Stern: Jazz name staying in Utah
WHELP!!! NBA aficionados alike were looking to see if the ‘Jazz’ was going to return to New Orleans, but it looks like Stern put the kibosh on that idea: But Stern did close the door on the reacquisition of the name of Utah’s NBA franchise that had its birth in New Orleans in 1974. “It [...]
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Pac-12 Basketball: Utah Utes Pressure Signed Recruit into Decommitting
In the same week in which UCLA got No. 1 recruit Shabazz Muhammad, the Utah men’s basketball team got commit Josh Hearlihy to sign a release from its program. Both teams underwhelmed in the Pac-12 this season, though unlike UCLA, Utah may continue that trend.
During his first season (2011-2012) as the Utah men’s basketball head coach, Larry Krystkowiak led Utah (6-25, 3-13) to its worst season on record while making made $950,000. Utah’s previous record worst season (2006-2007) had six fewer losses. In addition to losing players to injury and suspension during the season, Utah had six players leave the squad at the end of this season.
Krystkowiak didn’t have much to work with at the start of the season due to players leaving after former coach Jim Boylen was fired. Only four players at the start of the season were returners.
Then Krystkowiak suspended Utah’s leading scorer Josh Watkins (15.6 points per game) and ultimately kicked him off the team. Watkins was fourth in the Pac-12 both in points per game and assists. The dismissal reportedly stemmed from issues like sleeping through class and showing up late for practice.
97.5 FM/1280 AM The Zone interviewed Krystkowiak on April 12. True to his personality, Coach Krystkowiak was open and upfront about all things Utah Utes basketball during the interview.
On the Utes’ main focus Krystkowiak said, “That’s what the lifeblood of the program is going to be about, the recruiting…it’s all about the recruiting more than anything.”
However, you have to question the current staff’s ability with that focus when Coach Kryskowiak showed up to watch Harvard-Westlake player and signed Utah commit Josh Hearlihy play, only to find Hearlihy not in the game.
The 6’7” Hearlihy missed 14 games his senior season from medical issues related to his rapid growth. Where was the communication on the part of Utah’s coaching staff during all of this? Coach Krystkowiak claimed to not have been informed of all of Hearlihy’s medical issues prior to signing the forward and said while he knew some of Hearlihy’s medical issues, he did not ask to see his medical records.
Regardless of the extent to what was or was not mentioned, the Utah coaching staff admittedly had enough information on Hearlihy that it should have done a full medical investigation prior to giving an offer.
Regarding the situation, Krystkowiak told 97.5 FM/1280 AM:
Josh is one of the kids that we signed in November. Saw him play over the summer. A nice wing, got some skill and some length, and had had a couple of years of some health problems, knees and broke his back. And I was in a position where I knew, you know I grew many inches as well. So Josh is about 6’7” now and a lot of those problems were due to some fast growth, different things…
…We had some physicians’ reports all of his doctor/medical records be sent to us so we could examine them…
…Our physicians/ourselves we just got cold feet…it’s a crossover of trying to do the right thing for the commitment and the signed scholarship and also trying to do the right thing for your program.
Coach Krystkowiak also mentioned that dialogue had been going on with the Hearlihy family since February, so this was not a right before signing-day surprise.
On the matter of being ask to sign a release from Utah, Hearlihy told the Los Angeles Times:
I was very excited about going to Utah when I signed my Letter of Intent in November. However, the coaching staff has reconsidered their commitment to me and has asked to be released from their obligation. I turned down scholarship offers and stopped exploring other options when I signed. Given the situation at Utah, I’m concerned about putting myself in an environment where I’m not wanted.
Hearlihy was put in a catch-22. That’s not to say Krystkowiak’s opinion of the situation was incorrect. Clearly here is a player that raises serious doubts about his ability to play. An additional year in prep school may help—or prove to be the end of his playing career. However, this player did have a signed commitment from Utah.
The right thing to do would have been to explain to Hearlihy the benefits of taking on a year of prep school and what coming to Utah with his medical issues could mean. If he wouldn’t get play time due to his medical status not being approved by the team physicians, then that would be his risk to take. Putting him in a situation where he feels pressured to decommit, however, does not speak highly of the program.
The Utah coaching staff appears to be handling the recent exodus of players (Chris Hines, George Matthews, Karrem Storey, Dijon Farr, Javon Dawson and Anthony Odunsi) the same way it handled the Hearlihy situation. That is to essentially tell them they don’t think Utah is the program for them next season.
With Utah winning only six games this season, that may very well be the case. Krystkowiak mentioned that these players are in the Utah gym or office prepping to go elsewhere. In other words, they’re not being thrown out in the cold, and it may ultimately benefit their playing careers.
It is, however, only fair that the entire Utah Utes basketball coaching staff be judged the same way they have judged nearly an entire squad. Krystkowiak is bringing in an essentially new squad for the second straight year next season. If his way of building a program does not pan out soon, Utah should find a staff that can do just that.
Krystkowiak said that leaving Ute Javon Dawson could be good/great at a mid-major. The same may be true for the coach as well. Krystkowiak took Montana to the NCAA tournament both years that he coached the Grizzlies before taking an NBA coaching job with the Milwaukee Bucks.
What are the Utes’ goals for next season? Krystkowiak did not want to give a number, but said, “We’ll just keep plugging along. As a goal its hard to say it, but I can tell you we’re going to be significantly better than a six-win team.”
Coach Boylen had 13 wins in his last season at Utah before being fired, so defining just how significant seems to be important.
Krystkowiak should be commended for his commitment to demanding his players have solid character and academics, but the basketball side of the equation cannot be ignored. A good coach can attract talent, but a great coach can bring the talent out of the players he has, which in turn will attract future top talent to the program. Utah has had 19 players leave in the last three years.
A major appeal of the Pac-12 Conference is its winning history and stability. While Utah fits well within the conference, the Utes’ basketball program should take note of these attributes and quickly implement them in their rebuilding program.
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Utah takes recruit’s scholarship away
Harvard-Westlake senior Josh Hearlihy is being asked to give up his scholarship before he steps on campus at the University of Utah.
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Utah Jazz: Why Their Future Hinges on Gordon Hayward’s Development
Lead by Gordon Hayward‘s magnificent 29-point explosion, the Utah Jazz throttled the Houston Rockets last night 103-92.
Being lead by the precocious Hayward is exactly how the Jazz are going to improve as a team and solidify themselves as a playoff contender in a deep Western Conference.
Sure the Jazz boast a bounty of skilled bigs with Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter, but Hayward is the key cog that will take the Jazz over the top.
After losing Deron Williams, the Jazz have been yearning for a leader to take the reigns and in the past couple months Hayward has done just that.
During that time, Hayward has shot very efficiently from all spots on the floor: 49.5 percent from field-goal range, 43 percent from three-point range and 85.5 percent from the free-throw line. He’s had a healthy scoring average of 15.85 during March and the first several games of April. Not to mention, he’s kicked in about three assists and 4.5 rebounds per game as well.
At only 22 years old, Hayward has made tremendous strides especially in his consistency. During the beginning of the season, he was up and down every game. On any given night, you could expect 20 points from him and just as easily expect him to score less than 10.
Now, however, that has changed. Just about every game you can pencil him in for at least 15 points and a few assists and rebounds as well.
His stat-sheet stuffing ways haven’t been limited to the offensive end either. Coming into the NBA, his defense was the biggest question mark attached to him. With hard work and effort though, his defensive improvement has shown on plays like this.
The Jazz have wisely brought Blake Ahearn on board as well, which will help give them some depth at the point guard position and they’re only going to benefit from having a third point guard they can rely on.
Currently the Jazz are fighting for a playoff spot and can certainly learn from the style the Denver Nuggets play with.
No one player dominates the offense, but they have a bunch of talented players that play their own respective roles extremely well.
The Jazz have the size in their frontcourt to bang with any NBA team, especially once Kanter and Favors fulfill their true potential, and having an all-around youngster like Hayward to be the leader is exactly what they need to push them over the top.
Considering that he’s already becoming a consistent offensive threat, as well as a gritty defender at only 22 years old, the sky is the limit and it won’t be long before people see why he was worth a top-10 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.
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10 Keys for the Utah Jazz Down the Stretch
The Utah Jazz have seven games left in the regular season and must do 10 things to make sure that they finish strong.
The Jazz currently sit one game out of the Western Conference playoffs in the ninth position with three of their upcoming games against teams ahead of them in the playoff race.
Over the next few games the team must finish strong if the Jazz are going to catch up to any of the top eight teams and sneak into the NBA playoffs.
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Utah Jazz: 5 Free-Agent Targets for the Jazz This Offseason
Despite being featuring the picturesque Wasatch Mountains, great skiing and a wide variety of interesting jello recipes, the great state of Utah is not exactly known for being at the top of the most desired free-agent destination list.
As is the case nearly every year, Utah will fight an uphill battle trying to recruit big-name free agents once the 2012 season ends. However, Jazz GM Kevin O’Connor is one of the brightest and most resilient GMs in the league and has shown the ability to woo big-name free agents with the signings of Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur.
A surprise entry into the playoffs and an even more shocking playoff run could make living and balling in the 801 even more palatable. Here are the five players that should be at the top of Utah’s wish list once the curtain falls on the 2012 season.
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2012 NBA Playoffs: 5 Keys to the Utah Jazz Earning a Playoff Berth
The Utah Jazz are facing an uphill climb to get into the 2012 NBA playoffs.
The majority of Utah’s remaining games, 11 of 15, are against teams battling for playoff positions (or spots) in the Western Conference. There is little doubt these games are going to be nail biters, and the Jazz are really going to have to play well consistently in order to play beyond April 26.
With few games left in the regular season, there is very little room for error, but what are the major obstacles to securing a coveted playoff berth?
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Josh Howard: Utah Jazz SF Expected to Miss Rest of the Season
After receiving the news of Jermaine O’Neal’s season-ending injury just one day ago, an identical situation has presented itself with Josh Howard.
The 32-year-old forward, who started 18-of-41 games this season, has made a solid contribution to the team, averaging nine points along with four rebounds.
Earlier today, the Jazz released a statement in which they explained that Howard had a chip in cartilage in his knee. After a MRI, it was found that the knee would require surgery. In a shortened season with only 21 games remaining (for the Jazz), Howard is expected to miss the remaining portion of the season treating his injured left knee.
The Jazz, who have been doing surprisingly well (23-22) this year, will not miss too much in the absence of veteran Josh Howard. Although Howard did work his way into the starting five and has been playing exceptionally well ever since All-Star break, sophomore Gordon Hayward will serve as a commendable replacement during his time out.
Hayward (10 PPG, 3 RPG, 3 APG), who in my opinion actually has the upper hand on Howard, will most likely perform better than Howard, although the team altogether may not.
Even though that might not exactly make sense right off the bat, here’s why it does: The Jazz previously started Howard, who was capable of scoring as well as playing defense. Early on, the Jazz would sub in Hayward, along with the other role players. Hayward was the leader of this group and the first option on offense.
However, with Howard out, it would mean that Hayward would start (not being the first scoring option this time), and Jeremy Evans or DeMarre Carroll would fill in the role that Gordon Hayward had before. Combined, Evans and Carroll are averaging five points a game. Hopefully the Jazz can work something out, like shifting Alec Burks over to the 3 position or something of the same sort.
Either way, this injury hits the Jazz a lot harder than it seems.
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Utah Jazz: Alec Burks Shines in Fourth Quarter Against Lakers, C.J. Miles Done?
Alec Burks came through in a big way against the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday night, and his strong play should signal the end of C.J. Miles‘ career with the Utah Jazz.
With 21 games remaining in the 2011-12 regular season, Burks should see more playing time as the Jazz fight to make the playoffs in a hotly contested Western Conference. Currently Burks sits behind Miles on the depth chart, but how long that will continue is the question of the hour.
Burks showed coach Tyrone Corbin what he is made of in a brilliant fourth quarter at the Staples Center during a much-needed 103-99 win against the Lakers, and his contribution should be rewarded with a larger role in the last third of the season.
Miles is averaging 19.2 minutes per game to Burks’ 13.9. Though Miles played 30 minutes against the Lakers, and did a good job defensively against Kobe Bryant in a rare off-night, Miles shot 18.1 percent from the floor on 2-of-11 from the field. That contrasts with Burks’ 70 percent from the floor (7-of-10 shooting) in 20 minutes on the floor.
In the fourth quarter the difference in effectiveness was most pronounced. Burks went 6-of-6 in the fourth, including a stint when he scored six straight points for the Jazz. Miles, on the other hand, went 0-of-1 in the final period.
Miles is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and though the Jazz may be able to sign him for around $4 million a year, that money may be best spent on someone else—perhaps on Josh Howard, who is also an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Miles has spent his entire career in a Jazz uniform after being drafted out of high school in 2005. Continuity is generally a good thing in a fluid NBA market, but Miles may need a change of scenery in order to reset and become the player many in Utah have simultaneously hoped for and expected in recent years.
In the meantime, Corbin and the Jazz coaching staff must be smiling after watching Utah’s young nucleus of Alec Burks, Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors contribute 46 points and 21 rebounds against a Los Angeles team that has consistently given them headaches over the years.
In L.A., no less.
Should be a great week.
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Chicago Bulls: Ex-Jazz Players out-Jazz Utah, 111-97
In perhaps the greatest testament yet to the depth of the Chicago Bulls, missing three starters and four key rotation players, the Bulls ripped the Utah Jazz tonight.
Four words describe this victory. Hard. Hat. Lunch. Pail. It was a game of grit and the Bulls just played hard all game long and gradually left the Jazz in their dust before it was all over.
Most notable was the performance of the three former Jazz players that are on the Chicago roster, each of whom stepped up big tonight to help the Bulls. Carlos Boozer had 27 points and eight assists.
Kyle Korver was passing out some serious hot sauce, hitting on six of his 11 three-point attempts, scoring 26 points and adding seven boards and six assists. That’s his highest scoring output as a Bull.
Ronnie Brewer added 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Derrick Rose had his typical MVP-caliber performance, scoring 24 points and adding 13 assists.
The Bulls were without Richard Hamilton, who has been out with a shoulder contusion. They were without Luol Deng who was out with a torn ligament in his wrist. They were without Joakim Noah who had a stomach flu. Finally, they were without C.J. Watson who has a sprained left ankle.
The Bulls have been absolutely plagued by injuries this year. They have missed 47 starts due to injury and a total of 68 games from their 10 key rotation players (69 if you count John Lucas who has received considerable playing time as a result of the injuries to C.J. Watson and Derrick Rose).
Yet in spite of the injuries the Bulls just keep winning. Tom Thibodeau frequently says that when someone is out it’s the next man’s job to just step in. Tonight it was more apparent than ever that everyone on the team is capable of key contributions.
Omer Asik, starting in place of Joakim Noah, was not magnificent in terms of numbers but his defense was sensational as he contained Jazz center Al Jefferson to just 16 points on 8-of-19 shooting.
It’s unclear on who will be playing on Monday, but previous reports said that Deng would miss one or two games. Joakim Noah should be back on Monday. There is no word on when Hamilton or Watson will return.
Hamilton could apparently be out for as much as a month, though he expects to be out less than that.
I expect Watson should be back on Monday, or at the latest Wednesday for the game against the Heat, but that’s just a guess based on the nature of the injury.
Right now the top priority for the Bulls has to be getting healthy and staying healthy. They can take the first or second seed without being at full strength but they can’t take a series from the Heat unless they’re 100 percent.
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