JazzFan 4 Life

It's been a few weeks since I've posted on the Jazz (due to some family concerns), but life seems to be re-stabilizing, so it's time to hear some sweet music and some sour notes from a disappointing 109-107 win over the hated Sonics ...

Sweet Music

Memmmoooooo!!!!!: 12 points (2-2 on 3-pointers), 5 rebounds, 2 steals: Okur may look like he's drunk/tired/hungover most games, but he's always aware of that 3-point line and aware of what it means to be clutch. The guy has saved the Jazz at least four or five times already this season, and he came through tonight with a 3-pointer from the corner with 1.6 seconds left.

Boozer comes through again: 24 pts, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks: When he's playing well, the rest of the offense seems to be clicking too. The key tonight is that the Jazz got him involved fairly early in the game (he had 10 of his points in the first half). He's already got seven blocks this year (had only 8 last year) and he seems to be on pace to shatter his "Jazz record" for blocks (24). Anytime he decides to get off his feet and contest a shot, it's a miracle.

Deron gets it done: 18 points, 9 assists, 2 steals: In the first night of the season that paired Williams with Derek Fisher, the Jazz got off to a slow start. But as the game wore on, Williams and Fisher played pretty well together (forget the fact Fisher did an OK job guarding Ray Allen). The Jazz nearly gave this game away (more on that later), but at least Williams took the ball to the basket in the 4th quarter throughout the game to keep Seattle's big men from becoming much of a factor.

Paul Millsap (aka The Paperboy) delivers: 16 points, 10 rebounds (4 offensive): More and more, this guy is looking like the steal of the draft. I don't think there is another player on the Jazz (except maybe Deron Williams or AK-47) who gets more out of every minute he plays. Millsap simply does not waste his opportunities when he gets on the floor and he was the spark in the first half to keep Utah alive against Seattle.

Sour Notes

Giricek's undefined role: On average, Gordan had been good for about 15-19 minutes, 5-7 points and a couple of 3-pointers. Last night, Jerry Sloan decided that Giricek should only play seven minutes and get two shots while Fisher and Matt Harpring/Andrei Kirilenko struggle to contain Allen. Giricek actually did OK against Allen (who only scored on a jumper and a free throw while Gira was guarding him). Utah's shooting guard spot remains a question.

Falling apart in the 4th quarter: This game was starting to remind me of last year's Warriors/Jazz game on Nov. 25 when the Jazz blew a lead to the Fisher-led Warriors. How you blow a 94-84 lead with 5:38 to go is beyond me, but at least Okur was able to save the Jazz from themselves. Utah's making too much of a habit of living on the edge this year.