JazzFan 4 Life

Game 3 of the preseason got underway last night (Jazz/Blazers), with Utah taking a 104-90 victory. Let's hear some sweet music & sour notes ... \

Sweet Music

* The Naked Russian: 15 pts (5-7 FG; 5-5 FT), 6 reb, 7 assists, 6 blocks - Don't try to tell this guy preseason games are worthless. After missing the past two preseason games with lower back trouble (uh-oh), Kirilenko went crazy against the Blazers. When he's playing this well, it's easy to find more sweet music.

* Carlos Boozer: 23 pts (8-13 FG), 7 reb, 4 assists and 2 BLOCKS!! - Nice to see Boozer playing defense and boxing out once in a while. Just stay healthy and AK-47 will make you look like an all-star.

* Mehmet Okur: 13 pts (6-10 FG), 12 reb, 2 blocks - It's nice when the frontline contributes. Okur will probably have more games like this (minus about 3 rebounds and 2 blocks) on most nights provided The Naked Russian and Boozer do their jobs.

Sour notes

* Jazz fall asleep on lead - Utah led by as many as 17 points before the Blazers closed the gap to three with 8:16 left in the fourth quarter. Not a good sign against any team, but a really bad sign considering it was Portland. The Blazers will probably be challenging for the worst record in the league, so you've got to put them away early.

* Brandon Roy & Jarret Jack - They scored only 27 points combined, but had Juan Dixon found his shot last night (4-13 FG), the crappy Jazz defense in the backcourt would have been exposed once again.

* C.J. Miles struggles - I like that Ronnie Brewer and Matt Harpring played well, but Miles is supposed to be the future, too. A one-for-three night from the floor with 2 fouls in 16 minutes isn't too good. He seems to be having trouble getting into a groove.

Jazz vs. Lakers -- Preseason Game 1

Well, after a few months of waiting and a little bit of hype, the Jazz finally kicked off the 2006-07 campaign. The results? Disappointing, I would say. Utah fell to the L.A. Lakers, 94-79. During the season, we'll review each game and provide the sweet music (good stuff) and sour notes (bad stuff) from each game. Here's our first go at it:

Sweet music

* Deron Williams: 16 pts (7-13 FG, 2-3 3-pt FG, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, blocked shot) - This guy is proving why the Jazz picked him No. 3 overall. He may not have the flashy moves and crossovers like Chris Paul, but he's looking like the right kind of point guard for this Jazz team. I like that he's taking charge of the offense and he's gradually looking more and more like the Jason Kidd-style point guard many expected him to become.

* Carlos Boozer: 18 pts, 12 reb (9-13 FG, 2 assists, steal) - Six of Boozer's rebounds were on the offensive glass. Any playing time Boozer can get is a plus and if he stays healthy during the preseason, he might be OK when it counts, too.

* Rafael Araujo: 7 rebounds (3 offensive), 2 steals, 4 turnovers, 4 fouls - OK, he missed all 4 of his shots, but the 7 rebounds are a nice make-up for the 0-fer. He's gotta cut down on the fouls (which is supposedly his biggest weakness), but I think he could be a solid, Greg Foster-type backup center for the Jazz.

Sour notes

* Defense (or lack thereof) - Maurice Evans. I like the guy, he's a solid role player, but he scored 10+ points in only 2 of his last 17 games with Detroit last year. He had 12 points on Tuesday, which, on it's own isn't so bad. But throw in that Luke Walton (11 points) and Sasha Vujacic (13) and we see problems here.

* Slow go for Kirilenko - 12 minutes, 4 points, rebound. Plus, the Salt Lake Tribune reports that Kirilenko's back might be acting up again. Great ...

* Gordan Giricek: 6 points (3-10 FG, 4 reb, 3 ast) - I'm not wild about Matt Harpring's ability to miss layups, but at least he tries to fight for some points and not fall in love with the jump shot. Giricek is supposedly healthy, but he's played awful for the last 2 years and should not be starting. We'll have to see if Brewer develops into a viable option at the 2 guard spot.

Gilbert Arenas on cooking, getting paid and laundry.

Sixers/Suns just ended on ESPN2 with the Sixers edging by, 103-100. It's NBA preseason, but it was a pretty good game, especially the furious comeback by the Sixers. Few things I noticed:

* During the broadcast, multiple points were made about how the Suns have to play better defense in 2006-07 if they want to get to the Finals. Despite all the talk about how Steve Nash has improved on defense and the Suns are making it a priority this year, Nash still looks like he couldn't guard Rick Brunson (and he didn't).

* Rodney Carney tore it up! 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and a block. Oh yeah, and the game-winning 3-pointer. Willie Green should watch out, because his replacement might be a few seats down on the bench.

* Amare Stoudemire looked OK. If he gets a consistent 15-foot jumper, he'll be the closest thing to a Karl Malone-Elvin Hayes-Shawn Kemp hybrid we'll ever see. He supposedly worked on his jumper while rehabbing, but all I saw today was a guy trying (unsuccesfully) to dunk on everyone.

No, it's not the theme song for a gay rights march. That's is actually the "theme song" for the Jazz in 2006-07. According to the Jazz Web site, "The song will be featured in team advertising and in arena during games." Have a listen and be warned ... it couldn't sound more gay. I know when I hear it, I can only picture a cheesy 80s style music video with former Jazz guard "playing" the saxaphone Jay Humphries and Bobby Hansen on the drums.

After those couple of cute preseason games in Europe, as part of the NBA Europe series, we get some real NBA action back in the USA! Sure, it's meaningless NBA preseason to some, but to me it's the start of another year of headaches and agony. I'm interested to see how the Northern Exposure version of the Suns looks this year (aka the Raptors). Chris Bosh was an all-star last year on an awful team. If he can be a part of the offense in Toronto like Amare Stoudemire was in Phoenix, watch out. I think Bosh is one of the most fundamentally skilled young bigs in the league.

Stats
Height/Weight: 6-6/215 lbs
Games played: 23 (0 starts)
PPG (2005-06 season): 3.4
RPG (2005-06 season): 1.7
Blocks (2005-06 season): 16

What he's good at
It's hard to say what C.J. is good at ... he hardly played last year. Sure, he appeared in 23 games, but he only played about 10 minutes a month. Not exactly quality time to get acclimated to the NBA pace. C.J. had a good finish to the season, scoring 32 points in the final 3 games (10.6 ppg for all you math majors out there). Granted, 23 of those points came against the Warriors in the season finale, but scoring 23 points in an NBA game as an 18-year-old ain't easy. The biggest knock on Miles was his confidence (or lack thereof) and him questioning his decision to sign with the Jazz rather than go play a few years at Texas. Miles was helped tremendously, confidence-wise, by playing in the NBA Developmental League from January to February.

What he's not-so-good at
Much like what he's good at, it's hard to say what Miles is bad at. My guess would be playing major minutes for a playoff-type team (aka the Jazz this year). Reports are he's rounded into form athletically, which is good to hear. As long as he's not playing more than 10-12 minutes a night, Miles' flaws shouldn't be too exposed.

What to expect in 2006-07
The skills that Miles has, although raw, are enough to make any Jazz fan salivate. Rare is the player that is both athletic and hard-working that comes through Utah, but it seems Miles may just be that type. You could see him getting a serious look if Gordan Giricek struggles. I'm predicting about 4.5 ppg and 3.4 rpg this year for Miles. The stats aren't eye-popping, but I think his play this year might be.

NBA.com gives the Jazz some love, particularly to Deron Williams. I know I'm keeping AK-47 on my Sportsline league team ...

Everything I've been reading in the off-season about AK-47 says he's bulked up, worked on his shot and is ready for a breakout year. NBA.com lists Kirilenko as being 6-9, 227 pounds and I can't imagine he's added more than maybe 5-10 pounds of muscle. In addition, Kirilenko has worked on improving his off-season diet and nutrition.

All of this is really great to hear, but my concern is that a heavier Kirilenko may not be a better Kirilenko. AK-47 is one of the fastest baseline-to-baseline players in the NBA. How many times have we seen him miss a shot on offense, the other team gets a fast break, and AK-47 somehow gets back quick enough to block the other team's shot? It's something Kirilenko pulls off at least one or two times a week during the season.

Kirilenko is at his best when he's able to use his wiry wingspan and athleticism on defense and pulls off one of those herky-jerky shots on offense around the basket. My concern is that AK-47's extra weight might not make him as athletic as he was the last few seasons. But hey, if all this work helps him make the All-Star team again and shut down Crymelo Anthony a few times a year, I'm all for it.

Sonics PF Nick Collison is one of the hardest-working guys in the NBA. As such, he's willing to work hard for his big payday. In other Sonics news, Kareem Rush is still in the NBA (sort of) ... Looking for a payday, but not finding it -- Michael Pietrus, Dahntay Jones, Beno Uterus ... Being a Knick has finally cracked Malik Rose ... I took a Spanish class, but I know I couldn't explain what "Jail Blazers" means in Spanish any better. ... Does playing zone defense in the NBA make you retarded? ... The Magic's arena needs a new corporate sponsor. For now, the kids are calling it "The O-rena." How creative!

Not much happening with the Jazz today ... here's a quick rundown:

* Jerry Sloan doesn't mind the new NBA ball and David Benoit finds a home

* Counting 1,2,3 with rookie Ronnie Brewer

* Derek Fisher + 3-pointers = more wins this year?

Interesting stuff from Portland, namely that Darius Miles and Zach Randolph aren't on the team's tickets this year. Also, Miles finds playing pro basketball tiresome. Everyone together now ... AWWWWWWWW!!! ... We know the Bobcats have had trouble with injuries, but now coaches are casualties? ... It's really hard to hate Chauncey Billups. ... Nellie goes back to basics with the Warriors ... Live, from New York! It's blame the ex-coach! Starring Stephon Marbury! ... KG as part owner? And can someone pick up Eddie Griffin? ... And lets call it a day with NBA Executive VP Stu Jackson talking about his new balls

A quick rundown of what's happening with the Jazz today:

* Matt Harpring is trying not to do anything stupid ... always a good plan

* Two different takes on Dee Brown: 1. Go out there and work hard and 2. Just get your butt kicked by a better player/former college teammate

* Jerry Sloan cleans out his closet

* Stop me if you've heard this one before: Carlos Boozer is healthy and he likes playing for Utah

Stats
Height/Weight: 6-11/255 lbs
Games played: 79 (41 starts)
PPG (2005-06 season): 5.6
RPG (2005-06 season): 4.2
Blocks (2005-06 season): 27

What he's good at
Jarron Collins has made a niche for himself on the Jazz as a hard-working player who tries his best to get the most out of his ability. You can pretty much figure that out when a guy has career highs of 22 points and 14 rebounds. The fact Collins has managed to get two different guaranteed NBA contracts during his career is a testament to his willingness to play within his limits and improve himself enough each season to make his paycheck worthwhile. Although Collins had only 27 blocks last year, it was a career high and he posted career highs in rebounds (333) and assists (97). Jarron won't block a lot of shots, but he plays good position defense and doesn't back away from a challenge. He gives the Jazz a different look at center when Okur falls asleep on defense each night.


What he's not-so-good at
Anything overly athletic or quick is pretty much lost on Collins. He's an out-and-out banger in the post and a bit clumsy with the ball (although more graceful than Ostertag ever was). Since Collins is the at times the only guy who will battle on defense in the post for the Jazz, he gets in foul trouble often (252 fouls last year - 2nd on Jazz).


What to expect in 2006-07
It wouldn't be a stretch to expect another Collins-like season this year (6.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg), but I'm thinking he might get closer to 7.1 ppg and 5.5 rpg this year. The Jazz rewarded him with a new contract and the Spurs showed interest in him, so there is talent there that Collins can still use. He always shows up to camp in shape, does what he can do on the floor and has always been on of Jerry Sloan's favorites. If the Jazz are to make it back to the playoffs, either he or Rafael Araujo will have to provide decent scoring when Okur is out of the game.

If you haven't heard this at SlamOnline.com, it's funny. Kevin Garnett gives his thoughts on why some college players suck, cooking, yard work and direct deposit ...

A quick rundown of what's new in the NBA today:
Shane Battier: When you PEAK, you win ... Allan Houston, welcome to Bristol (maybe) ... Ron Artest takes his "other" show on the road ... After reviewing the Knicks train wreck roster, Isiah Thomas realizes he might need some help ... Tyronn Lue (aka MushMouth), take those warm-ups off ... The Suns' resident shot doctor is working with new PG Marcus Banks ... Keep an eye on Delonte West, I think he's going to have a great year

Today's story by the Salt Lake Tribune indicates that Dwight Manley, the agent for former Jazz PF Karl Malone, purchased Malone's home in Utah for roughly half of its original price. The house, described as a "17,230-square-foot trophy home," has everything you'd need, such as a pool and water slide, indoor shooting range, basketball courts, home gym and a five-car heated garage and five fireplaces!!

How much did Manley pay for this little treasure? Though the house was appraised at more than $5 million, Manley shelled out a mere $2.75 million to purchase it at an auction. Manley is expected to turn around and sell it for a big gain.

ESPN.com had an interesting article about which little-known players will have a breakout season much like the Suns' Boris Diaw did last season.

First candidate: Carlos Arroyo (Orlando)

As a Jazz fan, I feel like I've heard this one before (say around the start of the 2003-04 season). Arroyo has great offensive talent and has some of the best moves with the ball that you'll find in the NBA. The problem with Arroyo is he struggles to do things without the ball and he often will spend so much time trying to break his man down one-on-one that he forces up a bad shot or makes an even worse pass. His defense is also nothing to write home about. He's generally healthy each season (and should be this year), but how he fits in with PG Jameer Nelson and how Brian Hill divides minutes between the two will be a question. Arroyo, like most NBA players, is at his best when he's starting or playing major minutes.

Second candidate: Gerald Wallace (Charlotte)

What an exciting young player! But he's much like AK-47 in that he is athletic and a defensive menace, but he doesn't have a go-to move or a dependable jump shot (career 47.8 FG pct and 25.6 3-pt FG pct). Throwing out my Jazz bias, I'd have to say Gerald is probably not at AK-47's level as far as all-around ability, but you can see the Bobcats have a team that could allow Wallace to showcase his talents if Sean May is healthy, Adam Morrison isn't a bust, Raymond Felton develops ...

Third candidate: J.R. Smith (Denver)

I am not a fan of this guy, but then again, I'm not a huge fan of his team, either. He falls into that Arroyo category in that he was supposed to be a "surprise" player (except his surprise season was supposed to be last year). Problem was, he did a great job of taking himself out of the Hornets playing rotation with bad practice habits, worse defense and a bad attitude. While his former coach in New Orleans, Byron Scott, is no NBA rocket-scientist, I feel that Scott did the right thing in benching a player that was exhibiting his behavior. Denver needs 3-point shooting and Smith shot 37 percent from outside and is already boasts a career 31.6 percentage from 3-point range. If he matures and can co-exist with a volatile coach like George Karl, who knows what could happen.

Fourth candidate: Hakim Warrick (Memphis)


Has anyone actually seen this guy play? We all know he was exciting to watch back at Syracuse, but he appeared in 68 games last year, played about 10 minutes and averaged 4 points. That's not too shabby and with Pau Gasol's injury, Warrick should see a little more production. But you've gotta think that Mike Fratello would go with Eddie Jones, Mike Miller and Brian Cardinal as his top scorers than Warrick.

Fifth & Sixth candidates: Raymond Felton (Charlotte) & Beno Udrih (San Antonio)
The guy who wrote this section for ESPN.com says Felton was second on his rookie of the year ballot?!!! Felton had a great finish to the season (16.6 ppg the last three months of the season) and showed improvment, but I don't think scoring a ton on a bad team means you're poised for a breakout season. I like Felton and he's a key part of what Charlotte's trying to build, but he needs some work on his shot selection.

Beno Udrih (aka Beno Uterus) is another one of those international Spurs players that seems to be able to do it all. Problem is, he can't get consistent minutes. When he did play last year (10.9 mpg in 54 games), you could tell that the drop in minutes from his rookie season (14.4 in 80 gms) had gotten to him. He seemed to think a little too much on the court and was more concerned with making plays to keep him on the floor rather than just making good plays.

Seventh candidate: Luol Deng (Chicago)

One of my co-workers, Dan, is an unabashed Duke fan. So, once every few days, I hear about how great Deng is going to be this season with Chicago. While Dukies have been more garbage than gold in the NBA, give credit where credit is due. Deng has improved each season and has a decent jumper and plays good defense to go along with his athletic style of play. After Kirk Hinrich's strong play in the World Basketball Championships, Deng may be fighting off both Hinrich and Ben Gordon for top billing. But make no mistake: If Deng averages over 20 points this season, the Bulls could be on their way back to being a championship contender.

Well, this is my first attempt at joining the blogosphere. I hope to follow in the tradition of several NBA blogs that I enjoy, such as The NBA Source, Basketbawful and others that I'm sure I'm missing. Stay tuned to see how well this goes ...