You’ve heard them........
There are whispered comments around the water cooler, little snippets
of doubt mentioned on posts here at Jazz Land.
Sure, the Jazz look good. But remember two years ago? We were six
and one then, beating the NBA up, and look what happened after that.
worst season in Jazz history, Jazz fans were hanging their heads and
Jazz jerseys in the closet, never to see the light of day. Old Laker
unis and Nuhhhhhhhgets hats....geez, I can’t even say it.....were
adorned with a sheepish, sly look that suggested....Jazz who? Oh,
sure, I like Jazz. Dave Brubeck? Saw him once thirty years ago, so
yeah...I like Jazz.
No, silly. Utah Jazz. As in the NBA type team. As in the league’s
top record. As in the team with the best four players starting on
the same team.
Deron Williams. Andre Kirilenko. Carlos Boozer. Memo Okur.
Certainly there’s a case for these four players being the best four
starting team-mates in the NBA. The stats bear it out. Our hearts
feel it. Our minds acknowledge the fact. Even our heads nod in agreement.
See? I saw you do it, I could feel it in my bones.
What, you say? They’re not the best four players in the NBA, no way.
Lebron, Kobe, DWade, Shak, Duncan....
No, the best four players starting together on one team.
And that my friends, is why this team in 2006-2007 is not the same
team that nosedived into the dumps of depression and NBA standings
two years ago.
Two years of growth, learning, maturity, and one year of a certain
6'3" Point named Deron Williams. "Willy", to his team-mates and now
Jazz Land.
Oh, there are a lot of differences in these two teams. That team started
fast against some real stinkers in the NBA, if there is such a thing.
This team has already beaten Detroit, Phoenix, and Houston. This team
has a two and one road trip already under their belts, and is once
again starting the tradition of don’t come on our floor unless you
want a real whuppin’, and it’s about time, and it will continue.
This team is deep, with some real talent at the backups, and that
team...Stunk, when the reserves came into the game. Sorry, but I’ve
got to tell the truth. They even stunk at the starting Point position.
Keith Mcleod does not equal Deron Williams. I’d even take our third
stringer Dee before having to settle for what Keith brought to the
table. Thankfully, we don’t have to worry about that.
Instead, the Jazz have one of the brightest young Points in the game,
averaging 17 points and almost 9 dimes a game. Look at the standings
for assists in the NBA, for the best Points in the game inhabit the
top ten of that list. Willy sits right up there with the best, and
for a good reason. He is one of the best, years ahead of what I hoped
would happen to the stocky, deceptively quick Point Guard from Illinois.
And when he sits down for a breather, in comes Derek Fisher. Perhaps
not the quickest, or the most talented, or the best scorer or passer
in the league, but I defy you to find anyone else in the league with
his maturity, smarts, and that certain intangible known as being a
winner that would and could do what he does so easily for our very
talented, but very young team.
When Andre Kirilenko comes out, in goes Matt Harpring. Not the Matt
of two years ago struggling on one leg, but a healthy Matt with something
to prove and the body and legs to do it with. Jazz fans complained
mightily the last couple of years about blown lay ups, misses caused
by weak legs and a bum knee. No more. Matt is back.
Then there’s shooting guard. Ever since the retirement of Jeff Hornacek
there’s been a hole at the two, and it’s been deep. Gordan Giricek
gave hope for a while, but has suffered with bum tendons and time
in the Sloan doghouse. He showed signs of breaking out of that doghouse,
only to suffer tendonitis in the other ankle, for heaven’s sake. CJ
Miles, a 19 year old kid, has struggled at times, but shows glimpses
of greatness, and as the year goes on, he and rookie Ronnie Brewer
will learn and grow into what is rightfully their position. Fish can
also play there to spell the youngsters, and so far that youth hasn’t
cost us a game.
Instead of Kris Humphries, a very talented but incredibly inconsistent
Power Forward, a certain young man from Louisiana is emerging, no,
not Karl.....Kirby! Paul Millsap is quickly becoming recognized around
the league as the steal of the draft. A late second rounder who can
play right now, and play well. He’s one of those short PF’s who frustrate
the scouts and general managers, but in this case, they, and the rest
of the so called experts such as myself and everyone else in the media,
should have known that anyone that leads the NCAA in rebounding for
three straight years might know how to.....Rebound. Score. Play tough
defense. Never, never back down. Funny, but it doesn’t seem to be
so silly to mention Paul Millsap’s name in the same sentence as Karl
Malone right now. There are a lot of similarities. Whether Paul wants
to be the best like Karl, burning with intensity and desire, remains
to be seen. He does have that certain something, that innate gift
of being where the ball is at the right time.
Oh, there will be injuries, for example Gordan and Andre’s sprain
last night. That happens. It’s part of the NBA, and always will be.
No, it’s not a precursor of collapse, or a nightmare from the past.
It’s a few games covered, not easily in Andre’s case, by the deep
talent that exists on the Jazz bench. It’s a chance for Paul Millsap
to play. Look out Clippers. Look out Eldon Brand. Your clone is now
playing for the Utah Jazz, and you better look backward because he’s
gaining on you.
Compare that team with this team all you want to in the furtive dank
darkness of your closet. That’s where you need to keep it, because
this team bears faint resemblance to that team. This team is a winner,
and will be there when the playoffs start.
Count on it.
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