The Boozer Factor

[RonnieBrewer (Ronnie Brewer)]

The Boozer Factor
By  Travis Heath
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Dec 14, 2006, 14:09 

The Importance of Carlos

The numbers tell the entire story in Utah: When Carlos Boozer plays well, the
Utah Jazz are next to impossible to beat.  That is a good thing for Utah,
too, since Boozer has played at an All Star level or above in about 3 out of
every 4 contests on average this season.

Something to consider: In Utah's 17 wins thus far, Boozer has averaged 24.3
ppg on 60% shooting from the field.  He's also shot over 72% from the free
throw line and snatched 13.2 rebounds in these contests.

In contrast, in Utah's five losses, Boozer has averaged 14.8 points, shot
45% from the field, shot just 59% from the charity stripe, and grabbed 9.2
rebounds per contest.

The formula seems simple, right?  Just keep feeding the big dog.

If you extend Boozer's performance to wins for his team, the Jazz are on pace
to win 60 or more games this season -- provided the power forward can maintain
his current pace.

However, one thing the numbers also make painfully obvious is that without
Boozer at peak performance, the Jazz are going to struggle.  This dynamic can
be further deconstructed by looking at Utah's struggles the last two seasons
with Boozer out of the lineup due to injury.

As it stands right now, Boozer is a legitimate MVP candidate.  Some people
who don't bother to watch Jazz basketball (but still pontificate regularly)
have been claiming Boozer is nothing more than a guy who knows how to put up
numbers in Jerry Sloan's system.  However, it's clear to anyone who has been
paying attention that there is much more to it than that.  Boozer has become
a dominant force in the low block -- plain and simple.  

He may have the best off hand touch around the rim of any big man in the game.
His mix of brute strength with a silky jump hook is a nightmare for opposing
defenses, and his ability to hit the outside jumpshot consistently as he has
so far this season makes him virtually unstoppable.  Boozer seems to have
developed all of the prerequisite offensive tools to be a force in the league
for a long, long time considering he is only 25-years-old.

Everyone knew that Boozer could rebound and was a solid defender, so his
average of 12.3 rpg is not surprising.  However, what Boozer has done is work
tirelessly to upgrade his offensive game, and it is obviously paying huge
dividends.  Such huge dividends in fact, that it probably won't be too long
until the Jazz faithful starting chanting M-V-P every time he heads to the
free throw line.


There's a Reason They're 17-5

There are only a few teams in the Western Conference that have squared off
with the Jazz more than one time this season, and the head coach of one of
those teams has seen more than enough to know that Utah is for real.

"We just got beasted in the paint," said Clipper head coach Mike Dunleavy
after last night's loss to Utah.

I'm sorry?  Did he just make up a word?  Well, even if he did, the Jazz would
probably prefer to "beast" in the paint as opposed to being "beasted," right?

"What they are known for is that they're big and strong at every position,"
Dunleavy continued.  "I mean, physically they out-toughed us, and that makes
them kind of special."

So what makes the Jazz such a good team, coach?

"Right now, they're very much in synch.  They are comfortable.  They've got
all of their positions for the most part filled.  They've got in Boozer a guy
that has been tremendous in the low post.  They've got another big who is in
good in the low post, but he also shoots the three so he spaces the court.
They've got a point guard that is quick but strong as well.  You know, he's
good off the dribble in attacking the rim, pushing the ball, and delivering
the basketball.  Those are probably three components of any really, really
good team.  And their other guys just fill in right behind them.  I mean,
they're tough.  That's why they have the best record in the league."

Safe to say that Dunleavy is a believer.  Now, if that other coach in Los
Angeles would just quit crying about a little physicality and how the games
are refereed and in doing so give the Jazz their just due, perhaps we'd really
have something.


Newslines

Salt Lake Tribune: "The Jazz later this week must decide whether to take all
14 of their players on an Eastern road trip, or if it might be better to send
a rookie or second-year player to Boise to play in the D-League while the
team is gone."
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_4836801 

Deseret Morning News: "Jerry Sloan's reaction to hearing "Jerry, Jerry," on
the night he joined Lenny Wilkens, Don Nelson, Pat Riley and Larry Brown in
reaching the milestone plateau? "That's better than hearing 'em boo me," he
grumbled."
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650214473,00.html 

Salt Lake Tribune: "And finally, amid all the tributes and congratulations,
Jerry Sloan could hold back no longer. After the Jazz's 101-79 thrashing of
the Mavericks was complete and his 1,000th victory was official, Sloan
addressed the players who had earned it for him.  "He said, 'Practice
tomorrow at 10 o'clock,' '' recounted Carlos Boozer."
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_4823885 


原文網址
http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_19907.shtml 

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