Oh Dirk!

Every Jazz fans were looking at the boxscore in the middle of Q4 and thought we would get a win in Dallas.

Oh Dirk! You just single-handedly destroyed us. I don't want to blame Okur defense because I don't think anyone in the league could possibly stop a red-hot Dirk. He is tall, he can shoot. What can you say?

A 1-3 start, what a good way to lower my expectation this season.

Others,

- Sun defeated Heat even without Barbosa. Nash is in a very good form now.
- Looks like Bucks has picked a fantastic rookie - Brandon Jennings

Boozer, Okur, Korver. All Staying. Millsap is the Winner.

Boozer, Okur, Korver. All Staying.

That's something we don't expect much when the summer starts. And now it became true. Awesome!

However, not sure I'm stupid or not but the clear intention that we will match Millsap's offer may make other teams unnecessarily offer a crazy contract to him, and hurt us financially, at least for the coming year.

So I guess Millsap is the happiest man here (so far). He is waiting other teams to push the boundary of Jazz by offering something crazy enough (e.g. USD10mln) to hurt us financially, but not "out of the sky" (e.g. USD12.5mln) just in case Jazz can't offer and Millsap would sign with the team (which he does not fully deserve yet). It's all Game Theory and number crunching.

So in any case Millsap is the Winner.

Lost, but Commendable Efforts on Offensive Rebounds

Jazz,

- We lost, but commendable effort on Offensive Rebounds - 20 of them!!!

- We will look forward to Okur's back, and hopefully he could play in Game 2.

- Do we miss Donyell Marshall? He is still very efficient (with the limited mins); he is still very professional (keep working hard even though most of the regular season he did not play much); and he is still that clutch in three-pointers.

One thing, he also has a sense of humour, with humbleness - ""You've got to understand, when I come into the game we're usually down 15 points," Marshall joked. "So my job is just to come in and shoot.""

vs perhaps the best athletic player in history - LBJ - Asked about his range afterward, James paused. "Uh," he said. "Pretty much unlimited."

Others,

- Sixers stunned Magic, another very tough clutch shot by Andre Iguodala.

- Hawks really played tough defense. Perhaps their last year success (3-4 lost to Celtics) really gave them some unusual confidence in Playoff.

Playoff Starts; Rose Blossoms; and Lakers, See You Soon

Jazz,

- Okur still can't run full speed with the strained hamstring he suffered in Monday's victory over the L.A. Clippers and pegged his chances as "low" of playing this afternoon when the Jazz open their first-round playoff series against the Lakers.

The Jazz have not officially ruled out Okur, but have made contingency plans, with coach Jerry Sloan saying he would start veteran Jarron Collins in Okur's place, much as he did in Tuesday's regular-season finale against the Lakers.

The chance of upsetting Lakers in the first game is a little bit...slimmer?

- Rockets really kicked Trail Blazers ass today. Jazz, could you remind me how we kicked Rockets out in 1st round, for two years in a row?

Others,

- Rose just showed everyone he is the Rookie of the Year. He scored 36 pts, 11 asts in a playoff debut. The mental strength you seldom found in a rookie.

- Asked about his range afterward, James paused. "Uh," he said. "Pretty much unlimited."

LBJ perhaps is the best athletic basketball player ever, but sometimes I thought he should have shown some more humbleness in his words.

What a Night

Jazz Game,

- What a night...We squandered a 21-pt lead, Okur gave us hope by a clutch three, D Will two consecutive jumpers forced the OT, AK 4-pt play lifted us to Win.

- However, we should not be too happy since we waste such a big lead, but the fact that we stay focus at the end deserves some compliments.

Jazz Took Down Thunder

Jazz Game,

- Let's hope Okur is okay with his eyes!

- I never saw a no-look to be so "complete". You will know what I mean when you see the one by AK in the game recap - link.

Others,

- oh...just found out Jason Hart is in Nuggets...

Seven in a Row

Jazz Game,

- A win in an emotional night.

- Brewer is on fire. We need you to play with the same intensity throughout the rest of the regular season and playoff!

- Okur is red hot.

- Coach Sloan has spread the mins well. After all, we will face an energetic Warriors in a back-to-back Away game tomorrow!

Jazz Dedicated the Win to Larry H. Miller

Jazz Game,

- Okur, so under-rated in the NBA envrionment. I am not saying he is the Top 20 or even Top 30 in the league, but he has been under-estimated for all these years, especially to NBA fans who seldom watch Jazz games.

- Brewer's jump shots are unusually accurate in today game.

- I have to admit that CP3 could perform even better if he is in a better team. In Hornets, he needs to bear huge responsibilities in scoring as a PG. Not healthy to his development.

- Rasual Butler's perimeter shooting is quite deadly in the recent two games. In contrast, Peja Stojakovic has lost his touches. Look at his stats in the last five games and you will know why I have this comment - link.

Okur's Back to Back 3 Sinked Timberwolves

Jazz game,

- once again, I am confident to say that Okur is one of the most under-rated player in the league. His consecutive Threes sinked Timberwolves.

Okur's Career Night Extends Jazz Winning Streak to Four

Jazz Game,

- Okur!!! Career-night with 43 points. Absolutely fantastic. I always believe Okur is one of the under-rated player in the league, and inevitably being mocked all the time. However, I stand by my above comment.

- However, we are always playing as if 3-points from others would never fall. No D on perimeter at all!

Others,

- Nick Young has some good games recently, he is officially under my radar.

- Got to see Coach Frank (Nets) “timely” timeout, oops…for Thunders - link.

D Will feels good

Jazz game,

- Okur is back, everything seems easier, but he is not 100% yet.

- D Will said this is the first time he feels good, close to 100%. He showed it by a good scoring night. Hope he could keep his shooting touch from this game onwards.

- Jazz will play an Away game with Lakers. Could we see another unexpected win?

Others,

- Baron expressed interest to be a Warrior again – link.

He should not have gone, Warriors would be a very good team if he did not go away. Now everything seems too late even some kinds of trade can be made this season.

- Shaq had a great game today – 28 pts, 12 rebs. He said it loud that the team’s offense should be built around him after the game.

"I've been doing that my whole career and I think that's how this team should play, especially the way I'm shooting free throws now. It should be an inside-outside game," said O'Neal, who went 8-for-12 on free throws.

"I've been in the league 15 years and I've been in [the finals] six times, and that's the way you get there. I think once we do that and develop some consistency and stop turning the ball over, then we'll be all right."

- After getting consistent minutes from Coach Don Nelson, Marco Belinelli has been giving some good numbers lately. He becomes a big part of Warriors already. You have not let me down.

Jazz, seriously short-handed, continues the slump.

Jazz Game,

- Okur is out with back spasm. Sloan tried Fesenko for 4 mins.

- Millsap's 15 streak on double-double ends, due to losing some time on ... injury treatment.

- When will we get healthy enough to win?

- Jazz would have lost more if their FTs are not falling. Luckily today they have above-par performance (23/27).

Memo is HOT, Jazz improves to 15-9

Jazz Game,

- Memo had hot hands recently.

- D Will's shots are still not falling. But his passes are indeed marvelous.

- Koufos had two good games before but he got 0 mins in recent two games. Same as Price.

Others,

- Sorry guys, one more time - Okafor 27pts 17 rebs. Let's see how good (or disappointing) Bobcats will become.

Jazz Celebrated Coach Sloan's 20th Anniversary with a W

Jazz Game,

- Congratulations, Coach Sloan

- Like how Okur plays the game recently, he understood he needs to get a very good balance of attack between long-range jumpers and penetrating for easy shots

- When will our Man - D Will, fully recover from his ankle? He is playing not like he used to play.

- Zero minute for Price today.

- Anyway, we need to thank Kevin Love for his four consecutive misses on FTs. However, he is a very hardworking player that Coach Sloan likes. Look at his offensive boards.

Others,

- Magic had three consecutive three 3-pointers to win the game vs Portaland, thanks.

- Kings upset Lakers, another thanks.

- Shaq got his first 30+pt game since 1.5 year ago.

Jazz is BACK, 13-8

Jazz Game,

- Millsap got AK-like Stat

- I like how Okur played in this game, not just relying on his hot hands from 3-pt shooting but also willing to dribble in and look for easy shots

- Koufos proved he is capable

- Knight has well replaced our part-time PG Price

- D Will’s penetration looks better

- Jazz Fans got to like Harpring, 14 pts 7 rebs. His no-nonsense playing style is awesome. Catch-and-shoot, first-touch layup.

- Love this interview - link, Harpring and Sloan talked to the press after the game.

Others,

- NYK last shot, bad execution, watch this - link. What are the hesitations about? They could have forced OT.

- Emeka Okafor, another solid game. He became so stable…

- Oden, so far still disappointing

Disheartening Buzzer Beater, Hughes Silenced Jazz (9-6) at Home

Jazz Game,

- Hughes got lucky rebound, nice pump-fake thought...

- Our D on Pick-and-Roll needs to be a bit tougher, Derrick Rose often got plenty of spaces after the pick

- To sum up, nothing wrong in the offense in Q4, but the D should be better

- Okur is back!

- Watch what Coach Sloan, CJ and Knight said after the game - link.

Teams struggling with injury will benefit in Season End?

- Look at Spurs, without two killing weapons - Parker and Ginobili, they are initially struggling, and then they do better than most would have expected (including me) in recent games. The recent "surge" of Spurs could be explained by the more playing mins of Roger Mason, a very capable perimeter shooter (and Sixth Man if Spurs is healthy), and rookie George Hill, no one pays much attention on him when Spurs is healthy. Now, the playing opportunity has already sharpened these two players. They can well replace the roles of Finley, Udoka, etc...

- Same applies on Jazz. Our injury situation couldn't be worse at the beginning of the season. D Will, Boozer, AK, Korver, Harpring, Brevin Knight, and Okur has been back to Turkey for a week. This gives opportunity for CJ, Koufos, Price, Millsap and Brewer more playing time, and getting more seasoned. Now, Jazz simply has the deepest bench in the league.

Jazz Improves to 9-5 by beating Grizzlies

Jazz Game,

- still 3 men down (D Will, Boozer, Korver)

- Okur and Price get back their shooting touches

- AK is still doing everything

- not an exciting game anyway, even we suck in Away Game and we have three men down, we should have won this one

Okur is back to Turkey for family issue

Jazz excuse Okur so he can be with family in Turkey. Okur's agent said Okur will be missing for around 1 week but nothing is sure yet...It will be a tough road trip.

On a positive note, Koufos and Fesenko will have more minutes…

It is reported that originally Fesenko needs to fly to Toronto for visa issue, however, his agent is trying to work around it because everyone knows that it is a rare opportunity for Fesenko that play for 10+ minutes in a real NBA game.

For Koufos, I hope he learnt something of his two appearances vs Clippers, in which he got blocked by Chris Kaman in both games.

O.J. Mayo, two consecutive games with 30+ points... He is definitely catching my attention.

4-0, and counting

Thoughts on Jazz Game,

- as mentioned, deep bench, this time is some clutch plays by Okur and Brewer

- looks like the 19-pound gain by Brewer helped him a lot, makes him have an edge physically over ordinary SGs. With his better and more confident outside shooting, he is (once again) set to be a front-runner in the Most Improved Player Award this season

- Price seems not to be used to the starting PG role, at least his shooting accuracy so far is sub-par.

- If we win the next game vs Thunders, we can celebrate Coach Sloan 1000th Win with Jazz at Home.

- D Will does not need to rush for return in Thunders game (they are Thunders man, we should be able to take them down without D Will), but for this potential memorable game he may consider to play some 20 mins as a warm-up for the road trip?

Other Thoughts of Today,

- ESPN's column writer David Thorpe seconds my support on Rudy Fernandez. He is more than a rookie, and he seems to payback my support by cooling down a bit vs Jazz. Thanks!

- Heats got lucky, Mario Chalmers, very solid rookie, looks like a unsung hero. 9 steals today... Did I mention Heats also have a so-far-alright rookie Beasley?

- Derrick Rose is still keeping his good performance, no matter Bulls win or lose. Another front-runner of Rookie of the Year.

- Last but not least, did the 2OT win by Spurs over Timberwolves convince you that their dynasty is over? You won't believe Spurs needs 2OT (and actually could have lost in 1OT) to beat Timberwolves if I told you in the past few seasons. As of now it is just a 2+1 team (Duncan, Parker, Mason)? You are in doubts? look at the Boxscore and you will know. 78 out of 97 attempts are by them. But credit to Parker, his 55 pts is amazing and his shooting is indeed getting better and more stable year after year.

Who will be the pleasant surprise this year?

Before last season, not many people expect Brewer could take up the starting SG role for the whole season and he did impress us by his athleticism of running backdoor and attacking the rim constantly.

So, who will give us a surprise this season? Two names appear in my head.

Mehmet Okur

“Okur? He always gave us surprise by his buzzer beater in the past two seasons, didn’t he? What more surprise we can get?”

Well…No one will doubt Okur’s shooting ability, and his coolness in handling the clutch shot, we never see him performing consistently well. Ironically, he is somewhat consistently inconsistent.

It seems that he determined to bring himself into aother level (perhaps also to raise his negotiability in the coming summer?). He decided not to play for Turkey National Team. He came back from his own country one month before the start of the traninig camp to kick start his physical training. He is in great shape now (I sort of know when I saw he ran the floor in the first preseason game vs Lakers).

No wonder Sloan said some great things about him – “That's what you hope everybody does: get in great shape, so they can run up and down the floor."

Let’s see how well he plays this year. To me, two words are enough – “Consistently Good”.

Kyle Korver

The press always blah…blah…blah… about Jazz’s winning record since Korver joined mid last season. Agree his addition to the team did give Jazz some positive impact but the improving record is not entirely because of him, perhaps 25% (?) from my humble opinion.

Well, his killer skills 3-point percentage was below 40% last year, which is way off from his standard. At the end of the day, time is needed to learn how the team runs and get into the system.

After half a year, we see progress. His shooting % in the three preseason games is well above 50% and he is actually the scoring leader so far. I am not say these numbers mean everything, especially in the not-so-competitive preseason, we do have every chance to see a even better, sharper-shooting Korver this season.

Quote of the Day, by Coach Sloan, which shows his black humour.

"That's the only thing I have a problem with. Sometimes we get in a big hurry to bury the other team. The three-point shot only counts three, it doesn't count 20."