind it is to get through the seven-month season.
That said, February was probably the easiest month I've had in five years of doing this. Any time you start having multiple weekend nights at home to enjoy, you know the bill is coming due big time later in the season.
That's going to be March and April for the Jazz. They'll play a late game Friday against Denver for television, then wake up early the next morning to fly to Toronto. That's the start of a five-game trip with two sets of back-to-back games.
I don't know if the Jazz can climb the standings here to finish the rest of the season, but it would be a real accomplishment not to lose ground.
* * *
With Denver losing Sunday, the Jazz all of a sudden trail the Nuggets by two games for the Northwest Division lead (and possibly home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs). I asked Williams if he'd ever written off the division.
"If we just keep winning, we'll keep moving up," Williams said. "That's how we've got to look at it. We're not trying to catch one team or look at this team and try to catch them, we're just trying to win basketball games."
* * *
The next time you're in the Bay Area, make sure to visit High Tech Burrito. I'm winning over one Jazz staffer at a time, but High Tech does make exceptional burritos. I'm also ready to make a bold declaration: If you've never gone to Marin Brewing Company in Larkspur, Calif., make sure to do so at least once. I've sampled dozens of brewpubs across the country and their White Knuckle Double I.P.A. might be the best beer I've ever had.
--Ross Siler
1:52 AM
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2 Comments:
"Stockton has the other 34, including his 28-assist game Jan. 15, 1991 against San Antonio that remains the NBA record."
I know it's late, but Scott Skiles dished out 30 assists in 1990. Maybe you meant team record?
There was one game I went to that Sloan played players to evaluate and not win, but it was the last game of the 42-40 season. The Jazz just barely missed the playoffs, and I was disappointed we didn't really play to win the last game....one of the few I've seen from the lower bowl. Sloan opted to give Lopez a lot more minutes than usual instead of giving Arroyo his usual minutes. Even though it was understandable, I did feel a little ripped off....I'd be very upset with Nelly and what he's doing with the Warriors.
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