<div align="center"> <font color="Navy">Utah Jazz</font> (11-20) at <font color="LightBlue">Memphis Grizzlies</font> (15-17)</div> When: Monday 3rd January, 8:00 PM (EST) Where: Fedex Forum Local TV: FSO / FSN National TV: NBATV <div align="center">Likely Starters</div> <div align="center"><font color="Navy">Jazz</font> <font size="1">Keith McLeod, Raja Bell, Matt Harpring, Carlos Boozer, Curtis Borcahrdt</font></div> <div align="center"><font color="LightBlue">Grizzlies</font></div> <div align="center"> <font size="1">Jason Williams, Mike Miller, James Posey, Pau Gasol, Lorenzen Wright</font></div> Injured List <font color="Navy">Jazz:</font> Andrei Kirilenko, Jarron Collins, Howard Eisley <font color="LightBlue">Grizzlies:</font> Andre Emmett, Brian Cardinal, Antonio Burks Key Matchup Carlos Boozer vs. Pau Gasol Boozer has had to carry an enormous load for the Jazz without Kirilenko. Every game he is expected to lead the team in scoring and rebounding. He needs to have big games for Utah to win, and Pau Gasol wont be making things easier. Boozer must pick up his defense, rebound and get the garbage points. He should look for better options than the mid range jump shot. Gasol will be a tough matchup for Boozer, he will have to play aggressive without picking up fouls, not easy for Boozer. Prediction Jazz are struggling, Grizzlies are playing well. Jazz aren't rested after playing Houston the day before, and don't have much chance in this one. Jazz 84 Grizzlies 102
I hope this game isn't blacked out on T.V., but it probably will. But I think the Jazz can win this game. Oh who am I kidding, we are going to loose, probably get beaten down and drug to the parking lot and spanked again. Memphis by 10. Maybe this reverse psychology will work
It wasn't blacked out for me, but yeah, I live in Utah. The Jazz... they are just... shorthanded. They don't have the players and the talent or skills they need. They have no stars, now that Kirilenko is injured. Yes Boozer can put up some points, but he isn't someone that can lead a team to victories. Even our team chemistry sucks, which is rare for the Jazz who have had very good chemistry for as long as I can remember, but the last few years have been different... and, Keith McCleod sucks. Sorry for asking, but I haven't been following the Jazz or NBA as much as usual the last two weeks. Why is Keith starting over Carlos? Well, both didn't play well at all tonight. Keith did pretty good against Sacromento tho. I feel bad for Jerry Sloan. One of the best coaches ever, in my opinion, with the worst team in the NBA... it's amazing that he doesn't have the worst record in the NBA. It's about time that he wins that Coach of the Year award.
I don't think we have the wost team in the NBA, nor does Mcleod suck...... Mcleod has been playing better than Arroyo, and that's why he's starting. We just need Kirilenko back, and need to get back in rhythm. The rhythm we had at the start of the season. Anyways, I was at work, so I wasn't able to watch the game. But, looks like I didn't miss anything special..... Another close game till aroundhalftime, then the Jazz blow it again.
Well the game wasn't blacked out for me, so that is one of the first Jazz games I've seen in a few weeks. Now to what I noticed in the game, first off we should of won this game, we would of won it if he had AK. One of the first things that bugged me is that on the screens, they never rub shoulders; anyone who has ever played basketball knows when you come around a screen you are supposed to rub shoulders. I guess Okur, Boozer, and the rest of the crew is afraid they will get hurt. While I am on screens, I want to say the Jazz needs to hit Harpring and Giricek rolling of the screen for the quick shot, it worked everytime they did it, yet they didn't do it enough. Also, can Carlos Boozer hit a free throw, please. I think he was 4 for 8, but still that is 50%. Also we seem to pass the ball too much, most of the time I don't think teams pass the ball enough, this team passes it too much, its like no one wants to take the shot and then someone seems to have to take a shot since they are 3 seconds on the shot clock. Also, Arroyo seemed to play better tonight, better than McLeod; yet he wasn't perfect. I think I noticed why Sloan doesn't play him a lot, he seems to have his mind made on what he is going to do before he crosses half court. I noticed one time Giricek or Harpring one had got open but Arroyo did not see him as he was trying to force it inside to Boozer. Also it seemed like everytime we made a 3 pointer or a run, the Grizz would come back more powerful, the refs wasn't perfect missing calls on both sides of the ball. Now to the positives: Kris Humphries impressed me, he had a nice show and go for a monsterous dunk and a nice jumper, and on the defensive end he had a "Kirilenko" Block on a shot. Carlos Boozer's defense seemed to be better tonight, in the first half he basically kept Gasol in check; in the second half he got in a bit of foul trouble and Okur took over for Booz on Gasol and Gasol took off. Okur was 2 for 3 from down town, nice to see him take some from out there and hit them. Speaking of three's Arroyo hit three three's; is he our three point specialist we have been looking for? The negatives out way the positives, but I think we could of won this game if we would have had Kirilenko. I also agree with Cody 7k when he said we don't have a star on the team, when it gets tough everyone is looking to someone else and no one is stepping up to take the shot. Arroyo seemed to try to do that tonight, but it was just a little too late. Maybe we will win the next game?!?
Jazz 82 Grizzlies 92 Good posts . This game was slightly higher than Utah's usual standard, despite the loss. Arroyo playing 22 minutes was good to see, I don't want to see him rot away on the bench, beacuse he is a good player. Just sometimes struggles with the team concept. He could improve on 3 assists, but 15 points and 3-3 from 3 was great. Giricek, much like Arroyo, is working his way out of the doghouse and played 38 minutes (although Raja Bell is injured). 11 points, 7 assists in those 38 minutes. Not bad for him, but room for improvement. Boozer played well, 20 points and 15 rebounds, but as Spark22 said, he needs to hit his FT's. 71% so far this season, definetely could be improved, as he is 17th in the league in FT's attempted and shoots just under 6 FT's per game. Something needs to be done about the 3rd quarter of every game. I don't know why, probably something to do with the way the subs are used, but the other teams seem to always outscore Utah by 10+ in the quarter. Utah as a team actually had one more assist than the Grizzlies, which is good to see as the Jazz were struggling to make assists recently, especially the Guards. I thought Keith McLeod could've played better, 0 points in 26 minutes. Although he did get 6 assists and 2 steals. 82 points is rarely enough to win in today's NBA game, and if McLeod had made some of his shots, the complexion of the game could've been a lot different (same applies for Boozer's missed freebies). Raul Lopez DNP, coach's decision. He should be getting minutes, only problem is he is quick to get fouls. But DNP? I'm not sure what he done, unless it was something to do with Arroyo's play. Utah should look to attempt more 3 pointers, they rarely shoot more than 10 a game, and have guys who can knock them down. Okur, Harpring, Giricek, Arroyo, Humphries and Lopez. Scoring more per game wouldn't hurt, and if your score goes up in 3's it helps a lot. Just look at Seattle. Latest return date for Kirilenko is January 8, his return will really help them, especially in games like this one.
