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Monday, March 31, 2008

Missing Memo

(Isn't this an awesome picture?!)

I have come to an indisputable conclusion: We NEED Mehmet Okur. Here are a few stats to support my point:


  1. Memo has missed 10 games this season due to injury / illness. The Jazz have gone 4 - 6 in those games.

  2. The Jazz are 20 – 7 when Memo scores 15 or more points.

  3. The Jazz are 15 – 4 when Memo has 10 or more rebounds.

  4. The Jazz are 15 – 3 when Memo has a double-double.

He brings a dimension to the Jazz that very few teams have. There aren’t many players his size that have such a good outside jump-shot. That is extremely valuable to the Jazz. He stretches opponents’ defenses. If he is out on the perimeter, the other team has to put someone on him – thus opening up the lane for Williams to penetrate or pass to Boozer in the low post. I really hope he is better soon. We need him at full strength for this final stretch.

Monday, March 24, 2008

The Home Stretch

It’s crunch time. The Jazz only have 11 regular season games left. That means they have 11 games to try and push themselves to the top of the Western Conference and secure home-court advantage for the playoffs. Here is my expert analysis of the situation :

Things that could help the Jazz:

  1. 7 of their remaining games are home games, and the Jazz have the best home record in the NBA (29-4).
  2. 4 of their remaining games are against Sub-500 teams.
  3. Dirk Nowitzki suffered a major injury against San Antonio last night. Dallas being one of our tougher road games, this might give the Jazz an edge.
  4. Their schedule is spread out – they will only play one more “back-to-back”. All other games will have at least one day of rest between them.

Things that could hurt the Jazz:

  1. The Jazz still have to play the San Antonio Spurs twice. Their last game of the regular season is against the Spurs and will be played at San Antonio.
  2. The Jazz’ last 6 games are against Western playoff contenders.
  3. 4 of their remaining games are against Sub-500 teams (notice how this one made both lists…)

Here’s another random fact… The LA Lakers are in position to end up as the number one seed in the West (darn Lakers... I hate those guys!). The Golden State Warriors are in position to finish at number 8. If that happens, the Lakers will play the Warriors in the first round. Why is this significant? Because the Warriors seem to be one team that has the Lakers number this year. They have won all three matches so far, and they will play again tonight. Could the Warriors end up doing everyone a favor by eliminating the Lakers in the first round? Hey, they did it to the Mavs last year… We’ll have to wait and see. In the words of our beloved broadcaster, Craig Bolerjack, "BUCKLE UP!!"

Good luck Jazz! Here’s hoping we finish off the season 11-0!

Friday, March 14, 2008

The Problem With the MWC Tournament...

The Utes beat the Lobos 82-80 in overtime last night, so they will advance to the semi-finals, where they will face # 2 seeded UNLV tonight at 10:00. Good Luck UTES!!!

The other semi-final game will be played between BYU and San Diego State. (Go Aztecs!)

So here's my gripe. Since the Mountain West Conference was formed nine seasons ago, the Men's Basketball tournament has been held at the Thomas & Mack Center (home of the UNLV Rebels) six times -- this season being the sixth. Six out of nine seasons. And the plan is to continue to hold the tournament there every year. Of the five tournaments that have been played on their home court, the UNLV Rebels have appeared in the tournament final four times. They have won two conference championships.

How is this fair to the other 8 teams in our conference? Having the home crowd behind you, playing in the same gym you have practiced in all season, and NOT being road-weary are major advantages. Is it any wonder that UNLV has the best overall record in the tournament?

Why couldn't they move the tournament every year, and just cycle through all 9 schools? It just bothers me that they get home court advantage EVERY year in the tournament.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

MWC Tournament

With March Madness coming up, the Utes' only shot at an NCAA Tournament berth would be to win the Mountain West Conference Tournament -- and they'll have their work cut out for them.

Tonight, the Utes face off against the number three seeded New Mexico Lobos. Utah lost both regular season meetings against the Lobos -- first in New Mexico (77-67 OT) and then in Salt Lake (72-71). In Salt Lake City, a made free-throw put New Mexico up by three with under 10 seconds left. The second free throw missed, and the Utes got the rebound. Tyler Kepkay pushed it up the court, but thinking the Utes were only down by two, he drove all the way to the basket for the buzzer-beating shot. Had he pulled up for the three-pointer, who knows?

The Utes have struggled in conference play this season, after going 10-4 in non-conference matches. However, don't count them out just yet. Eight of their nine conference losses were decided by single digits. They can play extremely well -- their fault is inconsistency.

The Utes tip-off at 9:30 PM on The Mtn. (my LEAST favorit sports network). Good luck Utes!