Then the night after, the Jazz met up with the Miami Heat at home and the Jazz just had no answer during the game. The Jazz opened the game with a quick 10 point lead and it looked to be a home game blowout for the Jazz. But the Jazz just had no answer for D-Wade and the Heat came back and took the lead for good. Utah would make little spurts that would cut into the lead trying to get themselves and the crowd back into it. But everytime they did, the Heat had an answer and held on for the win.
The Jazz then had the day off going into another back-to-back set of games for Friday and Saturday. First up was the Raptors at home on national TV as ESPN broadcasted the game. The Jazz did not disappoint and really impressed me with probably the best complete game I've seen them play all year. The Raptors, who had just got done firing their head coach Sam Mitchell after an 8-9 start, were blown out from the beginning and had no fire power to get back into it. But this game proved to be a historical one as interim head coach for the Raptors Jay Triano became the first Canadian to head coach an NBA team in a game.
It was a pleasant surprise also for the Jazz when Kirlenko and Harpring, who were listed as doubtful when the game was about to start, played and gave the Jazz huge contributions from the bench.
Saturday night, the Jazz fell to the Suns in a back and forth game. I thought it was actually a strong showing for the Jazz as C.J. Miles played one of his best games in his young carreer. I can really see now why the front office wanted to keep him and gave him his big contract during the off-season. But none the less, the Jazz missed key buckets down the stretch that could've won them the game or at least tie it to put it into overtime. The Jazz need to figure out how to finish the games in key situations like the one they were in against Phoenix if they expect to keep succeeding, especially on the road.
The scary news was what happened during the game against Phoenix, as well as after the game. During halftime of the loss at the Suns, Brevin Knight was taken by ambulance to a Phoenix-area hospital in order to have testing administered on his throat area, which he had injured in a collision with the Suns’ Goran Dragic in the final seconds of the first quarter. Following the collision with Dragic, Knight finished the first quarter and played the first 3:28 of the second quarter before leaving the game. A CT scan taken at the hospital showed Knight had no tears in the throat region, but did reveal significant swelling. Due to the swelling, it was recommended that he not fly back with the team to Salt Lake City following the game. Knigh remained hospitalized overnight for observation and was re-examined in the morning. There has been no report since, but he was expected to be able to return to Salt Lake City on Sunday.
Also after the loss, D-Will had a noticeable limp once again on the ankle he sprained during the pre-season. No word has been posted and Williams will probably be fine for upcoming games, but as a Jazz fan, I am very worried for the depth at our point guard play. If D-Will's ankle becomes a problem again during the season, it will not only take away the best player on the team, but eliminate another poing guard that the Jazz seem to have a problem keeping healthy. It will be just like the days in the playoffs when the Jazz were short on men at the point and when Williams got into foul trouble, Kirilenko took over that the point.
On the upcoming schedule for the week, the Jazz only have 3 games, with a big one at home against Portland who is in first place in the division on Thursday. The Jazz will have their hands full facing Greg Oden for the first time. The other 2 games are very winnable for the Jazz with games at the struggling Timberwolves on Tuesday, and Orlando at home Saturday.
Schedule ahead:
Tues. @ Minnesota
Thur. vs Portland*
Sat. vs Orlando
1 comments:
The Jazz sure lucked out last night against the T'Wolves. Korver actually hit a big shot which hasn't happened since the first few games he was here. Memo got lucky oh well.
Lakers and Suns tonight! Go Lakeshow!
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