The Utah Jazz start off slowly, but then run away with the game behind bench strength and inside scoring. Deron Williams shoots himself into a poor game, and the lack of inside defense allowed for the Jazz getting whatever they want at the rim. Deron Williams finished with 16 points (off of 15 shots), 4 assists (to 4 turn overs), and countless unnecessary boos from his former home crowd in 29 minutes of action. This was, for three quarters at least, the most uncomfortable blowout win in a long time. Not because the other team was clearly over-matched, and not because the other team had something like only 7 guys healthy. This game was uncomfortable to watch because a) so many former Jazz guys were on the other team (and you never want to see your guys sad on the bench), and b) for the vast majority of this game the Energy Solutions Arena booed Deron Williams like he was a life-long enemy of our franchise. He’s not a Jazz-killer like Kobe Bryant, or Michael Jordan, or Manu Ginobili. He’s a guy we traded away for good players and a bright future. It would be like booing Adrian Dantley, in a way.
Anyway the game was close early, however the Jazz major strength (their depth) became a problem for the Nets, who played last night and aren’t very deep themselves. Kris Humphries had yet another double double (14 and 10) off of stellar shooting. He had 5 offensive rebounds. As a team the Nets didn’t get much else beyond what those two brought, and shot a combined 39.3 fg%. Mehmet Okur had a luke warm showing of 9 points off of 7 shots (missing all two three point attempts), and 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block. Sundiata Gaines had an okay night, and DeShawn Stevenson didn’t do much of anything.
On the Jazz side of the ball, they made 34 shots, helped by 21 assists. While the Nets went to the line more, the Jazz tightened things up there and shot 84.2 ft%. Five players finished in double figures: Al Jefferson had 20 points (9/16 shooting), Paul Millsap had another double double (18/12, with 4 steals and 3 assists), C.J. Miles had 15, Raja Bell had 12, and Gordon Hayward finished with 10.
It was a bounce back win after the devastating loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the Jazz will not have time to savor this win as they play the Denver Nuggets in Denver tomorrow night.
0 recs | 16 comments
Tomorrow's game key
Reverse-reverse jinx
If the playoffs started today, we’d be playing @Nuggets
BJInIndiana - January 14, 2012
The boos really bothered me
I wanted the Jazz to win, but to greet Deron like that … I felt really let down by the fans at the game.
Yucca Man - January 15, 2012
Was at the game..
Seemed like half boos and half cheers at intro and then the minority of fans booed when he would get the ball. It only seemed worse because you can’t cheer for him dribbling to drown some of it out.
Yes, the booers were stupid (I get it maybe the first time down the court, but c’mon after that…), but a lot of the knowledgeable Jazz fans were
rxmike12 - January 15, 2012 via Android app
Stupid fingers...
… Just as frustrated watching the idiots boo. Just my two cents from being there.
rxmike12 - January 15, 2012 via Android app
Sad to hear that people would boo DWill in Utah.
Not a good day to be a Jazz fan!
LoWBlok - January 15, 2012
My boss from work was one of them booing Deron
I tried to argue with him that Deron didn’t leave like Melo, that team management traded him. Then I showed him Deron’s blog post about how he loved his time in Utah
His response? “Yeah, well I just don’t like him.”
d.row - January 15, 2012
I just don't like him either,
but that doesn’t mean I should boo. Lame.
SurlyMae - January 15, 2012
Ugh
I didn’t boo nor cheer for him at the game. People were booing MEMO. Those are the idiot fans I despise. The doctor that sits under the basket didn’t wave any of his bag of tricks while any of the former Jazz guys while they shot free throws so that was pretty nice to see. The boos were pretty loud in the first half, and most of the boos died out in the second half. But people booing Memo? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. You could tell Memo still loves it here in Utah.
I booed DeShawn though lol. It’s still weird to see Memo in a Nets jersey :(
KaBar6 - January 15, 2012
Says a lot then Doc dosent boo
And why boo Memo? Sheesh
TazzJazzFan - January 15, 2012
Why on earth would anyone boo Memo?
There’s seriously something wrong with the people that did.
moni - January 15, 2012
I fail to see the logic behind boo-ing a player that did not demand a trade, but was traded by front office
who also was a key guy for our team and loved playing here . . . ?
I guess there is no logic.
AllThatJazzBasketball - January 15, 2012
And he looked so sad in his post-game.
It broke my heart.
SurlyMae - January 15, 2012
Quite embarassing
After last night’s game, is it any wonder that free agents do not ever consider Utah as a possible destination?
LP Jazz - January 15, 2012
you get a rec for that
AllThatJazzBasketball - January 15, 2012
ditto
jazzed - January 15, 2012
my 2 cents worth...
I cheered for D-Will, Memo & even Hump during intros, but during the game they were the enemy so I rooted against them, as if they were any other opposing players. That being said, like most everyone else on here I found the persistent booing of D-Will every time he touched the ball to be absurd.
Waxmaster - January 15, 2012
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