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A devastating injury to Carlos Boozer looked like it could spell doom for the Utah Jazz this season.  But Jerry Sloan wasn't worried.  He had an ace up his sleeve.  The NBA was about to discover something already well known to Jazz fans.  Paul Millsap can play some mighty fine basketball.

Inserted into the starting lineup just weeks into the season, Millsap played like a man possessed.  Millsap put together an impressive string of nineteen straight double doubles.  He almost single-handedly kept the Utah Jazz in contention as the team weathered nagging injuries to Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur.  Millsap played like a big bowling ball in the post, pushing himself to offensive rebound after offensive rebound.  Listed generously at 6'8'', Millsap did yeoman's work against players half a foot taller than him.  The national media took notice and word spread around the league.  Finally, the Utah Jazz had a big man who not only wanted to play defense, but one who seemed to thrive off of his defense.  Watching Millsap and Kirilenko swat balls away from the basket was a sight for Jazz fan's sore eyes.

As we rolled into late February, Carlos Boozer was set to return to the Jazz lineup.  How would Millsap adjust to life back on the bench?  On February 23 we seemed to have the answer as Millsap put up 16 and 12 in a big win over Atlanta.  In the next few games, Millsap didn't put up the big double doubles we had come to expect but few people seemed to notice.  Why?  Because the team was riding a twelve game winning streak.  Second place in the west was once again looking like a very real possibility.  At this point, Carlos Boozer was getting his starting minutes back and Millsap was once again relegated to back up duties.  The team struggled, losing seven of it's last nine games and quickly got bumped in the playoffs to the superior Los Angeles Lakers.  But Paul Millsap had made his point.  He deserves to be a starting Power Forward in the National Basketball Association.

As we head into the offseason, Millsap is one of this teams biggest free agents.  The argument among the fans and in the Front office is going to be about who this team should bring back.  Millsap is going to get paid by someone this offseason and it seems highly unlikely that the Jazz will bring back both he and Carlos Boozer.  I won't make an argument for or against Boozer here but I just want to add some stuff about Paul Millsap.  For the third straight year he improved his stats in almost every category.  His free throw shooting has improved to 70% and he showed off a fairly consistent mid-range jump shot.  His PER of 18.6 was good for second best on the team.  He finished sixth in the NBA in Offensive Rebounds and tenth in field goal percentage.  He toughed it out and only missed six games due to injury.  It's just his third year.  He's only 24.  He's only going to get better.

Not too bad for an undersized power forward picked in the latter half of the second round.

Millsap YouTube mash-up

After last nights thumping at the hands of the Lakers brought the Jazz's recent record to 2-7, it's getting pretty difficult to be a fan of this team. Now Jerry Sloan is publicly expressing his doubts about his team's chances.

"We didn't give them much of a battle, knowing we have to play them again," said Utah Coach Jerry Sloan. "It looks pretty bleak. . . . "They have a terrific team. They have guys who can pass the ball, do about anything you ask a team to do. They've got guys who can make big shots, who just know how to play the game, make the game look simple. . . . "We're just like a little dent in the road, far as they're concerned. They're very comfortable playing against us and obviously should be."

I don't know whether I should be angry at Sloan for not trying to inspire confidence in his men or if I should admire his candor. It's not exactly the kind of thing you'd want to hear from your coach heading into the playoffs. What do you all think about this?

I for one don't envy Jerry Sloan's job right now. Boozer's comments about how he's a starter conflict with what everyone watching this team already knows. Paul Millsap is the better player and the team plays better when he's on the floor. There are four players on this team who seem to bring any energy to the court when they're playing and three of them aren't in the starting line-up. My only hope is that Mehmet Okur's return to the team provides a huge spark and they can pull off a huge upset in LA. I'm trying to get myself excited for the playoffs and Jerry's words aren't helping things.

Over and out.

Anyone watching Basketball on this festive occasion? I know I will be. Especially the Lakers-Celtics match-up.

Here's the goings-on:

Orlando crushed the Hornets 88-68

Phoenix and the Spurs are locked up in the 4th

The Big Three in Boston square off in LA against Kobe's Lakers

The disappointing Wizards take on Bron's crew in Cleveland

and to cap it all off Dirks Mavs square off against Roys Boys in Portland

Anyway, I thought it might be fun to have a place to discuss the non-Jazz NBA fare going on today. Cheers!

Congratulations to the most under-appreciated coach in the history of the National Basketball Association on his 1,000th win with the Utah Jazz.  Not only is he a great Coach, but he was also one hell of a basketball player. 

I decided to scour the resources over on basketball reference to dig up some numbers on the two time all-star's playing career.  Here's what I found.

Sloan was All-NBA defensive first teamer four times and was named to the second squad twice.  He led the league in steals twice and appeared in 52 playoff games.  His career FG% wasn't too good (42%) but he averaged nearly 8 rebounds per game.  For 6'5'' that's not too bad.

His coaching numbers are what are really amazing.  Since signing on in Utah in 1988, he has only had one(!) season with a win<.500.  The Jazz have won their division eight times under his leadership and have obviously appeared in two Championship series.  For him to still not have a Coach of the Year trophy on his mantle is a shame. 

Three Cheers for Sloan!

I don't know who everybody here would like to see win but I figured it would be good to have a thread for anyone who might be enjoying the festivities.

I'm rooting for the Rays. So Go Go Garza! *

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Good news for smokers: link

from the article:

Dr. Tania Crombet, director of clinical research for CIM emphasized that Cuban scientists are investigating CIMAVAX EGF for other epidemoid (solid) cancers and have demonstrated its effectiveness in cases of neoplasia of the lung, head, neck, brain, stomach, breast, rectum, prostrate, cervix, bladder, ovary and pancreas.

I'd also like to mention how pleased I was with the Boston Massacre last evening. Go Rays!

I've got a question for you: Would you rather freeze to death or die in a fire?

Here's an interesting article concerning back-up catcher Rob Johnson: click it!

a sample:

At 25, Johnson is getting long in the tooth for a minor leaguer, despite credentials that would have him holding down a roster spot - at least as a backup - on many major league rosters. He was named the 2008 Pacific Coast League defensive catcher of the year for the AAA Tacoma Rainiers, and his .305 batting average led all regular starters. Despite Johnson's breakout year with the bat, it's his work behind the plate that has earned him rave reviews from managers and scouts across baseball.

I'm left wondering what a catcher like Johnson could fetch on the open market this off-season.

Hello.

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