Paul Millsap has been tremendous for the Jazz. Their current run of 4th quarter streaks started with his 46 point outburst over the Heat. Al has been playing pretty well. It appears he's starting to figure it out.

It's interesting to see that the Jazz are shooting the ball well. They were one of the worst three point shooting teams last season and all of their 4th quarter runs have been predicated on a barrage of three pointers. Looks like Miles and Ak47 help them stretch the floor better this year. Also, Williams is playing incredibly well.

Here's hoping they can seriously challenge the Western Conference this year.

Always thought Boozer was overrated.  I don't see him taking the Bulls to the next level.

Same with Amar's Stoudemire, who surprise, surprise, isn't the same player without Steve Nash feeding him dunks all game. 

Just another example of teams overpaying for players who aren't true difference makers. 

Quote from: Fafnir on November 14, 2010, 12:11:52 PM

Quote from: Jon on November 14, 2010, 11:53:42 AM

Always thought Boozer was overrated.  I don't see him taking the Bulls to the next level.

Same with Amar's Stoudemire, who surprise, surprise, isn't the same player without Steve Nash feeding him dunks all game. 

Just another example of teams overpaying for players who aren't true difference makers. 

Boozer got paid a whole heck of a lot less than Amar'e though, and he rebounds in addition to scoring at a high rate.

I agree.  He's not a bad player.  However, if you look at Chicago's salary structure, they really have no shot to add anyone via free agency over the next 3 years, so unless they make a trade, this is really as good as it's going to get.  And it's not good enough.  And to get a big time player, they're likely going to have to deal Noah, which will likely make them too weak on the inside to ever win a title.  So if I was Chicago, I would've passed on Boozer, and held out for Carmelo this summer.  There's no sense paying him that kind of money if he's not going to be the missing piece that makes them a contender. 

I agree the Amar'e signing was worse, but at least the Knicks can rationalize to themselves that they could potentially add a Carmelo to the mix this summer (still not enough in my opinion). 

I'm happy that Big Al is finally playing for a winning team.  Sloan will give him the best opportunity to play to his strengths in a true team environment.  With a healthy and functioanal AK, Utah could be the team we need to give the Lakers a handful in the playoffs this year so it's not such a cakewalk for them to the Finals.  Al, Millsap, AK and Okur present a pretty decent frontline that the Laker bigs would actually have to defend and keep off the boards.

Quote from: Fafnir on November 14, 2010, 12:01:46 PM

Considering that Big Al was benched down the stretch of several of those games I don't think he's a big reason for it. Having an effective Kirilenko has helped them too.

Honestly a lot of it is luck, 4-0 is nice but they also were down big in each one of their games.

In watching those games, I saw a lot of effort, skill, and hustle, but not too much "luck".

And your statement "Big Al was benched down the stretch of several of those games" is incorrect.

Al was on the bench in the end of the Heat game, but played 39 minutes in the Magic game going 21 pts/8rebs/1 blk, to Dwight's 14/9/3 (including from the 5:48 mark in the 4th when the score was 80-80 'til the end), 35 minutes vs the Hawks with 15/10/6 ast to Horford's 12/8/5 (including from the 6:33 mark in the 4th when the score was 78-78 'til the end), and finally 31 minutes vs the Bcats with 19/6/3, though Nazr had 22/20/4 (including from the 7:24 mark in the 4th when the score was 82-75 Bobcats 'til the end).  

I'd be interested in hearing why you think that beating the Heat and Magic on successive nights, and then besting the Hawks and Bcats had to do with luck.

Jefferson has been a let down for that team, i've seen the majority of thier games and he looks out of place, out of element.

When and IF he starts "getting it" or "learning the system" that team is going to be dangerous but so far its been alot of luck.