Pawel Twardecki's Utah Jazz fan blog

Utah Jazz tied the series up with an overtime win tonight at the Energy Solutions Arena. Once again, the Jazz showed they are the best home team in the NBA; however, once again they also showed that the Lakers should beat them in the series.  With a 12 point win and 4 minutes to go, the Jazz allowed Derek wanted-him-to-sign-with-Clippers-so-we-booooo-him Fisher to score 10 points in a couple of minutes.  The game went into overtime, where Andrei Kirilenko's defense and Mehmet Okur's offense salvaged Utah win.

Once again, it took above average performances from Deron Williams and Mehmet Okur and injured Kobe Bryant for the Jazz to win in the overtime...not a good sign before game 5.  However, Carlos Boozer had another bad game and you have to think he will wake up this week.

Continue reading "Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers - game 4"

Home sweet home.  The Jazz finally provided the Lakers with their first loss of the playoffs.  It took the home crowd, an excellent performance from the big three (Williams, Boozer and Okur) and a quiet night from Bryant (quiet by his standards).  After all of that, the game was still very close; therefore, the Lakers should feel really good about the series.  I guess the only thing the Jazz got going is that they have been there last year - in the Western Conference Finals AND down 0:2 in the series, which they won in game seven on the road (against the Rockets).  That means that although the Lakers are the clear favorites, nobody is panicking in Utah and that approach might be the only chance they have to get back to the finals. 

Finally, is game 4 a must win for the Jazz?  No.  Game 3 was and the Jazz can still win a series with a game 4 loss on Sunday.

Continue reading "Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers - game 3"

Utah Jazz used a thrid qurter run to easily beat the Rockets in the game six lat night.  Deron Williams decided to hit four threes in the third to push the lead to twenty points in the quarter.  McGrady tried hard and ended up with 40 points for the night.  He even went on a personal 9:0 run vs. the Jazz at one point, but one player is not enough.

So what is the reward for the Jazz?  Sunday morning's date with the number one seeded Los Angeles Lakers.  It will be fun to watch two tall and skinny Euros going at it (Andrei Kirilenko and Pau Gasol) and to watch who will be a better leader Kobe or Deron.  Of course going against this years MVP - Kobe Bryant will not be easy...but hey the Jazz got Boozer and it will be up to him to see the Jazz to a second straight Western Conference Finals.

Continue reading "Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets game 6"

So the Jazz decided to tank the game in order for my prediction of a 4:2 win to come true.  Thank you very much.  Of course, another shot of cash for holding an additional game in Utah will also assist the organization.  Well done.  I guess we will also take avoid rust in the never-ending battle of rust vs. rest in the playoffs.

Continue reading "Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets game 5"

So predictible...but yet a good game.  The Jazz beat the Rockets 86:82 despite shooting 0% from the three point line (0 for 14).  As was the case in the previous three wins, Deron Williams showed Tracy McGrady how to play in the fourth quarter. 

The game was very physical with a lot of interesting no-calls.  Good, let them play.  Let's see if the Jazz will be able to complete the so rare road hattrick and ship the Rockets back to earth in game five in Houston.

Today's looooooooosers - Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets.  No heart, no pride, no faith - big L for these two teams.

Three down, thirteen to go.  

GO JAZZ 

Continue reading "Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets game 4"

Got to love Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson behind the ESPN desk.  When describing one of the players during Phoenix Suns vs. San Antonio Spurs game Van Gundy stated "This is a guy with the package".  A little too much time in the lockeroom showers Jeff?

Let the good time roll.

Continue reading "Jeff Van Gundy "This is a guy with the package""

Last night Houston Rockets decided they do want to play another game in Houston this season.  I am sure the team ownership is very thankful as they will pocket a few more dollars.  But that is about it.  The Jazz will win the next game at home and if they suffer a loss in Houston (game five) they will beat the Rockets in game six back in Utah. 

On the other hand, last night was the first time Tracy McGrady made a basket in the fourth quarter of the series....its about time. 

Overall, a good game - flying teeth, ejected fans, last-minute threes...welcome to the Jazz playoff basketball.

Continue reading "Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets game 3"

Utah Jazz won the second game tonight in a first round series against the Houston Rockets.  It appears that the young Utah team finally has the necessary attitude to finish a team that is on the ropes.

The wonderful tactics of switching defenders on T-Mac paid off again.  For the second straight game T-Mac was non-existent in the fourth quarter.  In the closing minutes of the fourth quarter T-Mac would helplessly hold on to the ball for twenty seconds and was unable to shoot or find an open man.  T-Mac was tired and it appeared that all of his teammates expected him to take a shot.  Houston would stand a better chance of winning with T-Mac on the bench in the fourth quarter - I am sure the Jazz did not prepare any tactics for that possibility.

Continue reading "Jazz vs Rockets game two - T-Mac to the bench for 4th quarter"

To anyone who watched these two teams this year it is no surprise that Utah won the first game.  The Jazz have been tagged as a terrible road team and a great home team.  Although their record indeed supports such claims, Utah seemed to lose away games to teams like Minnesota.  Quality road blowouts against the Hornets and minor league champins Boston Celtics show the true potential of the Utah Jazz - away or at home.

Regardless of the above mentioned argument, the Rockets seem to be a road favorite for the Jazz whose travel issues do not seem to apply to that particular team.  All is well in the Jazz land and the Jazz nation will sleep good tonight.

First game MVP - Andrei Kirilenko who not only scored twenty one points to lead the Jazz (Boozer and Williams had 20 a piece) but played an effective defense on McGrady who was not a factor in the crucial fourth quarter.

Continue reading "Utah Jazz win first against game at Houston Rockets"

Sorry, I don't write about minor leagues.  Please view the Western Conference Playoffs post.

Continue reading "Eastern Conference Playoffs - first round"