Bleacher Report - Articles by Diana Allen

Utah's Kyle Korver To Have Knee Surgery, Injury Beat Goes on for Jazz

Diana Allen — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:31:29 -0400

According to Utah_Jazz at Twitter. Kyler Korver is having knee surgery to remove a bone spur. The surgery will cause him to miss the beginning of the season for the Jazz.

The Jazz once again are being hit by the injury bug. The Jazz are without CJ Miles who had surgery on his thumb. Ronnie Brewer is out with back spasms and Ronnie Price with a sore hamstring. Plus Matt Harpring continues to nurse a sore ankle and knee at home in Georgia.

Hopefully the Jazz get the injuries out of their systems and not have a repeat of last year which was a season laden by injuries.

The Utah Jazz Intra-Team Scrimmage

Diana Allen — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:49:10 -0400

What could be better than sitting four rows up from the floor at the ESA?

Jazz players all lined up in chairs being interviewed by Craig Bolerjack. Fans got to hear first hand from the players their expectations for the season, how their offseasons went, and what they did on their preseason trip to Europe (there seemed to be some inside joke between Ronnie Price and a few other players about a card game, maybe that they all kept laughing about).

Ronnie Price called out the rookies of the team to do what is now a traditional dance off. The dance off was between the reigning champion Kosta Koufos, Wes Matthews, Goran Suton, and Eric Maynor.

Suton and Maynor were quickly eliminated but Koufos and Matthews had to go two rounds to determine the winner. Kofous won the crowd over with his dancing skills and won the dancing crown.

Check out the Utah Jazz on Twitter for highlights of the dance off.

A new addition to the Jazz's annual scrimmage was the taping of three Jazz Ticket commercials. Fans at the scrimmage were able to participate in doing commercial shots with Jazz players. Great laughs abounded with Jazz players hawking tickets, Jerry Sloan being upstaged by a break dancer, and the Jazz players acting as human billboards.

Make sure to watch the Jazz this year to see the creativity of the Jazz players (they are the creative geniuses who came up with the ideas for the commercials).

Fans were then treated to watch the players warm up, running drills up and down the court. What's more fun then watching D-Will, Boozer, and AK running a break together during the warm-ups?

David Locke, the new radio voice of the Utah Jazz held a Q&A session with the crowd. Questions ranging in degree from what flavor gum does Boozer chew, to where will the Jazz finish in the West were asked by the fans.

Locke feels the Jazz if healthy have the talent to finish as one of the top three teams in the West. Locke commented on how the Jazz finished with 48 wins with all the injuries they had last year squeaking into the playoffs, but with a healthy roster they easily could have won around 56 games.

As if interviews, dance-off, commercial shootings, warm-ups, and drills weren't enough, there was actually a scrimmage held last night. The Blue Team starting five was Williams, Boozer, Memo, AK, and Price. The White Team starting five was Maynor, Brewer, Matthews, Millsap, and Kofous.

The first half was competitive with neither team taking a lead larger than about four. In the second half, Williams was let loose leading the Blue team on a 27-5 run. The final score was 70-46.

The stars of the scrimmage were easily Williams and Price. Williams finished with a game high 14 points. Ronnie Price added 10 points and some high energy defense. If you thought Ronnie looked good in the last game of the season against the Lakers you should just see how he played in the scrimmage!

How much would you be willing to see all of this and have this much interaction with Jazz players...you'd think you'd have to be a high paying season ticket holder.

Well, guess what? It was FREE. The amazing dream night cost fans nothing at all. Thanks, Utah Jazz.

Make sure to follow the Jazz on Twitter and Facebook so you won't miss out on the next big Jazz event.

Utah Jazz Match Portland's Offer For Paul Millsap

Diana Allen — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:25:58 -0400

The deal was considered "toxic", by the Portland Trailblazers. The upfront money was considered lethal. A small market team like the Utah Jazz with modest owners would not even consider matching the deal according to much of the media.

The Utah Jazz however did the contrary today by matching the toxic deal. The deal is 32 million dollars for four years, averaging eight million a year. That is exactly what the Jazz thought they'd have to pay to keep Millsap according to the Jazz President, Randy Rigby.

Ten million dollars is due to Millsap within a week of the signing other than that it averages six to seven million a year.

Millsap averaged 13.5 points and over nine rebounds a game in the 2008-2009 season. Millsap filled it nicely for the often injured Carlos Boozer. Millsap even had a 19 game streak of double doubles.

Carlos Boozer Opts out According to Utah Radio Station

Diana Allen — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:42:06 -0400

According to 1320 KFAN, the official radio station of the Utah Jazz, Carlos Boozer will opt out of his contract but plans to stay with the Jazz.

Boozer said he is a cornerstone of this team, along with Deron Williams, and that he brought this team back into the playoffs and back into prominence.

As a Jazz fan, I hope he is as trustworthy with Utah as he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

During the locker room clean-out for the Jazz, Boozer said he performed well in the playoffs.

Really Boozer? In Game Three, yes, you played well. But please, tell the Jazz fans, what other game did you impact? Where were you in Game Five, the elimination game?

He scored 10 points on 3-for-7 shooting. What cornerstone of a franchise takes seven shots in an elimination game?

Here are Boozer's numbers over the last three years in elimination games:

2007 vs. San Antonio Spurs—9 PTS, 3-for-10 FG
2008 vs. Los Angeles Lakers—12 PTS, 5-for-16 FG
2009 vs. Los Angeles Lakers—10 PTS, 3-for-8 FG

Those are hardly max-money, cornerstone-quality performances. If you were the Jazz, would you give Boozer more money for that?

Due to injury (real or imagined), his matador defense, and his lackluster playoff performance, Boozer does not deserve a raise, and Utah doesn't deserve a player like him.

Compare Boozer to his backup, Paul Millsap.

Millsap was quoted in the Salt Lake Tribune, saying:

"I want to say [coming off the bench] wasn't difficult," Millsap said, "but at times, never knowing what was going to happen kind of weighs on you, never knowing really how many minutes you're going to play, when you're going to go into the game, when you're going to come out."

Whether he winds up as a starter or a reserve next season, Millsap said he was "going to continue to be humble and accept my role."

Millsap is in line for a significant raise from the $797,581 he made this season, though the Jazz can match any offer from another team.

"I'll fit in anywhere, seeing how hard I work and what I bring to the table," Millsap said. "I feel like if I go wherever I go, I'm going to give it my all."

Why would you not sign Millsap, who is humble, a hard worker, and willing to do whatever he needs to for the good of the team?

He is a much better option than Boozer, who announced while he was injured that he would opt out and "get his raise no matter what." When asked if he would accept a backup role after coach Jerry Sloan thought about bringing Boozer off the bench, he said "I am a starter, period."

Send Boozer to Detroit. According to Pace Mannion, a former Jazz player and current Jazz TV commentator, there are rumors in the Jazz locker room that Boozer already has a deal, or is close to having a deal, with the Pistons.

The Utah Jazz and their fans don't deserve what Boozer brings to the table, cornerstone player or not.

Deron Williams:The Heart of a Champion

Diana Allen — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:53:07 -0400

Many have questioned Deron Williams' leadership ability the last month of the regular season. The Jazz seemingly fell apart when everything was supposed to be coming together.

The Jazz ended their season with all of their team "healthy", at least all the players were back in the lineup. This was when the Jazz were suppose to show what they are made of.

The Jazz failed and they failed miserably. The last 18 games with everyone healthy, the Jazz went a lousy 7-11. Boozer had a hard time coming back. That killed the chemistry. AK couldn't adjust to less touches, and began his pouting routine again.

Williams, a should be All-Star, should rise above this, right? Pull his team together, see the bigger picture? That never happened. Not until now.

Deron, while down 0-2 to the top seeded Lakers, has not lost hope and has left everything on the court. In Game 1 Deron's shooting wasn't there for him. Deron however more than made up for it with 17 assists and only two turnovers. The rest of the Jazz looked scared but made a game of it in the second half, pulling to within nine after being down over 20.

In Game 2 Deron shined again. Deron complied nine assists to go along with 35 points. Deron also shot six 3-pointers. Deron has the ability that only a few select players in this league have. Deron can turn to another gear come playoff time. Deron can play with ice water in his veins and a killer instinct in his heart.The Jazz loss Game 2 but played much more competitively than in Game 1.

Who knows, a few favorable calls, favorable bounces and if Memo Okur could play maybe just maybe they could have pulled out the W last night.

The series now moves to Salt Lake were most of the time the Jazz are unbeatable. Lets hope the Jazz as a team can pull it together and pull out two victories to make a series of this matchup.

Deron deserves it. Deron deserves more than what his teammates are giving him. One can hope that Brewer, Korver, Millsap, AK and even in a way Boozer can grow up, mature a little bit and match their leader, Deron Williams intensity.

Which NBA Playoff Stars Have the Heart of a Champion?

Diana Allen — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:36:48 -0400

The Playoffs have started and the stars have began to emerge. Experts say you really don't know much about a player until the Playoffs, until they have been tested in the Post Season. This year a few players although still early in the playoffs and early in the first round have shown the Heart of a Champion.

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Derrick Rose: The Best Young Point Guard in the NBA

Diana Allen — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:46:01 -0400

The debate over the last few years for the best young point guard has been between Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Mentions of Tony Parker are few and far between and this past year there weren't many mentions of Derrick Rose.

Chris Paul and Deron Williams are consistent. They will give it there all in every ball game they play. They make their teams better than they should be as evident when they have had to miss games.

Chris Paul led his team to a tough seven-game series loss to San Antonio last year in the West Semifinals. Paul, however, did not have a monster game and was all but absent in the fourth quarter when the game was on the line.

Deron Williams has lead his team to three playoff series victories—most notably a Game Seven on the road in Houston—his first time in the playoffs.

Deron made a clutch shot against GS to put Game Two into overtime and eventually win the game and the series in five.

Deron was the only player on his team to show up against the Spurs in 2007 and the Lakers in 2008, he doesn't back down. Williams, however, is not able to carry the load by himself and his leadership skills have been questioned.

Derrick Rose has ice-water in his veins.

Rose tied Kareem Abdul Jabar's rookie record for most points in a first playoff game. Rose was clutch down the stretch, getting the ball to the open man or hitting a big shot, which lead to the overtime victory in Game One at Boston.

How many rookies can lead their team into the defending World Champions house and play the best game of their career to date and actually win the ball game.

Game Two was just as competitive in Boston.

Rose, hampered by foul trouble, couldn't be as aggressive as he was in Game One but the Bulls so full of confidence due to Rose's phenomenal Game One nearly pulled off the unlikely victory.

Williams, Paul, and Parker better watch out. There is a new point guard in the league and it looks like he won't back down from anyone.

Utah Jazz - How I Wish You Were Here

Diana Allen — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:21:24 -0400

Dear Utah Jazz,

You broke my heart. I thought you should know that you broke my heart. I feel like I hardly know you anymore. Please tell me that you have been replaced by imposters and the real Utah Jazz team will show its face any day now.

The season has been rough; I understand that. No one expected Boozer to miss 45 games, for Deron to miss 14 games, and AK, Memo, and Millsap to be banged up all season long. Injuries happen, there is nothing that anyone can do about them. But you were strong during your injuries.

I was worried when Deron went down in a pre-season game against Chicago. I was worried that we wouldn't win a game until he was back. But you did it; you carried on without Deron. The bench was strong, Knight and Price filled in nicely, and Boozer was the leader. All was well.

Then disaster struck. The unbelievable happened. Boozer went down. Boozer and Williams both out at the same time—what could be worse?

Then Deron came back, maybe a little too early. "We'll be ok" I told myself. "Deron can lead this team, he can help the other starters, and the role players make it work until Boozer comes back." Guess what? He did!

It was a rocky start; he wasn't truly himself until just before the All-Star break. But you did it. On the way, you beat LA, Boston, and Dallas, unbelievable teams.

You went on a 12-game win streak before disaster struck again. I don't know what happened. You were up by seven points with two minutes to go in Miami. You have not been the same since that overtime loss. What is it about Miami that hurts your ego?

In the 2006-2007 season you were 18-12 on the road. You went to Miami were up by 20 points and ended up losing the game. Again, you were never the same and finished the season 2-9 on the road. We all know how you did last year on the road and, well, this year its even worse if you could believe that.

What happened in Miami in 2007? What happened in Miami this past March? Why are you not that same confident team that you were before?

At least I can count on you at home, Utah Jazz. At least I can enjoy watching you at home. Wait, no I can't. You lost to two teams under .500 at home in less than a weeks span. I know, it's unbelievable.

First you lose to the T-Wolves, a team purposely tanking the rest of the season with many of its starters missing, by one lousy point. It pretty much clinched you into the eighth seed, the only seed you did not want in the playoffs. But hope for a higher seed was not lost.

The T-Wolves home loss was bad, but it can possibly get any worse can it? Yes, it can.

On a Saturday night with Jazz fans anxious to get the Dallas and San Antonio losses out of their mouths, you play the Golden State Warriors. Actually, the D-league equivalent to the Warriors. Don Nelson has been shutting down the team for months. The Warriors had eight active players, seven who were going to play on Saturday night, who played the night before against the Rockets.

An easy win for you, a game to help boost your confidence. Wrong again. You trail and go down by double digits in the second quarter, leave the court at halftime to boos by your own fans.

But it's ok, you'll fight back in the second half. The Warriors will run out of steam: there is so few of them. No, no come back. You lose by ten. Now you're the eighth seed almost definitely.

Thank you Jazz. Thank you for raising my hopes by staying in the race despite injuries, then crashing and burning the last month of the season, thank you, thank you.

Utah Jazz, in the famous lyrics by Pink Floyd:

How I wish, how I wish you were here.
Your just five lost souls
Playing on the court,
Game after Game,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found
The same old fears.
Wish you were here.

Sincerely,

A Utah Jazz Fan

NBA Dreams: NBA Championships, Deep Playoff Runs, and Dirk in Your House?

Diana Allen — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:02:33 -0400

April brings new hope in the air—the weather is warming, the flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, but, most importantly, the NBA Playoffs are starting.

Players, coaches, and fans alike have dreams about deep runs into the playoffs, with possibly an NBA Championship in June.

What else do NBA fans dream about? Do you ever have dreams about NBA games or players?

When I was a little girl, I would have dreams that I was married to John Stockton. In my dream, I didn't really care about being married to him, but I loved that I was able to go to all the games and sit front row. I met the players, went to practice, etc.

A few years ago, a few weeks before the 2007 NBA Playoffs began, I dreamt that Dirk Nowitzki was a friend of ours. He came to our house to watch a few playoff games with us. While watching the game, it dawned on me that the playoffs were on and the Mavericks were the favorite to win the West.

Why was Nowitzki hanging out with us instead of playing? I asked Dirk and he said, very casually, "Oh, didn't you know the Warriors knocked us out of the first round?"

Now, that NBA dream of mine actually came true. What will I dream this year? I have it. Deron Williams hits a game winning three in Game Seven of the WCF right over Kobe Bryant.

The Jazz then face the Cavs in the NBA Finals, where the Jazz win in Six and give their Hall of Fame Coach his NBA Championship at last.

What NBA dreams have you had?

Rockets-Jazz: The Best Rivalry You Haven't Heard Of

Diana Allen — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:34:33 -0400

"Stockton for three... yes! John Stockton sends the Utah Jazz to the NBA Finals!"

The shot heard 'round the NBA. It was the first time the Jazz ever made it to the Finals, a turning point for the franchise which led to another championship series appearance and years of NBA Playoff success.

That shot also had an impact on the team that the Jazz beat to make it to the Finals. Stockton connected over Charles Barkley in Houston and thereby nixed the Rockets' chance of returning to the Finals two years after they won their last ring. In the 12 years since, the club from Houston hasn't been out of the first round.

The Jazz also played a big part in Houston's season-ending disappointments of the past two seasons.

They met in the first round of the 2007 Playoffs. The Jazz were the fourth seed, having won the Northwest Division, but the Rockets held home-court advantage, as they had compiled a better record during the regular season.

All signs pointed to '07 being the year that Tracy McGrady would finally escape a postseason-opening series. The Rockets had experienced players, among whom were two superstars in McGrady and Yao Ming, plus the aforementioned comfort of home confines in four of seven potential games.

On the other hand, the Jazz were a young, inexperienced team with only a few players who had ever been to the Playoffs. It was the first taste of postseason action for their two rising stars, Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer.

In the first few games, it looked like Houston might sweep the Jazz, as they won the first pair in Houston. But Utah answered by winning both games at their place to tie the series at two apiece.

The teams continued to trade wins, each winning in their respective houses, until the memorable Game Seven in Houston was set up.

An energetic Jazz squad came out and handled the Rockets in the finale, once again sending them home for the summer earlier than the fans in Houston had hoped.

The following year, the clubs were matched again in the opening round. And like last time, they were the four and five seeds, with Houston holding the home-court.

But the series began differently this time. The road team won the first three games (Utah took two in Houston, Houston one in Utah).

But then, the home team won the next three contests. Utah earned the right to advance in six games and got a stellar performance by Deron Williams in the clincher.

Tonight's game between the Rockets and the Jazz on TNT may not be a postseason game, but it will have the intensity and atmosphere of a late April battle.

The Rockets are coming off a road victory in San Antonio on Sunday which allowed them to capture first place in the Southwest Division. Meanwhile, the Jazz have won 14 of their last 17 and are currently sixth in the West and second in the Northwest.

If Houston is triumphant tonight, they will be able to stretch their lead over the Spurs and will remain the second seed overall in their conference. If Utah wins, they will be just a half game behind Denver for the Northwest Divison lead and a mere one-and-a-half games out of second in the West.

There have been some memorable moments in contests between these two teams. Though rivalries are born in the Playoffs (as this one was), the Jazz and the Rockets' regular season games will never be played like ordinary regular season games from now on.

Expect a tooth-and-nail till bout; whoever's left standing wins the ball game. You'll get no less in the duel between two of the top teams in the West tonight.

All That Jazz: Utah's Proving To Be a Team with Heart

Diana Allen — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:11:34 -0400

The Utah Jazz are currently on their longest winning streak since 1999. In that year, they won 11 straight games; currently they are sitting on a 12-game winning streak and looking to extend it to a lucky 13 tonight against the Atlanta Hawks.

The Jazz last lost came against the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 8. Following that loss, they beat the Lakers in Salt Lake right before the All-Star break and haven't looked back since.

During the streak, the Jazz have beat the Lakers, Celtics, Hornets, Mavericks, Nuggets, and Rockets—just to name a few. They also have won four straight on the road, which didn't seem possible in January when the only road game they won was against the Memphis Grizzlies.

How have the Jazz done this? Here are a few keys to the Jazz winning streak...

Finishing off teams in the fourth quarter

The Jazz have had very strong fourth quarters outscoring their opponents 311 to 233. The Jazz now know how to take it to a higher level when it counts.

Strong bench play

The Utah Jazz have strong veterans coming off the bench. Andrei Kirilenko has started nearly every game of his career besides this year. AK-47 has adapted to coming of the bench and has excelled. Paul Millsap has proved that he can be a starter in this league by his play when Boozer was out. Now with Boozer starting and Millsap off the bench it makes the Jazz 2nd unit that much more powerful.

Knight, Harpring, and Korver also have started around 300-400 games in their respective careers. Strong veteran play is key for any team to make noise in the playoffs. When the Jazz had to play players like rookie, Koufous, Fesenko and younger players playing key minutes winning on a consistent basis and winning on the road was difficult. Now the Jazz are healthy for the most part and have their veterans contributing.

Flexible lineups

Jazz fans for years have slighted Jerry Sloan for being rigid in his lineups, for taking out the hot hand, for playing a veteran over a more talented younger player. This year in particular since the winning streak Sloan has been a mastermind with his rotations. Sloan has used small, active lineups in the fourth quarter when playing young athletic teams like the Warriors and the Kings, bigger lineups when playing teams like Denver and Houston. The big key is that Jerry has been flexible.

Flexibility in offense

The Utah Jazz are one of the most versatile teams in the NBA when it comes to how they play their offense. The days of a thousand pick and rolls and Stockton to Malone are over. While Boozer was out the ability for the Jazz to run other plays besides "the PNR" was capitalized.

The Jazz can outrun the Golden State Warriors and yet grind it out with the defensive money ball, Houston. The Jazz have about eight players who can go off for 20 points on any given night. You never know how or who is going to hit you when playing the Jazz. During the win streak the Jazz have played all kinds of style of basketball but the key is they are playing as a team, which leads to the last key of victory for the 12 game win streak.

Confidence and Heart

In December and January the Jazz were playing uninspired ball. They weren't winning on the road, they didn't look they even believed that they could beat anyone on the road. They also were losing more at home than they probably should have done. It was difficult for the Jazz to build confidence and gel as a team, with never knowing who would play, who would be out, what would the lineups be like.

In February, the team was mostly healthy, Boozer coming back mid February and team all of the sudden had a different look about them. The players were enjoying the game again. They believed in each other and they knew that with everyone healthy they could beat anyone. They, the Utah Jazz could be an elite team in the NBA.

Los Angeles Lakers: Leading the Pack in Flagrant Fouls

Diana Allen — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:41:47 -0400

The Lakers were criticized for being soft, playing little defense, and not having enough mental toughness against the defensive-minded Boston Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals.

The hard flagrant foul commited by Trevor Ariza last night on Portland's Rudy Fernandez made it look like the Lakers are tougher this year. Rudy was hit so hard that he had to be carried out on a stretcher.

The Lakers are the only team to have two players with at least two flagrant fouls. Andrew Bynum has commited two flagrant fouls and also has four technical fouls. Trevor Ariza commited his second flagrant foul last night and has had three technical fouls called against him.

The perception around the league is that Boston, San Antonio, Utah, and Detroit are the tough-nosed teams, the teams that will knock their opponents around.

Out of those four, Boston has had three players commit flagrant fouls, with only "Big Baby" Davis committing more than one. Detroit has had only two players commit one flagrant foul each (Richard Hamilton, and Amir Johnson.)

The teams that are historically known for being physical each only have one player who has committed a flagrant foul.

For the Utah Jazz, it is the seldom-used center, Jarron Collins and for the San Antonio Spurs it's the newly-acquired Drew Gooden.

Is it out of frustration that the Lakers are committing dirty, hard flagrant fouls? Or are they trying to show that they are a tough defensive team that doesn't know how to play defense?

Owner Of The Jazz, Larry Miller Passed Away

Diana Allen — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:39:07 -0500

The Utah Jazz are reporting that Larry H. Miller died today at the age of 64.

Mr. Miller died at home surrounded by his family and loved ones. Miller passed away due to complications of type 2 Diabetes.

Larry will be missed in Utah and by all NBA fans. Larry was a hands-on, emotional owner who only wanted his team to win. Larry was loyal to all his players and coaches and everyone in the Jazz family.

No Heart: The Continuing Story of the Utah Jazz

Diana Allen — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:59:49 -0500

Another road loss.

It's nothing new to Utah Jazz fans.

This has become the norm with the Jazz. Win at home and lose on the road. Play with heart at home and stand around and shoot jumpers on the road. Get steals and deflections at home, watch players go by for uncontested layups on the road.

It's tiresome, it's depressing. There is no hope in Jazzville this year. The media says things will change when Carlos Boozer gets back.

But why should they? The Jazz will still be starting players who would be coming off the bench for most other teams. Jerry Sloan will still refuse to call timely timeouts and the scouting crew will still do a horrible job by allowing players like Houston's Von Wafer to go off.

It's not likely the team will make any mid-season trades, not because they aren't needed but because the owner will likely say the team is good as is, sans the injuries.

That would be wrong. Even with everyone healthy, this lineup is not built to beat the Los Angeles Lakers or the San Antonio Spurs, the two teams it must beat if it wants to win a championship.

The core group of guys could be third place in the West, however, if everyone was healthy. But they'll never be a championship team. They lack the most important ingredient to win a championship.

Heart.

Jerry Sloan the Most Overrated Coach in the NBA

Diana Allen — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:23:27 -0500

Jerry Sloan has never won COY. That is a travesty. There have been years that he deserved it, probably the second year that he took the Jazz to the finals and the year after Stockton and Malone left and he managed to get a team with no stars on it to a .500 record.

In the 2008-2009 season the Utah Jazz have lost over 118 games to injury and still have a respectable 25-18 record, nothing to shout about but nothing to jeer about either. The Jazz have not had their starting lineup play at all together yet this season. There are not many teams in the NBA that could have a record above .500 with as many injuries to significant players as the Jazz have suffered.

The Jazz have a great system in place and many claim that you can pretty much play any hard working player into the system who has some talent and victories will prevail. Jerry is very loyal to his system and has seen success for the past 20 years because of it.

Jerry, however, is not that great of an in-game coach. Jerry has a hard time making changes throughout the flow of a ball game. How many times have Jazz fans seen no-name players go off to have career highs against their team, it's because Jerry doesn't know how to change his game plan once the game has started.

The road the road oh the woes of the Jazz on the road. One of two teams in the Western Conference Playoff Standings to have a losing record on the road. To put in perspective how horrible the Jazz are on the road, the Minnesota Timberwolves have the same amount of road victories as the Jazz at eight!

How can a team who plays near perfection at home play so horrifically on the road? Have the players changed? Have the plays changed? Nothing changes except the venue. It is the coach's responsibility to motivate his team on the road. In the beginning of the season the Jazz started OK on the road at one point they were even 7-7 which wasn't bad considering all the injuries however the Jazz hit a funk and lost seven of eight on the road.

In the beginning of the season Jerry Sloan was very active on the bench when the Jazz played on the road. At a game in Memphis in Novemeber the Jazz were struggling but Jerry was on the sideline willing his team to victory, calling out plays, getting them to play defense, calling timely time-outs etc. What has happened to that passion?

The Jazz are a young team and need extra help from the coach on the road, they don't have the energy of the ESA that helps them so much to win consistently at home.

Road losses are an embarrassment but so are the lapses of inept play that the Jazz show night in and night out. Why would Jerry Sloan keep going with a line up of Knight, Harpring, Korver, Koufous and AK when it clearly isn't producing. How many teams make runs on the Jazz at the beginning of the second quarter when that line up is in.

The Jazz went from having a 12-point lead to having Dallas tie it up when that particular line up was in the game. Minnesota went on a run and closed the gap when that line up was on the floor. Please Jerry switch things up. You don't always have to play your pet players. Once again showing that Jerry can't switch things up during the game.

Jerry is a great coach who will always put a good product on the floor but he will never be able to reach that next level of winning a championship. Jerry doesn't learn from his mistakes and when he does he changes things for maybe a few games when he absolutely has to but then goes back to rigid substitutions, not calling time outs and not motivating his players on the road.

Utah Jazz Midseason Review

Diana Allen — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:37:09 -0500

It's hard to believe that the NBA season is more than half over for most teams. For Jazz fans it feels like the season hasn't even begun yet let alone be half over. With a season of lots of road losses, games lost to injuries, and the whole Boozer saga are Jazz fans happy with what has occurred so far? Can we be satisfied with a 25-18 record?

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The Legend Hot Rod Hundley

Diana Allen — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:46:39 -0500

"You gotta love it, baby!"

"Stockton to Malone!"

These are some of the most famous phrases in Jazz history.

Hot Rod Hundley will be announcing his 3,000 game for the Utah Jazz tonight.

Hot Rod has been with the Jazz since the organization was founded in 1974 in New Orleans.

In this day and age of constant changes in sports organization, Hot Rod is a rarity. Hot Rod will have called 3,000 out of a possible 3,014 regular-season and playoff games for the Jazz.

Hot Rod was the first pick in the first round in 1957 by the Cincinnati Royals, who then immediately sold his draft rights to the then Minneapolis Lakers. Hot Rod played in the NBA for six years and was an All-Star twice.

Some of Hot Rod's famous sayings are:

“With a gentle push, and a mild arc, the old cowhide globe hits home.”
“Yo-yoing”
“Leapin’ leaner”
“Hippity-hop”
“Good if it goes!”
“Frozen rope”
“Belt-high dribble”
“It’s in the ol’ refrigerator.”
“Looking down the barrel”
“You gotta love it, baby!”

Carlos Boozer to Have Surgery!

Diana Allen — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:08:46 -0500

The Jazz announced that Carlos Boozer will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his knee on Jan. 9, 2009. Most athletes who have this surgery are out for at least 4-6 weeks after the surgery.

What does this mean to the Jazz? Can they make the playoffs? Can Millsap, when back healthy, fill Boozer's role? If so, who fills Millsap's role? Koufos? What do you think Jazz fans?

The NBA Cares This Holiday Season

Diana Allen — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:10:19 -0500

The NBA and it's players care about their communities. Many players have spent this holiday season giving back. Athletes have been blessed with so much in their lives and feel blessed to give back to those who are in need. The NBA Care program has done great work throughout the United States and internationally.

Begin Slideshow

I Want to See a Utah vs. Detroit NBA Finals

Diana Allen — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:44:54 -0500

When you think sexy match-ups, media loving match-ups, high profile superstar players match-ups, the Utah Jazz and the Detroit Pistons do not come to mind.

The LA Lakers, the Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers they are the media darlings of the NBA. Most people would want to see those teams in the Finals. Who wouldn't want to see Kobe, KG, LeBron James?

If you are a true NBA fan who loves team basketball, who loves big men shooting three pointers, who loves quick guards and exciting wing players, then a Utah Jazz vs. Detroit Pistons finals is what you would want to see.

Since the 2005 season the Utah Jazz have not lost to the Pistons. Although the two teams only face each other two times a year, there is a fierce rivalry between the teams. The Jazz and the Pistons are very similar in make up, in their idea of how the game should be played, and in their physicality the teams match up very well against each other.

Although the Jazz have now won seven straight against the Pistons, they don't dominate the Pistons. The games are always close and always exciting.

The double overtime win that the Jazz had over the Pistons tonight epitomizes what the match-ups between these two teams are like.

The Pistons grabbed the early lead ending the first quarter on a 14-2 run to take a 10 point lead heading into the second quarter. The Jazz fought back, clawing their way behind the sharp shooting Deron Williams to close the gap to five at half time. The second half of the game was extremely close.

The Jazz to seem to have the game under control sitting comfortably with a five point lead with less than two minutes to go when Rasheed Wallace hit a three pointer to draw the Pistons within two. The Jazz, on the inbound, carelessly turned the ball over and allowed an easy layup for Stuckey to tie the ball game.

Deron Williams hits a turn around floater to give the Jazz a lead with two seconds to go. Rip Hamilton, with two seconds to go, hits a long jumper to send the game to overtime.

The Jazz were able to squeak out a win in double overtime. The game really could have gone either way as most games between the Pistons and the Jazz over the last four years have been. This is how each game in a seven game series in the NBA finals would be between two of the most evenly matched, exciting teams in the NBA.

The Slam Dunk is Back

Diana Allen — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:00:59 -0500

The dunk contest is back, my friends. Thanks in large part to Super Man Dwight Howard. The dunk contest originated in the ABA in 1976 but because of the merger with the NBA later that year, it was the only year the ABA had the contest. In 1984 the dunk contest was introduced into the NBA at its All Star Game.

Julius Irving was the first winner of the dunk contest, winning with his famous dunk from the free-throw line. The dunk contest was highly popular throughout the '80s with winners such as the human highlight film Dominique Wilkins and the shortest contest winner Spud Webb. Michael Jordan validated himself as the greatest dunker ever with back-to-back wins in '88 and '89.

The dunk contest waned in popularity in the mid 1990's. Come on, when someone like Brent Barry wins the contest (1996), it is apparent the contest is in need of a tweek. After Kobe won the contest in 1997, the dunk contest took a two-year break.

The contest was back in 2000, gathering great excitement with participants such as Tracy McGrady, Steve Francis, and winner Vince Carter. The contest was lame again until 2005 when Amare Stoudemire took a soccer ball like pass from Steve Nash, and winner Josh Smith donning a Dominique Wilkins jersey flying over a seated Kenyon Martin.

The last years of the dunk contest have been incredible with winners such as Nate Robinson, Gerald Green and of course Dwight Howard.

Who should be in the contest this year?

Ten players that should be in the dunk contest this year are:

(1) Dwight Howard- Reigning winner of the contest, this player is amazingly talented, athletic, and creative, which makes for a very competitive contestant in a dunk contest. What Dwight Howard brought to the dunk contest was exactly what the NBA needed him to do.

(2) Ronnie Price- At 6'2" this kid has hops. Dazzling Jazz fans as the back up for Deron Williams, Ronnie Price does everything on the court with energy and style. Who can forgot the block he had against Luke Walton last year and the dunk he laid on Carlos Boozer while with the Kings.

(3) LeBron James- King Lebron has turned down past invitations to participate but who wouldn't want to see this guy in a dunk contest. His strength , speed, and agility would all bode well for Lebron in the contest. Lebron is so entertaining in most games his highlights alone could make up SportCenter's Top 10 plays.

(4) Gerald Green- Green won the contest in 2007 and was runner-up in 2008. (who possibly could be Dwight that night) Green still has a lot to offer to the contest.

(5) Ronnie Brewer- Another Jazz player but this kid is a human highlight film. Ronnie taking the ally-oop from Williams is one of the most entertaining plays in the game today. Full of energy and athleticism, Ronnie could be quite the competitor in the dunk contest.

(6) Josh Smith- It would be strange to not have a competitor representing the Hawks. The Hawks have had the most slam dunk winners at four.

(7) Kobe Bryant- It's been over 10 years since Kobe has participated in a dunk contest but Kobe could still be one of the best dunkers in the contest. Kobe has skills that no other player in the NBA has today.

(8) JR Smith- Participated in 2005. Smith is helping the Nuggets to win this year with his entertaining style of play—he could bring that same entertainment to the dunk contest.

(9) Andre Iguodala- The 76ers—maybe underacheiving this year, but Igudala is always a pleasure to watch. This young player has improved every year in the league.

(10) Rodney Stuckey- The surprise rookie last year for the Pistons has much to offer. Stuckey played great in the playoffs when Billups was out. Stuckey, a high-flying above-the-rim player, would be another great small contestant.

There are many players that could make the slam dunk contest popular still. Who else should be included?

The Curse: Utah Jazz Losing Streak at 18 in San Antonio

Diana Allen — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:20:12 -0500

The Jazz last won in San Antonio in February of 1999. Pokemon, Harry Potter, and the new Star War's movie The Phantom Menace were all the craze. President Clinton was acquitted by the United States Senate in his impeachment trial. And gas prizes were around $.99/gallon.

The last time the Utah Jazz won in San Antonio, the Spurs weren't even playing in the AT&T center. Karl Malone, John Stockton and David Robinson were all starting for their respective teams and Kosta Koufos, the youngest player on the Jazz had just turned 10 years old.

The Utah Jazz (8-4) hope to stop that trend tonight as they face the San Antonio Spurs (5-6) tonight in the AT&T Center. The Jazz will be without Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, and Jaron Collins. Deron Williams is a game time decision. The San Antonio Spurs will be without Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker.

The Utah Jazz have faced injuries all season long which has allowed for the role players and bench players for the Jazz to step up. The Jazz bench has averaged 41.4 points, 11.6 assists, 5.6 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game.

The Utah Jazz will need the bench, led by AK-47 and Paul Millsap, to play their very best if they hope to have a chance to beat the Spurs tonight.

Utah Jazz in One Word

Diana Allen — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:20:29 -0500

Jerry Sloan: Tough.

Deron Williams: Driven.

Ronnie Brewer: Slashing.

Carlos Boozer: Ambidextrous.

Andrei Kirilenko:Omnipresent.

Memo Okur: Money.

Ronnie Price: Dunks.

Paul Millsap: Hustling.

Kyle Korver: Threes.

Matt Harpring: Football.

Brevin Knight: Experience.

CJ Miles: Exciting.

Kosta Koufus: Hard-working.

Jarron Collins: Flops.

Mo Almond: Shooter.

Kyrylo Fesenko: D-league.

Utah Jazz: Consistent.

Mehmet Okur Returns to Jazz from Turkey

Diana Allen — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:38:37 -0500

Mehmet Okur has returned from Turkey. Okur left the Jazz for Turkey a week ago to be with his ailing father. When he was assured by his father's doctors that his father's condition had stabilized, "Memo" returned to Utah Sunday.

Okur's return could not have come at a better time for Utah. The Jazz finished 1-4 on a five-game road trip. They were also missing Deron Williams (ankle), Andrei Kirilenko (finger), and Matt Harpring (infection) for most of the trip.

The Jazz hope to start their winning ways again tonight against Phoenix. It has been reported Okur will not play tonight. Williams said he will not play, either, and Matt Harpring is listed as a game-time decision. Andrei Kirilenko will play tonight after missing two games with his strained finger.

All Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers Team

Diana Allen — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:01:33 -0500

The fiercest rivalry in the history of the NBA is between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angles Lakers. They have matched up in the Finals more than any two teams at 11. They are the two most celebrated teams in the NBA. There have been 62 NBA Championships in the history of the NBA and the Celtics and the Lakers hold exactly half of those Championships (17 and 14, respectively).

NBA fans, aside from liking their favorite team, can be divided into one of two categories...Celtics fans or Lakers fans. Debates have ensued about which is the better franchise, the Celtics or the Lakers. Who has had the overall best talent or who has had the best coach?

What if you could combine the two franchises? What if you could have Larry and Magic on the same team? Here it is, the all Celtics-Lakers team.

PG Magic Johnson

A player who could play any position on the floor. A 6'9" floor general with his exceptional court vision changed the point guard position forever in the NBA.

SG Kobe Bryant

Debated to be one of the best players in NBA history with comparisons to "His Airness," Michael Jordan. One of the most clutch players in the history of the game.

SF Larry Bird

Dubbed the "Great White Hope" by a former teammate. Larry the legend epitomized what hard-work, natural talent, and insane competitiveness produced in a player.

PF Bill Russell

Russell won 11 championships and was the center of creating the Celtic Dynasty.

C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

NBA's all-time leading scorer, and six-time MVP award winner. Abdul-Jabbar was so beloved by fans and NBA teams, he received standing ovations at every game of his last season (home and away) and received retirement gifts from every NBA team.

Coach Red Auerbach

As a coach, he won nine NBA titles. As a GM and team president, he won an additional seven for a grand total of 16.

Bench

PG Bob Cousey

One of the purest point guards ever seen in the NBA.

SG Jerry West

Sharp shooter West holds the record for points averaged in a playoff series (46.3).

SF Paul Pierce

The six time All-Star was named the 2008 Finals MVP, and has been with the Celtics through thick and thin.

PF Kevin McHale

A seven time All-Star. McHale caused fits for opposing players on both ends of the court with his long arms and his ability to shoot from any angle (Kevin Garnett honorable mention).

C Shaq

The Diesel is one of the most dominant players in the game. Shaq's size 23 shoe doesn't compare in size to his personality on and off the court.

Assistant Coach Phil Jackson

Ties Red with nine NBA titles as a head coach.

As a Jazz fan, it was somewhat painful to write an article about the greatness of the Lakers, but as a NBA fan I could not ignore that these two teams. The Celtics and the Lakers have made the NBA the success that it is today.

All Celtics and Lakers Team

Diana Allen — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:35:45 -0500

The fiercest rivalry in the history of the NBA is between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angles Lakers. They have matched up in the Finals more than any two teams at 11. They are the two most celebrated teams in the NBA. There have been 62 NBA Championships in the history of the NBA, The Celtics and the Lakers hold exactly half of those Championships (17 and 14 respectively).

NBA fans aside from liking their favorite team can be divided into one of two categories... Celtics Fans or Lakers Fans. Debates have ensued about which is the better franchise, the Celtics or the Lakers. Who has had the overall best talent, who has had the best coach?

What if you could combine the two franchises? What if you could have Larry and Magic on the same team? Here it is the All Celtics- Lakers team.

PG Magic Johnson: A player who could play any position on the floor. A 6'9" floor general with his exceptional court vision changed the point guard position forever in the NBA.

SG Kobe Bryant: Debated to be one of the best players in NBA history with comparisons to "His Airness," Michael Jordan. One of the most clutch players in the history of the game.

SF Larry Bird: Dubbed the "Great White Hope" by a former teammate. Larry the Legend epitomized what hard-work, natural talent and insane competitiveness produced in a player.

PF Bill Russell: Russell won 11 championships and was the center of creating the Celtic Dynasty.

C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: NBA's all-time leading scorer, six time MVP award winner. Abdul-Jabbar so beloved by fans and NBA teams he received standing ovations at every game of his last season (home and away) and received retirement gifts from every NBA team.

Coach Red Auerbach: as a coach he won 9 NBA titles. As a GM and Team President he won an additional 7 for a grand total of 16.

Bench

PG Bob Cousey: One of the purest point guards ever seen in the NBA.

SG Jerry West: Sharp shooter West holds the record for points averaged in a playoff series (46.3).

SF Paul Pierce: Six time all-star was named the 2008 Finals MVP, has been with the Celtics through thick and thin.

PF Kevin McHale: A seven time all-star. McHale caused fits for opposing players on both ends of the court with his long arms and his ability to shoot from any angle (Kevin Garnett honorable mention).

C Shaq: The diesel one of the most dominant players in the game. Shaq's size 23 shoe doesn't compare in size to his personality on and off the court.

Assistant Coach Phil Jackson: Ties Red with nine NBA titles as a head coach.

As a Jazz fan it was somewhat painful to write an article about the greatness of the Lakers but as a NBA fan I could not ignore that these two teams, the Celtics and the Lakers have made the NBA the success that it is today.

Memo Okur Gone to Turkey!

Diana Allen — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:07:04 -0500

The Jazz announced today that Memo Okur will be returning to Turkey for an undetermined period of time to deal with a family illness.

What does this mean to the Jazz?

I am having nightmarish flashbacks of the dreadful month of December last year. I imagine the opposing teams zoning us all night long. I picture a .500 ball club.

What a bizarro season for the Jazz. Deron Williams out longer than expected with a sprained ankle, Memo going to Turkey, and Booz taking it to the hole again.

What else does this season have in store for Jazz players and their fans?

Undefeated Jazz

Diana Allen — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:52:49 -0500

The Jazz have started out the season strong—beating the Nuggets and the Clippers for a record of 2-0.

Two wins, not that important in an 82 game season right?

However, with how competitive the Western Conference was last year, two wins could be the difference between starting the playoffs on the road or in the comfy confines of the ESA.

What do these two wins tell us about the Jazz this season so far and how long can the Jazz stay undefeated?

Most importantly the wins tell us that, if they have to, the Jazz can win without their fearless leader Deron Williams. In the 2006-07 season Deron missed two games due to injury, the Jazz loss both those games. No Jazz fan would want Deron to miss games but at least the Jazz can win without him.

The Hart-Knight trade is one of the most underrated trades in Jazz history. The national media didn't talk about it at all (besides the bottom score ticker on ESPN), and the local Utah media hardly talked about it during the summer. Knight however was one of the main reasons we won on Saturday—his intense defense in the second half and zero turnovers helped the Jazz roll over the Clippers.

The Jazz are a deep team. It wouldn't be stretching it to say that the Jazz have the deepest team in the league. The Jazz bench, especially with AK as our new sixth man, can compete and beat any bench in the league.

The Jazz defense is much more intense than last year. Hopefully the Jazz will continue to focus on defense and dominate on offense.

Now how long can the Jazz stay undefeated? Tonight they play against the Clippers. This will be a good test for the Jazz. The Jazz struggled on the road last year. A road record of 17-24 last season, and so many winnable games they lost. The Jazz have lost six of their last eight games in the Staples Center against the Clippers.

It will be test of character to see if the Jazz have the discipline to play consistently and avoid the tendency to play down to their opponents on the road.

A win tonight would pay big dividends for the Jazz. A road win without Deron Williams could pay even bigger dividends. A win tonight would lead to a boost in their confidence that could lead to four or five more road wins this year which could pay huge in play-off seating.

After the Jazz play the Clippers on the road tonight they return home for games against Portland and Oklahoma City. Those games shouldn't be too hard to win especially if Williams is back. The Jazz then head back East for a five game road trip. All those game are winnable, but I see a loss against Cleveland.

That would put the Jazz at 9-0 before losing to Cleveland.

I would love for the Jazz to go 82-0, but as that is all but impossible, I do see 9-0 as very plausible. However it all starts tonight can the Jazz beat their road fears.

'Twas the Night Before The Season

Diana Allen — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:27:31 -0400

'Twas the Night Before the Season,
when all through the league
all rookies were stirring,
for the season to begin;

The preseason ended
with nothing to note
but injuries to players
with all-star votes

There's Kobe with his knee
Nash sprained his ankle twice
D-Will's out two weeks
It doesn't look nice

When out in New York
David Stern fills his pockets,
All fans of the league
cry please oh please stop it

With a little old comissioner
so greedy and slick
Fans knew in a moment
their pleas wouldn't stick

Now Kobe! Now Lebron!
Now Garnett and Melo!
On, Paul! On, Shaq!
On Dirk! and Memo!

To the top of the hoop
to the top of the ball
now, play away! Play away!
Play away all!

The preseason is over was it worth it? Or was it just another way for Stern to make money?

Deron Williams Will Be an MVP Candidate in 2009

Diana Allen — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:35:48 -0400

As I sat second row at the Utah Jazz intra-team scrimmage, I noticed one thing more than any other—the killer instinct of Deron Williams.

Deron's team was down most of the scrimmage. At first Deron was just out there having fun, trying to get his teammates involved and putting on a show for the crowd.

But as soon as the fourth quarter hit, everything about Deron changed. He got a fierce look in his eyes, he stopped joking around with other players, and his desire to win was about as palpable as the chair I was sitting in.

Deron helped his team overcome a 17-point second half deficit to tie the score (the scrimmage ended in a tie). I was left sitting amazed at what I just witnessed.

On TV you can see Deron take over games, but it is nothing compared to being there in person. I sat wondering what Deron's intensity would be like in a playoff-elimination game, if this is how strong it was in a free scrimmage to the public.

There are not many players in the league that can match the intensity of Deron Williams. Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and maybe Chris Paul or Kevin Garnett possess this supernal level of desire to win.

Kobe, LeBron, Chris Paul and Kevin Garnett were in the discussions for MVP in 2008. Why not Deron Williams?

MVP candidates lead their team to a winning record, and have numbers to back up their play. Deron Williams lead his team to the Northwest Division title, and the Jazz finished with a 54-28 record. Williams averaged nearly 19 points and 10.5 assists a game.

Comparing numbers among players is difficult, because every team plays a different offense at a different pace. For example, because Paul averaged 21 points and 11.6 assists, many casual observers thought he was a better player than Williams.

But Deron's numbers may be deceiving because of the motion offense of the Jazz. In the motion offense, more players are helping set up the plays and touching the ball. With the Hornets, it's mainly Paul dribbling the ball at the top of the key, breaking down the defense, then throwing the ball out for an assist.

No one on Paul's team averages above three assists a game besides him. Behind Paul is Pargo with 2.4 assists, and West with 2.3. While for the Jazz, Deron averages 10.5, but AK averages four assists and Boozer averages nearly three. Wiliiams' numbers are slightly lower, but it is because of the offense in which he plays—not his ability.

So Williams numbers are comparable to the MVP candidates last year, and his team was one of the top teams in the competitive Western Conference. So why was he not in the national media's discussion for MVP?

When Steve Nash was MVP for two consecutive years, it was mainly for his contribution to his team—the Suns could not win without Nash. This past year it was the same with Kobe, LeBron, and Paul. The media assumed that their teams would not be able to win without them.

The way the Jazz play, it is not readily apparent that one player could make that much of a difference on the team. The offense that the team runs, focusing on team play and Jerry's desire that no player is the star of the team, makes it almost impossible for one player to seem missed when absent.

However, anyone who carefully watches the Jazz can testify that without Williams, the Jazz are a different team and would not be able to win or be competitive. In the 2006-2007 season, Williams missed two games due to a strained groin. The Jazz lost both or those games—and even watching those games was somewhat painful. The Jazz did not play at their usual level... why because there was no Deron to lead his team.

Past MVPs also have mostly been flashy or finesse players. It is easy to see how last year's candidates fit into that category. They all have amazing highlights.

Deron also is a highlight machine, but because he plays in Utah—which for 20 years was strictly pick and roll, Stockton to Malone—nobody pays attention. The tradition of the Jazz supercedes anything that Deron does different on the court. Because Jerry Sloan is still the coach many think that Deron is just like Stockton.

Jazz fans—or anyone that watches the Jazz for even a few minutes—can tell you that Deron loves to run, throw the alley-oop pass, break ankles with his killer cross-over, and drain the three-pointer on the fast break.

What else did the MVP candidates have that Williams didn't? The candidates were all from large media markets with the exception of Chris Paul. Paul, however, did come with the feel-good story of the team's first full season back in New Orleans after the devastation of hurricane Katrina.

Also, Chris Paul has been a media darling since his days in Wake Forest.

That is something that Williams can not control. The Jazz will never be a media favorite due to the small market size. David Stern has the NBA promote the large-market teams above all others—no matter how much he denies it.

Deron does possess the same qualities as past MVP candidates, besides playing in a large market. So can Deron make a run for MVP in the 2008- 2009 season? If every media member who votes could see and feel what I felt at the Jazz scrimmage, then the answer would definitely be yes!