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Emptying the Noggin after the Jazz win v. Lakers
David Locke - February 4th, 2012
Tags: Locked on Jazz
Emptying the Noggin
· Mr. Watson – was tremendous tonight. He controlled the game. He created plays. He was conducting on every play. He was directing traffic. Defensively, he killed Goudelock. Watson’s intelligence as a player was so evident tonight. He used every possession on the floor to its maximum. He knew who Goudelock was and took advantage of him and all of his weaknesses. He did it all. I want to just keep typing more and more to make sure I get the point across. He was brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
· I should have know today at 12:22 I was on the bike watching the Lakers v. the Nuggets and my phone buzzed – Earl Watson “I am playing tonight” Earl and I are friends, we communicate, but I usually instigate it not vice versa. I am assuming he was so excited he just wanted to tell someone and I was fortunate enough to be the recipient. This just tells you how badly he wanted to play
· This type of game is an incredible growth opportunity for the Jazz younger players. These are real minutes, against top notch opponents. They are possessions where every moment matters, every mistake is magnified. These are minutes to learn and experience to grow with. Look how different Kanter has been since he got those minutes against Portland in the clutch. He is so confident. Same goes for Favors.
· The play of Favor and Kanter in the early part of the fourth was the key to the game. Bynum is the Lakers offense option in the 4th quarter with Gasol and Bryant on the bench and Kanter played him great and when Bynum switched over Favors did as well. On the offensive end Watson lead the two bigs into great scoring opportunities and they delivered. They were amazing on the glass as well.
· Gordon Hayward did a terrific job on Kobe denying the ball. He still has lesson to learn he committed the same foul twice on his jump shots, but he battled Kobe. Gordon never gives up the slightest edge. He battles and he made Kobe work really hard to get the ball tonight. Who would have ever imagined his defense would be his strength. This was a defensive night for Hayward you can’t ask him yet to guard Kobe and have an offensive game and he did the job the team needed to win. Now he gets Carmelo on Monday and Danny Granger on Tuesday.
· Millsap and Jefferson continued to work really hard tonight and their final numbers show it - double doubles for both and 13 rebounds and 2 blocks for each.
· The bench and depth for the Jazz was vital. The Lakers got nothing on the back end of the back to back from anyone other than their big three, Kobe, Gasol and Bynum and they needed more than that.
· Josh Howard did a nice job of carrying the offense for the opening portion of the 4th quarter.
· Tip of the hat to Tyrone Corbin who had a major back issue tonight. Most times I have been around a team with a coach that is under the weather or off his game his team shows and that was not the case tonight.
· Once again they played very very hard.
· Telling moment on the growth of Enes Kanter – Lakers had to sub out Murphy because he couldn’t handle Kanter and go to McRoberts who hadn’t played at all recently. McRoberts had a key turnover not knowing where his teammates were.
· Growth of Favors and Kanter – Favors started the year 10 of 33 shooting in the post and is now 10 of his last 15 (or close to that) and Kanter started 4 of 21 shooting on post plays and is 6 of his last 11 (or close) - Remarkable work from Corbin and his staff. Al Jefferson spends a lot of time with those bigs and deserves credit.
· Great crowd tonight !!!!!!!!!! Oh yeah and I hate the friggin Lakers -- GREAT WIN