Tonight the Utah Jazz play host to the Los Angeles Lakers. If you haven’t been following things that closely, the Jazz aren’t necessarily blowing teams out, but they do have a 5 game win streak on the line. The Lakers, usually a team that treats us like kid brothers, are often the team that breaks up our streaks. In 2009-2010 the Jazz ran off a very impressive 9 game win streak, and also won 13 times in 14 games. Guess which team broke our streak? It was the Los Angeles Lakers, with a 96-81 win on our own home court. LA also broke a smaller streak another time that very same season. There are other examples in other seasons of streaks ending to the Lakers; though, recently we seem to crash upon the rocks that are the Oklahoma City Thunder now more than any other team. I did talk about streaks a bit back in the last Sunday Syncopation, so I’m not going to go into it any longer here. Ultimately though, the Lakers are more than just a ‘big brother’ franchise to us, they are also Jazz momentum c-c-c-c-combo breakers.
Last night the Cleveland Cavaliers scored 105 points against the Jazz. Yes, their final score was augmented somewhat by overzealous officiating (72 free throw attempts for the game?); but coming into Salt Lake City the Cavs were only averaging 94.8 points per game. That is fully over 10 more points than normal. Furthermore, letting them score 105 breaks the streak the Jazz had going where our defense kept the other team under 105 points, a six game streak. The last time we surrendered 105+ points in a game was back in the first week of the season when we went all "Magniot Line defense" on Nene and his Nuggets. Our defense has improved, but in the games it looks improved in, we haven’t had to face a legit series of scoring bigs. We’ll get two, tonight, in Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.
As Jazz fans, for the most part, our pure hearts get twisted and we almost feed off of perceived slights (real or imagined) and the national media overlooking our team. That said, our recent play has been turning heads.
Heck, even the NBA can’t pretend we’re not winning games – they have us at #17 (+9 spots). Most all of these places had the Jazz in the bottom third in the league last week (and to start the season). Perhaps we’ll return there in a month or so – but right now our Jazz are winning some games we shouldn’t be if you look at wins and losses ‘on paper’. Rankings aside, gotta bring this back to the fans. Sometimes we do thrive on feeling specifically under-talked about. Some of our best players played best with a chip on their shoulders as well (Deron Williams, Karl Malone). How about in this stealth-rebuilding year we also show up to games a bit more in support of a team doing well? (I’m talkin to you, Joe Casual Fan) Last night there were way more green colored, empty, seats than I am used to seeing.
Speaking of combo breakers and having a reason to watch games – we get to see Gordon Hayward play against the Lakers again! (Insert Kermit the Frog style flailing arms "yaaaayyyyy!" style expression here) Hayward isn’t having the perfect season so far, but he’s still averaging 9 points / 4 assists / 3 rebounds / 1 block – in 27 mpg. Looking at his splits, he seems to perform well against the Pacific Division; and gets up for the Lakers. He shoots 59.1 fg%, 42.9 3pt%, and 88.9 ft% against them. I’m sure some of the Lakers will know who he is this time around. You know . . . because of what happened last time:
We can’t mention combo breakers without mentioning our nemesis Kobe Bryant. Here’s a bit of trivia: over his career there are only a handful of teams he has a higher scoring average against than the Jazz. See if you can guess 5 of them . . . there are a total of 8. Full answers after the jump.
. . . specifically these worlds
0 recs | 52 comments
Aaahhh, my FIRST downbeat
Was it good for you too?
AllThatJazzBasketball - January 11, 2012
It WAS good for me, thanks for asking. :)
SurlyMae - January 11, 2012
I was just going to say good job on your DB
So… good job on your DB
JazzHype - January 11, 2012
I've had better.
In my Jim Carey liar liar voice.
No it was really good, I just coulnd’t resist.
BobbyD31 - January 11, 2012
Well… that was over pretty fast…
Haha! Just kidding. Great Downbeat!
Negative - January 11, 2012
Good job Amar
4. I had way too high expectations from Gordon because of his performance towards the end of the season. That’s why I am quite disappointed with his game so far. Hope he has a better performance tonight.
Soupe - January 11, 2012 via Android app
Agreed, although David Locke made a good point about this
That Hayward is better when his teammates are better. He’s at his best when he can flow within an offense and contribute as a playmaker, rather than as the #1 option. Then, he has the ability to rise to the occasion in big moments/against good teams. When this team eventually does develop, he could be that scary #2 or 3 guy who rises to the moment and goes off in a big playoff game. What I like about him is that he is more than just a scorer and can make an impact in multiple ways.
Gordon is still developing well, but more than anyone else, his development depends on how the rest of the team develops.
flibbidy - January 11, 2012
That's why he might be a better fit on the 2nd unit
With Earl Watson and Howard and Favors and the other guys who actually share and move the ball.
JazzHype - January 11, 2012
I will be happy if he becomes our Ginobili
Soupe - January 11, 2012
It will all come together for us.
We might just need to play a good team, like Hollywood to put it all together. I’m hoping for a solid game tonight.
UtonganKidInCali - January 11, 2012 via Android app
Love the Magniot line defense reference
As a Jazz fan who lives in So Cal I would love nothing more than to beat the Lakers.
GO JAZZ!
socaljazzfan - January 11, 2012
3
I was at the the Hornets game and there were quite a few empty seats as well, though there were many more at the Grizzlies game (Friday night games are usually more full). I’ll be going to the Nets game Saturday, which I expect will be pretty full for obvious reasons. I also have the next Laker game (Feb. 4), which will have plenty of people, with the unfortunate reality that a lot of them will be bandwagon Laker fans.
flibbidy - January 11, 2012
The dreaded Laker fans
will show up in huge numbers tonight. The Lakers games are always my least favorite to attend and that’s because of how obnoxious their fans are. Even if the Jazz win, they’ll just walk out of the arena chanting about all their championships. Ugh.
jazzpatty - January 11, 2012
Oh, but I’m sure they’re all just fans who moved from LA to SLC for some reason.
flibbidy - January 11, 2012
Haha, right. Many of these fans will show up in Heat jerseys when they roll into town.
jazzpatty - January 11, 2012
funny observations on bandwagon guys
but one of my good friends is born and raised in LA, and he moved to SLC for a few years for work. so he was a documented case of being a Cali Lakers fan transplant that would go to lakers games at the delta center.
AllThatJazzBasketball - January 11, 2012
I have no doubt some California transplants exist
Heck, there are Jazz fans who moved to Portland. People do move and (hopefully) keep their allegiance to their teams. I just find it hard to believe that every Laker fan in Utah is someone who moved here from California. You’d think there would be more Dodgers/Angels/Chargers/etc. fans.
flibbidy - January 11, 2012
I'm an Angels fan because I go to lots of Salt Lake Bees games.
Most of the team is made up of guys who I’ve watched play here in SLC.
DWest - January 11, 2012
That's fine
Especially since we don’t have a pro baseball team here. My main objection is to fans who jump on the bandwagon of certain teams rather than rooting for the hometown team. Another example was I knew in high school who became Bulls fans during the Jordan years, even though they had grown up with me here in Utah. It just seemed like choosing the Bulls as their team was them taking the easy way out.
People have the right to be fans of any team they want, but I have the right to be annoyed by it ;)
flibbidy - January 11, 2012
I live in Portland
But I’m a Ute and Jazz fan until I die
motes - January 11, 2012
...and become Clipper fans in a couple of years.
flibbidy - January 11, 2012
my wife is a cali born laker fan who was converted to a jazz fan due to our team philosophy
-1 Laker fan +1 jazz fan. we now watch the jazz games together!
UtonganKidInCali - January 11, 2012
Yup, I don't think I'd even take free tickets to a LAL game.
At least half of the arena tonight will be full of Lakers ‘fans.’ GAG ME.
SurlyMae - January 11, 2012
I'm with you.
Those games are pure hell, especially if the Jazz lose.
DWest - January 11, 2012
I'm a little disappointed you didn't link to the video
But, that’s ok. Here it is
Guybrush - January 11, 2012
awesome!
AllThatJazzBasketball - January 11, 2012
The one thing that could be interesting tonight against the Lakers
Is that the Lakers have played poorly on the road. They are 0-3 on the road and with the Jazz being 5-0 at home this is a game the Jazz can get if they go out there and take it.
BobbyD31 - January 11, 2012
Lakers combo breaker rule suggests that these trends will flip flop for one game, at the very least.
AllThatJazzBasketball - January 11, 2012
Oh yeah, love the title of your downbeat, by the way. Awesome.
JazzHype - January 11, 2012
4. I'm thinking Flash(Gordon) needs to watch some of the latter games like
this one from last year. He seems so passive right now and seemingly needs to up his intensity and aggressiveness a bit. Maybe he’s waiting for his confidence level to get back up with PT because he’s definitely showing a lack of it in his 3 pt shot and around the hoop, but maybe increased aggressiveness is what it’s going to take to get back his confidence.
Hestari - January 11, 2012
it's as if he bought into the system TOO MUCH
it’s like reggie evans…all does is rebound.
all hayward does is make good passes to keep the flow going. At least he’s smart enough to do that. But sometimes ending the offense on a possession with your own shot or layup is the better choice.
Hayward is pretty solid defensive player though. And if he plays more SG, he’ll have a size advantage more too!
Bryan Chang - January 11, 2012
Maybe being blocked at the rim on dunk attempts so much this year has lowered his confidence.
Have no idea why it would.
JazzHype - January 11, 2012
Has that happened more than just last night's one?
I remember him dunkin on Marc Gasol (I think) last week.
Hestari - January 11, 2012
I've seen at least 2. But maybe those 2 were all.
JazzHype - January 12, 2012
haha i like that....
“stealth-rebuilding year”
Bryan Chang - January 11, 2012
at 2:15 in the Hayward video
you hear a “yagh!!” in the video after he dunks it…is that hayward’s battle cry?? hahaha
Bryan Chang - January 11, 2012
Nice DB debut Amar!!
david.j.smith1 - January 11, 2012
Good first db
look forwards to more
kirkhambiz - January 11, 2012
Good first db
look forwards to more
kirkhambiz - January 11, 2012
need to make a poll
How many free throws will Kobe shoot tonight…
KaBar6 - January 11, 2012 via iPhone app
If they had the same refs as last night, I’d say 40 and counting.
jazzpatty - January 11, 2012
Hmm. Let's put the over/under at 30.
DWest - January 11, 2012
I would put the over under at 15.5
He usually shoots around 12 free throws a game against us, but we are coming off of a game where we fouled everyone a lot and he is on one of his scoring binges and I could see him trying for 50 tonight. He took 13 FTs las night and got 48. I think 15.5 would be about where Vegas would put the line.
BobbyD31 - January 11, 2012
Very good DB Amar.
You are going to anti-jinx the Jazz all the way to the playoffs.
clarkpojo - January 11, 2012
Yes, felt slighted
I don’t have the channel to watch the games, so I recorded an hour of Sportscenter hoping for highlights in the morning. No highlights of the game whatsoever. Hate that.
teancum - January 11, 2012
Enjoyed the DB...especially the trivia!
BJInIndiana - January 11, 2012
nice downbeat
I think Kobe will fire Gordon right up. Defensively and offensively.
hustla801 - January 11, 2012
I agree with the attendance issue you brought up. More people need to show!
I’ve been following the attendance stats, and so far we’ve been coming in about 1500 fans short of a sellout. I go whenever I can, but that’s not as often as I would like. So far I’ve been to two, and I’ve got two more lined up for this month.
DWest - January 11, 2012
Interesting Hayward statistic of the day
Pure Point Rating for some of the leagues “top young point guards” and G-Time
Tyreke Evans—.9 (notice the negative sign)
Kyrie Irving-1.9
John Wall-2.7
G-Time-3.4
Ricky Rubio-6.8
thatdoolinkid - January 11, 2012
Nice
Confirmation of what I’ve always suspected – OG is a great playmaker.
flibbidy - January 11, 2012
He's really improved from last year too
I think his PPR was negative last year. Burks Right now has a negative PPR, but he hasn’t had enough minutes to really make it a significant statistic. The one game he got serious burn on gives me hope though. His 1-game PPR was 10.8
thatdoolinkid - January 11, 2012
And as another reference, Jeff hornacek was 4.6
thatdoolinkid - January 11, 2012 via mobile
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