"You Gotta Love It Baby" Official Jazz thread

[Donuthole]

CJ Miles > Wes Matthews. At least for one game.

The starting lineup has got to be shuffled. Raja is terrible, and I'm not sure the Jefferson/Millsap combination is the best fit. I'd almost rather see a Williams/Miles/AK/Millsap/Fess starting lineup, with Jefferson the first guy off the bench.

Also, boxing out needs to be addressed/emphasized for about 11 straight practices. I can't remember the last time the Jazz were consistently getting outrebounded by double digits on a nightly basis. I think in every game this season there has been a time when they've given the other team 3 chances to score on a single possession, and several times they've given up 4-chance possessions. 3 times tonight they gave the Blazers 4 chances to score. That's ridiculous.

[Blueintheface]

Who in the Hell are these guys? I didn't watch a min but the box score says a big comeback happened again? CJ Miles, on the road? Whaere am I?

[MarkGrace]

CJ was hotter than J-Mac tonight. That 30 footer was insane.

[LiveCoug]

CJ was hotter than J-Mac tonight. That 30 footer was insane.

Which one?

[MarkGrace]

Nice start for Deron.

[Donuthole]

Somehow this game is blacked out on league pass in Las Vegas? WTF?

[MarkGrace]

CJ picking up where he left off against Portland.

[MarkGrace]

CJ puts together back-to-back good games. Wow.

[Coastal Ute]

CJ puts together back-to-back good games. Wow.

I was just going to say...wow. This has got to be a first.

[Donuthole]

I was just going to say...wow. This has got to be a first.

Nope.

Back in the season when we acquired Korver, CJ was playing really well, and went on a 10-12 game stretch as a starter when I thought he was really going to lock up his spot in the rotation. Then he got benched (undeservedly so, IMO) when Korver arrived and has never been the same since. IIRC, during that stretch he was shooting about 43% from 3 and averaging about 12ppg in 25 minutes.

Here is a CB post where I compared Korver and CJ's best 5-game stretches during the 07-08 season up to that point.

http://www.cougarboard.com/noframes/...tml?id=3571682

NOTE: I am not blaming Korver, Sloan, or anyone else for CJ's lack of productivity. He has been given a number of chances to seize the day, and has failed on every occasion.

[Blueintheface]

Nope.

How do you manage to post so much while maintaining a good practice and workout routine, CJ?

[Donuthole]

How do you manage to post so much while maintaining a good practice and workout routine, CJ?

Trust me--i'm anything but a CJ homer. As documented in this very thread, i've flipped and flopped on him as much as I ever have any Jazz player. I just wanted to point out that this isn't the first time he has played well for a stretch (assuming his good play extends beyond 2 games, which is a big assumption).

[MarkGrace]

Memo is going to work out with the team today. It will be interesting to see what happens when he gets back. I'm guessing he becomes mostly a bench player, and I think that's what he's suited for at this point. The bench could certainly use some punch (though they've been better lately), and adding Memo should definitely help.

[Blueintheface]

Memo is going to work out with the team today. It will be interesting to see what happens when he gets back. I'm guessing he becomes mostly a bench player, and I think that's what he's suited for at this point. The bench could certainly use some punch (though they've been better lately), and adding Memo should definitely help.

I see Memo getting more time with the ones unfortunately. I just think Sloan has a certain comfort level with him despite his shot selection and general Euro-ickiness factor.

I will say that I've been mildly impressed with the incremental improvement in Earl Watson's game lately. He seems to be much more inclined to get out on the break and if that's not available to at least get them into their offense more quickly than the standard 15 second dribbling exhibition we're used to seeing from the backup Jazz PG.

I don't expect CJ to keep playing at this level but if he can at least not have a precipitous dropoff in his production, the 2nd unit can maintain leads rather than increasing deficits.

Last night's game, the 2nd unit actually carried the starters but that is rare.

[Jacob]

Memo returning will be a huge boost to a bench that consists of bad NBA players. But players who, within the Jazz system, can get done what they need to on most night in the regular season. I don't care for the 10-11 man rotation, and I don't think there is often a reason to have all starters on the bench at the same time. I don't need to ever see Fess and Elson in at the same time.

But what to do with Memo? The easy decision is that he comes back to the bench as it is still going to take him a long time to get into game shape and get up to speed. The more difficult decision comes later. I see Memo potentially moving back into the starting 5. I like the size and the 3 point shooting that gives the starting lineup. But who will he replace?

IMO, Jefferson has the next 2 months after Memo's return to prove that he deserves to be the starter. If he doesn't, and if Memo returns to form, Jefferson goes to the bench. Millsap has earned the starting role, and if his production continues at its current pace, he's gotta be the starter. Then again, if Memo can't prove he deserves it, he could remain on the bench. He's never been in good enough shape to play over 30 minutes per night, anyway.