JazzFan 4 Life

A quick look at today's Jazz-related news/headlines:

• Paul Millsap is thriving this year, despite not having any plays called for him.
• Larry Miller thinks something is wrong if Jerry Sloan doesn't win the NBA Coach of the Year award. You can read my thoughts on this topic here.
• Ronnie Brewer enjoyed the annual Leapin' Leaners charity benefit. I'm sure he'd enjoy some playing time, too (4 minutes the last 5 games).
• A good column from HoopsWorld.com says the Jazz will surpass the Spurs for the Western Conference's third seed. I like the idea, but I don't think it will happen. Utah has played incredible this season, but they're likely a little too young to know what it takes to close out the season strong and finish in third.
• AUDIO: Larry Miller discusses the state of the team, other guys stepping up and Karl Malone's departure on 1280 The Zone.
  
• VIDEO: Finally, some great video of ex-Jazzman Greg Ostertag playing with about as much heart as we're all used to. Except he's playing PING PONG (and getting abused by a kid during the game)!
  

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.

Let's see what's going on in Jazz land today:

* I've always thought that when the Gordan Giricek trade went through in 2004, the Jazz seemed to get the best of the deal, especially when you consider the big man heavy 2004-05 roster (Okur, Boozer, Humphries) that would have allowed him to be a lights-out 3-point shooter. Throw in the fact the Jazz gave him a 4-year deal after 2004 and he seemed to be the shooting guard of the team's future.

The 2004-05 season was a wash and Giricek was lost in the shuffle of bad play that year. He also seemed to wear on Jerry Sloan because he often broke off plays and didn't play defense every time down the floor. These were warts in Giricek's game when he played in Memphis and Orlando, and they still exist.

Now comes news that Giricek didn't play in the opener against Houston because coach Jerry Sloan says Giricek hasn't worked hard enough to warrant time.

"I don't have anything against him personally," the Jazz coach added. "I just think it's important that he works. He's got a lot of talent, and I think he wastes it. Right now, he's wasting some of it."

Giricek can score and make some shots, but I think he's wearing out his welcome in Utah. He didn't get along with Arroyo when he was here. Arroyo, coincidentally, couldn't get along with Sloan at times and now he's a backup point in Orlando. I wouldn't be surprised if the Jazz try to ship Giricek to Charlotte, Atlanta or some other outpost for a second rounder.

* The Jazz won't have set captains this year, but instead Sloan will nominate different players each game.

* This has nothing to do with the Jazz, but a recent NBA.com survey of rosters, Warriors SG Jason Richardson is Mr. Average ... well at least in terms of height, weight and age. Most interesting fact from the study: NBA players are shrinking, getting lighter and younger.