Northwest Report Card (SI)

[CarlosBoozer (給我大懶熊)]

西北組夏季簡評 (僅節錄爵士部份)

完整文章及其他分組報導，詳見下列網址：

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/steve_aschburner/
08/29/northwest.report.card/index.html

http://northwestreportcard.notlong.com  (縮址) 


Trail Blazers and Jazz the best of a division in flux
════════════════════════════════

Utah Jazz

What went right:

Deron Williams is locked up through at least 2011-12.

Jazz owner Larry Miller spent nearly two months of this summer
battling a series of formidable internal ailments. But no one could
blame either his weakened condition or rosy, new life-is-short
outlook for Miller's key offseason business move: signing his point
guard to a three-year, $50 million contract extension that begins in
2009-10. It was, in fact, a deal as tough and shrewd as any hammered
out by the old-school car salesman, because Williams is building
block No. 1, both present and future, for Utah.

Williams' rough rookie season and the constant (and frequently
unfavorable) comparisons to fellow Redeem Teamer Chris Paul are in
the past. Williams is a favorite to make it to his first All-Star
Game this season, an honor that still won't top the gold medal he won
with Team USA. Williams' decision-making, his ability to get to the
rim, and his big-play capabilities in the clutch took another big
leap last season, and he's keeping Miller happy with his enhanced
leadership skills.

The Jazz survived the Olympics just fine.

No NBA franchise had more players gunning for gold this summer:
Williams and Carlos Boozer with the U.S. men's squad and Andrei
Kirilenko with Russia. Had Turkey qualified, Mehmet Okur would have
been booked, too. But the Jazz guys came through the Beijing workouts
just fine. Boozer, in fact, cruised through 47 minutes spread across 
seven games, so he clearly got his rest.

Utah and coach Jerry Sloan historically haven't faced serious fatigue
or injury issues with their international participants, dating back
to the iron days of Stockton and Malone. It shouldn't be an issue
this season, either, with a stocked roster capable of spotting the
Olympic trio some early-season minutes.

What went wrong: 

Andrei Kirilenko didn't get a lot of touches this summer.

And he might not get a lot this fall, either. Lack of touches became
an issue for him and the Jazz last time around. The Russian forward
had a disappointing national team experience, from his squad's 1-5
record in Beijing to his 39 percent FG shooting and long stretches
out of the offense. Because he is Utah's third- or fourth-best player
but is being paid like its first- or second-best ($49.3 million over
the next three years), the versatile but somewhat less valuable
Kirilenko will remain a trade candidate, especially with Boozer and
Okur as re-signing priorities.

C.J. Miles we be paid $14.8 million over the next four seasons for,
what exactly?

The Jazz matched the offer sheet Miles signed with Oklahoma City, but
that keeps them crowded at the wing position where Kyle Korver and
Ronnie Brewer got most of the time last season. Utah has Morris
Almond, too, as a top prospect and has to sift among Kirilenko,
Boozer, Matt Harpring, and Paul Millsap at the forward spots.

Grade: B+

Too much available talent isn't a common problem in the league. Coach
Sloan doesn't tolerate fussin' and poutin', and that helps nip
problems in the bud. No reason these guys shouldn't build on last
year's 54 victories, though winning 37 at home again won't be easy.


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[0:01] Hart Jump Shot: Missed

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