Jazz replace Boozer with Millsap, Okur with Big Al: Result is a 4-0 East Trip

[nba is the worst]

Last night, this season's 4th quarter comeback-kings did it again while visiting the Charlotte Bobcats. Taking their 1st lead of the game with 2:30 left in the 4th quarter on a 3-pt play by Al Jefferson, the Jazz finished a remarkable undefeated road trip, beating three of the five Eastern Conference teams that have posted winning records at this point in the season in addition to the Bobcats, while playing 4 games in 5 days (!)

They were looking road-weary, starting the game behind 8-0 and already down by 18 with 4 to play in the 2nd quarter, ending the half down 16, with the score 49-33 Bcats.

But in as appears to be their now customary manner, the Jazz were a completely different team in the 2nd half, winning the 3rd Q by 6 and the 4th by 11, to take a 96-95 victory over the Bobcats, who have yet to win a home game this season.

In the last 5 games, the Jazz have come back from being down 16 vs the Clippers 109-107 in double-overtime, 22 down to beat Miami 116-114 in overtime Tuesday, down 18 before beating the Magic 104-94 on Wednesday, and down 11 to the Hawks.

Al Jefferson has been a big part of the Jazz's 7-3 start, averaging 16.7/9.0 while (formerly) starting center Mehmet Okur is rehabbing from an Achilles injury.

Quite an accomplishment for the Jazz!

[Arok325]

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.

[nba is the worst]

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.

Millsap was so clutch in that Heat win - especially considering his lack of history of taking 3-pointers.

Miles is barely over 30% from the arc, but it hasn't stopped him from from shooting the 2nd-most attempts after deron (36 through the 10 games).

Kirilenko is up to 4th in the league with .571 FG% from the arc, tied with Korver.

it's clear that as far as early season "contenders" can be named based on record, in the West, the Jazz join the Hornets, lakers, and Spurs as the only viable candidates for a successful post-season run.

[pearljammer10]

Im glad Millsap has finally gotten a chance to be a starter, and im also glad that he is making the most of his opportunity.

[Jon]

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. 

[Fafnir]

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.

[Fafnir]

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.

[Jon]

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). 

[Fafnir]

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 think holding out for Carmelo when you have Boozer already ready to sign is foolish. Especially when they still had cap room at that point to sign LeBron. Now once they signed all the role players to fill out their roster that cap space went away.

I'll also add that if they were going to extend Noah they always had a small window to use their cap space.

[slamtheking]

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.

[Fafnir]

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.

I don't know if Jefferson helps them match up with the Lakers better than Boozer did.

Jefferson is a bit longer, but he's not exactly a bruiser or a defensive difference maker.

[nba is the worst]

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.

[Fafnir]

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.

I was going off the Hawks game where he generally was hurting the Jazz with his rotations and the Heat game where he was benched.

He was very good in the Orlando game, I was shocked that Howard didn't do more. Great bounce back by Jefferson after the debacle in Miami. I didn't see the Charlotte game.

I don't see contender with when I look at the Jazz. I think their roster is pretty similar to last year and they aren't there yet. (Boozer and Jefferson are pretty comparable in their skill sets)

[Dybdal]

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.

[MBz]

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.

I think Jefferson has been getting it as of late.  He's been playing pretty well lately.  He isn't going to get the offensive touches he got with the T-Wolves.  Him averaging his current 17 pts a game on this team will be okay for them.  He has Williams, Millsap, and Kirilenko who all need to get shots too.  Though him getting another bound or two a game would be a little better, but that may not be possible if Millsap is going to average 9 as well and Williams and Kirilenko are going to average 5 a game.  Their main issue is a lack of bigs.  After Al and Millsap there isn't much.