First round playoffs notes
T-Mac is rubbing off on me. Just when I should be writing 2-3 times a day and stepping it up in the playoffs, I disappear. Let’s just say real life was playing me too physical. I don’t have any tapes I can send in to the league unfortunately.
So let’s get going again with a few playoff notes as the Jazz try to wrap things up tonight in Houston. It’s hard to bring something new to the discussion when you haven’t written for a bit, but here it goes.
- First of all, thanks to everyone that wrote me on the blogging awards. I wasn’t able to pull off the upset, but it was good to see My Utah Jazz get second in the NW division.
- And thanks to those that signed the Save [Y]our Sonics petition. We were able to get over 200 sigs in just a day. So for the time given and the niche that I have, I think that was pretty good. I forward it to LHM’s assistant but never got a response. Unfortunately he voted for the move. But it looks like the Sonics owners are digging themselves pretty deep with the recent emails that have come out. So there’s still a little hope.
- Is anyone surprised about T-Mac’s crying about physical play? He was crying about it last year too. And Adelman’s joined in this year. I guess it doesn’t matter which coach they have. He’s got to put the blame on something (someone) other than himself. Is his complaining coming from the fact that he can’t hit a free throw?
- Is this series uglier than last year’s? The Jazz broke 100 once last year and that was the game 7 win. It’s not just the low scoring. No one can make free throws. There seems to be a ton more turnovers. They’re just ugly, ugly games to watch. They hearken back to the Knicks/Heat series back in the ’90s when the final scores were 58-54.
- Is it McCryBaby? T-Mock? He really doesn’t know how to pronounce Deron’s name? I have to admit, it was hard for me to pronounce it “darrin” at first. Even the Trib’s search has problems with Deron’s name. But the guy’s been in the league three years. You played them last year in the playoffs! And has his coach never said in practice, “Watch out for Deron Williams?” Maybe that’s the problem. He’s not listening in practice. He’s had to have spoken his name some other time. Anyone find a clip? A nice anagram for Tracy McGrady is “drag my cry act” as in, “I’m going to drag my cry act to every news conference.”
Thanks Tracy for pissing off Deron Williams. He said it didn’t bother him. Right. Just like being snubbed for the All-Star team didn’t bother him. Here’s hoping for 30 & 17 tonight.
- One of Malone’s sons was just drafted into the NFL. I don’t doubt the kid’s story about being shunned by Malone, but I would like to hear a comment from Karl on this.
- The Jazz finally get a “There’s only one” NBA split-screen video. We need one now with David Stern and Clay Bennett.
- Always a bridesmaid. He should have won in 97 and 98. And if they’re going based on turnaround this year, then he should have won in 04 when the Jazz finished 42-40 when they were expected to compete for the worst record of all time. Seriously, have you seen their roster? Tell me how that team wins that many games. Like most others have stated, it appears that you have to have had a crappy team and then turn them around. That’s why the COY award will be renamed the Jerry Sloan COY award and he will never have had actually won it.
April 29th, 2008 at 10:52 am
There is absolutely no way anyone could (or, at least, should) make the argument that Sloan deserves COY this year. Just take a look at our December record: 11 losses in 16 games, which includes a six game losing streak. Granted a lot of those were close games, but a COY shouldn’t sport a .310 record for any month in the regular season.
April 29th, 2008 at 11:36 am
BBJohn meant the ‘04 squad. And yes, Sloan got robbed that year by Hubie Brown.
April 29th, 2008 at 11:49 am
On top of all of Tracy’s whining, now Adelman is talking about getting the NBA to review the tapes to make new rules against Utah’s dastardly defense. Man, what a prick. Maybe they’ll see Scola’s endless whining and hilariously bad flopping and decide to give him a couple technicals after the fact.
Also, McGrady has got to be aware of Deron’s name. By this point he has to have heard it announced a hundred times in game correctly, even if, somehow, it never comes up otherwise. He’s just making deliberately stupid comments, I guess cause he’d rather the story be about what an idiot he is of court than what wussy choker he is on it. I must admit, it’s strange for some dude with a chick’s name to be taking those kinda shots.
Also, Sloan arguably got screwed over most of all last year. Nobody expected jack from Utah (though that was based on ignorance, anyone with half a brain knew they’d win the division easily with Boozer healthy) and they get 51 wins. Giving it to Mitchell was stupid cause 1. Tornoto just wasn’t as good as Utah and 2. everyone knew they weren’t for real anyway. Beyond this, Scott shouldn’t get it this year, it should go to Rivers. The Celtics are looking a bit dubious for the playoffs, but the way they came out with 3 dudes who never played together and a bunch of woefully untested role players is impressive. Sure, they have a ton of talent overall, but they still overachieved in the regular season, and that’s what the award is for.
April 29th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I’m not sure who my pick would be this year. Scott has a case. I think the Rivers talk is a bit much. I wrote in my HoopsVibe preview that everyone seems to have forgotten about the previous two years the Cs have had under his tutelage. He’s been terrible. He basically has a coach on the floor in KG that runs most stuff. He has three All-Star vets. He doesn’t have to do much coaching. And now we can see in the playoffs that he trying to coach and they’re losing to Atlanta.
April 29th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Yeah, and Scott was nothing special the other years. I should also reiterate that this was one year, one summer they’re together and they start out 29-3. Scott at least had his core for some time beforehand, even if they weren’t healthy, so they could work a system out fully. More to the point, there just isn’t an obvious winner this year, so you just give it to the coach of the team with the best record. Also, yes, I’m bitter: Scott has a turnaround year, largely cause his team finally got healthy, and he gets COY while Sloan did the same thing last year but with fewer health problems before and he gets nothing? Screw that!
Also, on second thought, though Adelman is still being a whiny baby, he did receive the worst reffing screwjob in the history of the NBA with the Lakers-Kings conf-finals some years back, so I guess he gets a little more slack.
April 29th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Dear Tracy,
If you do a Wikipedia search of D. Will, it clearly shows that you pronounce his name DARE-in. And at least he doesn’t have a girl name. Also, thanks for pissing off our #1 player, who plays even better when he has something to prove. Make sure to bring lots of Kleenex, you’ll need it after tonight’s game.
On a side note, ESPN has been showing highlights from past Finals all day. Lets just say, I haven’t got much studying done. Haha.
April 29th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
McGrady and Battier sat out practice yesterday but will play tonight. Top 2 players not at 100% = Jazz win by 6
April 29th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
A couple things… yes, BBJ, you’re a freakin’ slacker. You belong with TMock. Taking two days to get a post up? Unbelievable.
I don’t think Sloan should have gotten coach of the year this year… but there are plenty of years he should have.
Adelman needs to shut his pie hole and worry about TMac and the fact that he disappears in the 4th Q instead of worrying about the Jazz playing physical. They are playing JUST AS physical. All it is is posturing to the officials to get more calls their way.
April 29th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
That was a very ugly opening quarter. And watching the game on KJZZ is definitely not as luxury as TNT or ESPN, the quality just isn’t as good.