1. Outlaw sucks. Stop giving him extensive minutes. We've got plenty of people who can score the ball, so I'd much rather see us sacrifice a little offense with Batum in Travis' place and get much better defense and rebounding on the floor. Ronnie FREAKIN Brewer was absolutely dominating Travis. As a side note, I've taken shits that were better basketball players than Ronnie Brewer. 2. When the other team is constantly doubling the post the second that player puts the ball on the floor, why not take advantage of their fronting and jumping the passing lanes and do a little drive and kick or run someone off of screens? For a long while, McMuffin reverted back to his Zach Hole offense of a few years ago where our point guard dribbles the ball for 14 seconds of the 24 second clock, throws it into the post and prays that something good happens. 3. If you are going to play Brandon Roy 43 minutes in the first game of a back-to-back, at least GIVE HIM THE FUCKING BALL IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. Yes, I know LaMarcus was hot, but let Brandon operate and get Utah in foul trouble or get some points in the paint. My stomach was turning with us having him out there and not having him touch the ball for eight straight possessions while Blake and Aldridge were playing hot potato on the other side of the floor. 4. When you are cutting into the other team's lead with less than 4 minutes in the game, but Deron Williams is absolutely ass-raping whoever you put on him, send a double-team at him to take the ball out of his hands (see: what Orlando did to Brandon Roy the other night at the end of the game). It was absolutely nauseating to watch us sit back on defense and let Williams dribble until there were 6 seconds on the shot clock, drive the ball into the lane and either make an easy shot or lay it off to a teammate for an equally easy shot. Memo to McMuffin: if the other team scores after you do every time, it's hard to cut into their lead. Ugh. -Pop
Outlaw only received 14 minutes tonight. Not sure how that is "extensive", but since it was the first point in your long post, and it was wrong, I decided to stop reading it at that point.
Oh, and let me just make a little preemptive strike against the inevitable person who will respond with "Take it easy, Utah is a good team" thing. The Jazz have something lame like 4 or 5 wins against teams with records above .500. And two of those are against us. This is the same team that lost by 17 to New Jersey at home. They are not good. We made them look good tonight. -Pop
He played extensive minutes in that pivotal point in the late first quarter into the second quarter when he was getting abused. And when Utah grew their lead by quite a bit. I'm sure Travis (+/-) stat from tonight was through the roof. You're right. I should have worded that criticism more precisely, but there was no reason to keep Travis out there early when he was being dominated on the defensive end and not providing a lick of offense to make it worth it. -Pop
Outlaw only played 14 minutes because I'm pretty sure he injured himself when he landed on his shoulder in the third. He went out after that and I think he only came back for a few seconds.
0 points, 0-4 from the floor, one turnover and three fouls in 14 minutes. You're right - he was a stud tonight. -Pop
Did I say he was good tongiht? No. But you didn't say he "sucked tonight" either. You said he sucks. At that is just disrespectful, and stupid.
I'm pretty sure it was 3. They beat Denver (without Melo), Portland (first time around), SA (without Manu or TP), and us again.
Man, I hope he makes it back for tomorrow night. We're going to need someone out there to throw no-arc dart-shots at the backboard from 20 feet out after that predictable one dribble and fadeaway. -Pop
Other than Roy and Aldridge, who did play well tonight for us? I agree, Nate made some strange moves in this game... probably at least partially because we were getting no calls for the first 3 qs and he was visibly pissed. I think the team deserves as much or more blame than Nate for this one. But again, for the love of god, no more Rodriguez/Rudy/Travis/Frye/Przy. Pleeeeeease, Sarge, not unless we are up by 40.
Our defense can be good, and for the most part it is. I think McMillan put together excellent defensive game plans against Miami, Chicago and New Orleans (at home) this year. Absolutely loved how we used Aldridge to shadow their point guard and take them out of their offense by forcing the ball out of their playmaker's hands and force them to use more clock. Tonight, we let Deron Williams pick us apart. -Pop
Minimal money for what he brings in terms of production. If you want people to read a rant that you obviously put time into writing, I would advise not opening it with a black/white blast toward a player who has been and is still productive. I'm guessing you had some good points, but I'll never read them based on your own bias being shown in literally the first sentence.
Really? I just saw him sitting on the bench or standing there with his arms crossed. Did I miss him getting a 'T' in protest of the crappy calls and non-calls his players were receiving?
