Jazz ready to give Parker ‘a hard foul or two’ (Yahoo! Sports)
SAN ANTONIO (AP) The NBA playoffs are not even a week old, and already there have been last-second thrillers in Oklahoma City, an All-Star suspended for bumping a ref, a stunning comeback in Memphis and Amare Stoudemire smashing a glass case with his fist.
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Parker’s 28 leads Spurs over Jazz 106-91 in Game 1 (Yahoo! Sports)
SAN ANTONIO (AP) This was not another early playoff letdown by the San Antonio Spurs. For the first time in four years, they won a series opener.
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NBA Playoffs Bracket 2012: Utah Jazz and 5 Teams Ready to Play Spoiler
Looking at the potential 2012 NBA playoff bracket, the higher seeds are clearly the class of the league, meaning there might not be many upsets on the horizon when the postseason kicks off on Saturday.
While there may not be any clear cut upset picks through the first round, there are a few teams capable of potentially playing spoiler along the way.
With that being said, here’s a look at a few teams that could end up playing spoiler for the heavy favorites.
Utah Jazz
The No. 1 seeded San Antonio Spurs fell victim to a No. 8 seed last season, but could lightning strike twice in San Antonio?
The Jazz have the talent to play with the Spurs, and you have to think that their frontcourt—which includes Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap—will have a couple big games that can potentially keep the Jazz in the series.
Utah is entering the postseason on a hot streak, winners of four straight, and are a team that the Spurs shouldn’t take lightly.
New York Knicks
With the way the Knicks have played at both ends of the floor under Mike Woodson (17-6), they are a legitimate threat to beat anyone in a seven-game series.
If the playoffs started today, the Knicks would be matched up against the Heat, but with the way Carmelo Anthony is playing—he’s averaging 29.7 PPG in the month of April—the Knicks can be scary good.
They have the superstar talent they need in Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler, and they have outstanding depth up and down the roster. If guys like Iman Shumpert, Baron Davis, Landry Fields, Steve Novak and J.R. Smith can contribute, watch out for the Knicks.
If they play defense for 48 minutes, the Knicks can beat anyone. If they don’t, they realistically could get swept.
Dallas Mavericks
Don’t count out Dirk Nowitzki and the defending champs just yet. Whether they are the No. 6 seed facing the Lakers or the No. 7 seed facing the Nuggets, the Mavericks are a team that’s not going to go quietly.
They haven’t fared well against either team during the regular season, going a combined 1-7, but they match up well against a team like Oklahoma City. And if Nowitzki is hot, it wouldn’t surprise me if Dallas upset either team.
Indiana Pacers
With Indiana, it’s a look ahead to playing spoiler in the second round, because they should have no problem getting past the Orlando Magic.
Although no one talks about them, this Indiana team is very good and won’t be intimidated by Miami (or the Knicks). They have length in the frontcourt, and the Pacers are also deep and athletic. They definitely are talented enough to give either opponent a run for their money in the second round.
Memphis Grizzlies
Finally, there’s last years Cinderella playoff team in Memphis, who can play with anyone in the NBA in a seven-game series.
If they get past the Los Angeles Clippers in Round 1, they could have a potential rematch against the Spurs in the second round, and we all know what happened between the two last season.
With a team that consists of Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, the Grizzlies are capable of playing spoiler for anyone.
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Jazz beat Suns 100-88, secure playoff spot (Yahoo! Sports)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Al Jefferson got two stiches over his left eye and returned to the game. Nothing was going to keep him from getting the Utah Jazz into the playoffs.
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Roundup: Hawks hold off Clippers; Jazz secure playoff spot
The Hawks held on for a 109-102 victory over the Clippers, moving a step closer to wrapping up home-court in the the playoffs.
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Phoenix Suns vs. Utah Jazz: Breaking Down Tonight’s Huge Western Conference Tilt
Tonight’s matchup between the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns should need no introduction or artificial hyping: the verdict of the game could very well decide the fate of the Suns, and interestingly enough, should be determined by which of the two teams best manages to mitigate their rather apparent weaknesses.
The Jazz draw strength from their bigs, but also suffer mightily from their shortcomings; although Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors, and Enes Kanter are among the steadier influences on the Jazz roster, the core of that group also poses a considerable defensive problem. Jefferson in particular continues to be a liability when asked to defend opponents in motion, and it doesn’t take a detailed, operational understanding of the Phoenix Suns’ offense to know that Steve Nash intends to put Jefferson through pick-and-roll hell. Utah will undoubtedly attempt to jockey their defensive matchups so that Jefferson isn’t completely victimized by Marcin Gortat, but there’s only so much that can be done; Jefferson will pose a problem virtually regardless of which man he’s asked to cover, and yet the Jazz can’t exactly afford to take him off the court, lest they risk considerable damage to their half-court offense and two-way rebounding.
Yet on the other side of the floor, a Suns’ defense that ranks 24th in the league in defending the post, per Synergy Sports Technology, will attempt to curtail a post-centric Jazz offense without having Channing Frye (one of Phoenix’s best bigs) or Grant Hill (one of the Suns’ top help defenders, and a valuable dig-down complement) at their disposal. Gortat can do credible defensive work in the post against one opponent, but while he guards Jefferson, who checks Millsap? And if Ty Corbin elects to employ that fascinating three-big lineup featuring Jefferson, Millsap, and Favors, how do these Suns — scrappy though they may be — manage to check anyone at all?
Both teams have flaws that are glaring enough to lose, and the specific strengths that help to exploit the other’s weakness. There’s no way around that, but as Zach Lowe mentioned in his preview of this game at SI.com’s The Point Forward, the Suns have thus far managed to better navigate their limitations in this particular matchup this season:
The Jazz have done well in the post against Phoenix — 17-of-35, as mentioned above — but the Suns have at least kept things under control there; the Jazz average about 15.5 shots from the post per game, per Synergy Sports, so it’s not as if they have hammered Phoenix more than they do the typical team. Gortat has the length and strength to at least make Jefferson’s life difficult, and Millsap’s back-to-the-basket game has resulted mostly in fadeaways against Frye. (His face-up game is a different story.)
But on possessions when Frye ends up on Jefferson, the Suns should think hard about doubling, especially considering Utah’s lack of outside shooting. Jefferson has toyed with Frye this season, overpowering him and fooling him with pump fakes.
The good news for the Suns: Jefferson likely won’t be able to toy with Frye tonight, who is a game-time decision with an injury to his right shoulder. The bad news for the Suns: He’ll likely have even more success against an outmatched Jared Dudley, the infinitely dupable Hakim Warrick, or an overextended Robin Lopez. There’s a chance that Frye may play despite his injury, but considering how ineffective he has been in defending the post against Utah this season, a potential return to the lineup would offer little legitimate defensive support.
Still, it’s hard to bet on the Jazz, particularly when they’ve collapsed at odd points throughout the season, and have failed to really figure out how to limit the Suns’ pick and roll in any capacity. Both of these clubs are playoff-worthy, but fittingly, the team that sees itself slide out of the postseason will likely do so by way of their own shortcomings.
Let the less flawed team win.
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Utah Jazz: Veteran Jamaal Tinsley Brings Unique Basketball Smarts to Utah
One player making the most of a second chance in the NBA is veteran guard Jamaal Tinsley. There was a time when he thought that he would be out of the NBA for good.
Tinsley entered the NBA in 2001 after spending two years at Iowa State University, where he was drafted by the Vancouver Grizzlies but was traded to the Atlanta Hawks and then once more to the Indiana Pacers on draft night.
However, Tinsley was able to take over the starting role with Indiana and became an integral part of the team for the next seven seasons before finding himself without a role after dealing with various injuries. As a result, he has not been in game-playing shape.
Things got quite ugly in Indiana, as the Pacers were ready to move on to other players. Tinsley was pretty much on the way out and no longer being given playing time.
The Pacers eventually released Tinsley in 2009, allowing him to become a free agent and start a new era.
Tinsley made a brief appearance with the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2009-10 NBA season although he had a bench role, but was looking to pick up his basketball career.
Like other NBA veterans seeking a return to the league, Tinsley was selected by the Los Angeles Defenders of the D-League and eventually signed a contract with the Utah Jazz.
Tinsley has been a great influence in Utah, as he brings a lot of playing experience to a team that is filled with youth. Playing behind Devin Harris has allowed Tinsley to work well with the likes of youngsters Derrick Favors, Alec Burks and Enes Kanter.
Tinsley has been receiving more playing time as of late under head coach Tyrone Corbin, who likes to change the offensive style depending on which point guard is on the floor.
Tinsley has always been a smart player who, when in shape, is one of the top point guards in the league. He is creative with his passing and scoring abilities.
He may have finally proved that he can continue his basketball career and can be a leader on the basketball court.
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Harris fuels Jazz win over Magic in OT 117-107 (Yahoo! Sports)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Utah Jazz point guard Devin Harris was tired of seeing 3-pointers drop for the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.
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Hayward’s hot hand helping Jazz during stretch run (Yahoo! Sports)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) He was booed on draft day, still gets teased about his Justin Bieber hair and recently endured the strangest, most expensive ”Wet Willy” ever.
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Delonte West Gives Utah Jazz Player Wet Willy
Dallas Mavericks guard Delonte West is known for many things, including LeBron James’s Mom. Kidding on that last part…maybe. Most of what West is known for is a little goofy. Well, things continue to get a little weird for West as he was caught giving Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayword a wet willy in the middle of a game.
Wait, what? You heard me. A wet willy. You know, that stunt where u spit on your finger and dunk it in someones ear? I’m not gonna lie, I’ve been involved in my fair share of wet willy incidents, none since like the 4th grade though.
I’m not sure what was going through his head, but either way- this is hilarious. Come on, how many times have you heard this happen in a professional sports game? Absolutely hilarious.
This is what West had to say about his 3-stooges incident:
“I wasn’t frustrated. Like I said, you get caught up in the game, in the motion, it’s physical and you just get caught in the moment sometimes,”…
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