Charley Rosen Apparently Feels the Jazz Have No Chance in This Series...

[Kent_in_Atlanta]

From Foxsports.com... Charley Rosen:

San Antonio thoroughly outclassed Utah — again.

But it didn't look like that would be the case early in Tuesday's Game 2. The Jazz came out of the gate with more focus and more discipline than they had in Game 1, and they showed a few interesting alterations in their game plan.

The most notable of these was stationing Carlos Boozer almost exclusively at the high post. By dropping mid-range jumpers, rolling hard to the bucket on high screens, storming the offensive glass, and sliding into unguarded spaces along the baseline when his defender was rotating to help on ball-penetration, Boozer tallied 33 points on 14-for-23 shooting — a monstrous performance that was enhanced by his game-high 15 rebounds.

Also, the Jazz managed to create more operating room on the few times that Boozer set up in the low post by running squeeze-cuts after entering the ball into him. This involved the entry-passer screening for the nearest wing player (or vice versa, depending on the spacing), then one of them cutting to the basket while the other (usually the screener) fanned to an open space.

But if the Jazz succeeded in getting Boozer untracked, just about everybody else's offense remained under lock and key. Sure, Deron Williams had excellent numbers — 10-for-19, 10 assists, and 26 points — but most of them were registered while he was being guarded by either Tony Parker or Jacque Vaughn. When Williams played under the surveillance of Bruce Bowen, he was virtually shut down.

Otherwise, Andrei Kirilenko got off to a good start and, as ever, was a significant defensive force when closing on the ball from the weak-side. He was much less effective, though, whenever the Spurs maneuvered him into a situation where he had to play somebody one-on-one. Kirilenko did shoot well — 5-for-11, 15 points — but his three assists were negated by his five turnovers.

Overall, AK was more of an irritant to the Spurs than a serious challenge that required more than casual attention.

Derek Fisher continued to be irrelevant — 1-for-9 for three points. He's still slick, but the Spurs' defense moved too quickly for him to establish a comfortable rhythm. Perhaps Fisher will shoot the lights out back in Salt Lake City.

Mehmet Okur had another bummer of a game — 4-for-13, only five rebounds, and 11 points. Aside from sniping the ball out of Tim Duncan's hands once or twice, and hitting two of five treys, Okur did nothing. Indeed, his patty-cake dribblings made him look slow and clumsy.

Young Paul "Moose" Millsap played with much more forcefulness and had the foot- and hand-speed to almost compete with the Spurs' front-line.

Matt Harpring huffed, puffed, and was breathlessly superfluous.

In Game 1, Jazz shooters curling off weak-side screens wound up with open shots. In Game 2, the same action drew Duncan away from the paint to help on the curl and left Boozer alone under the basket. But, as in Game 1, Jerry Sloan was reluctant to call this number more than a few times. Why he didn't run the same play until the Spurs stopped it remains a mystery.

For the Spurs, their game plan on offense was déjà vu all over again. TD scoring with ease in the low post (10-15 for 26 points), wiping the glass clean (14 rebounds), and menacing any and all interior shots attempted by the Jazz (five blocks).

Bowen played exceptional defense and hit only critical hoops — 3-for-4 from downtown.

Fabricio Oberto executed a back-cut and scored a layup every time Boozer turned his head. On one fast break, Oberto actually beat Boozer down court for still another layup.

Andrei Kirilenko has the defensive goods, but he's no match for Tim Duncan. (Matt Slo / Associated Press)

Williams could not keep Parker out of the middle, hence TP's 7-for-12 shooting, 14 assists, and 24 points. Parker, though, did revert to his early days in the league by making too many careless passes, which added up to seven turnovers.

The Jazz had some success in doubling Parker in high screen/roll situations. With a big showing aggressively, Parker often had a difficult time scanning the court and making precise passes. But just as frequently, he managed to turn the corner and either hit the roller (usually Duncan), found an open shooter (the Spurs were 13-for-26 from the Great Beyond), or else filled the hole with his patented floaters and flippers.

Overall, Parker hit four of seven jumpers from long range, including the only 3-pointer he attempted. Still, the Jazz would be better served by simply going under any S/R that involves Parker and let him fire away. If this does happen in Game 3, look for the Spurs to counter by simply moving the high-screens a step closer to the basket.

Manu Ginobili raced around the court like his pants were on fire, finishing 6-for-12 from the field for 17 points. Sometimes, though, he was moving faster than the action warranted — hence his five turnovers.

In the first quarter, the Spurs seemed a bit overconfident. Even though they only opened with their B-game, they still managed a two-point lead at the first break. The initial first of several turning points occurred early in the subsequent quarter when the Spurs' second unit was on the floor — Ginobili, Oberto, Brent Barry, Robert Horry, and Vaughn. Instead of the Jazz taking advantage of Duncan and Parker being on the bench, they suc bed to Ginobili's madcap drives (often in a 1-4 clear-out alignment) and timely 3-balls. By the time the starters re-entered the fray, the Spurs were already in firm command of the game.

Another turning point came about at the end of the third quarter when the Jazz, by virtue of an 11-1 surge, halved what had been a 22-point deficit. Even though San Antonio's second-unit was in action, the Spurs, as usual, didn't panic. They simply stepped on the gas and pulled ahead once again. This time, the fuel was Ginobili's beating Kirilenko for a layup, and then bagging a gutsy 3-pointer in early offense.

Poll

Midway through the fourth period, Utah made another move, cutting the Spurs lead to seven with 8:45 remaining in the game. But, once again, the Spurs relished the fresh challenge. A pair of home-runs by Bowen, a fast-breaking layup by Ginobili, and Michael Finley blowing past Fisher for a dunk re-established a 15-point margin within 2½ minutes.

Sound familiar?

In both Games 1 and 2, it's almost as if the Spurs got bored with how effortlessly they could whip Utah. That's when they started taking unnecessary risks. Tossing lob passes from too far away from the basket. Trying to thread passes through heavy traffic. Shooting too-quick triples. Gambling for steals.

And that's when Pop calls a time-out and tightens the reins.

There's no question that the Jazz will play better back home, and they might even steal a game. But the Spurs are simply too good, and the Jazz are simply too young.

If the future looks bright for the Jazz, for now they're still a couple of players shy of being able to compete on even terms with San Antonio.

Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

[Solid D]

Instead of the Jazz taking advantage of Duncan and Parker being on the bench, they suc bed to Ginobili's madcap drives (often in a 1-4 clear-out alignment) and timely 3-balls. By the time the starters re-entered the fray, the Spurs were already in firm command of the game.

This isn't exactly true. The Spurs expanded their 2-point lead to 6 points while Parker and Duncan sat. That's when Pop brought TP and Timmy back in, along with Barry, Finley and Elson. The Spurs gave the Jazz a steady supply of "1, 4 rub" with Parker driving and kicking to Barry and Finley or pulling up and hitting the jumper. By the time Gino and Oberto re-entered for Finley and Elson, respectively, the Spurs had taken the lead to double digits. When Kirilenko sat, with the combination of Parker, Ginobili, Barry, Duncan and Oberto, the Spurs spread the floor even more, sometimes 5-out, and started slicing up the Jazz into small pieces.

[longrod]

"If the future looks bright for the Jazz, for now they're still a couple of players shy of being able to compete on even terms with San Antonio.

Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar."

Exactly.

[BreezeHillBill]

By the 3rd quarter, the Jazz players on the floor looked stunned, lost, and bewildered. They practically turned into spectators.

[phyzik]

Manu's shorts WERE on fire... he was just moving too fast for the flames to ever really catch a good burn.

[DDS4]

Jazz aren't winning if Okur (an all-star) gives them nothing and they don't play defense.

[michaelwcho]

JT the brick, a radio host, said that it was like a heavyweight vs. a cruiserweight, not a light heavyweight, a cruiserweight! It was funny! Guess you had to be there though...

[wildbill2u]

The reason they beat us at home this season was Okur hitting his shots. I think he scored in the 30s once.

[Dipship31]

Charley Rosen:

"Young Paul "Moose" Millsap"

What the ??