Spurs just too good; Jazz just too young

[RonnieBrewer (Reverse Layup)]

Spurs just too good; Jazz just too young
Charley Rosen / FOXSports.com
Posted: 2 hour ago

San Antonio thoroughly outclassed Utah ─ again.

But it didn't look like that would be the case early in Tuesday's Game 2. The
Jazz came out of the gate with more focus and more discipline than they had
in Game 1, and they showed a few interesting alterations in their game plan.

The most notable of these was stationing Carlos Boozer almost exclusively
at the high post. By dropping mid-range jumpers, rolling hard to the bucket
on high screens, storming the offensive glass, and sliding into unguarded
spaces along the baseline when his defender was rotating to help on
ball-penetration, Boozer tallied 33 points on 14-for-23 shooting ─
a monstrous performance that was enhanced by his game-high 15 rebounds.

Also, the Jazz managed to create more operating room on the few times that
Boozer set up in the low post by running squeeze-cuts after entering the ball
into him. This involved the entry-passer screening for the nearest wing
player (or vice versa, depending on the spacing), then one of them cutting to
the basket while the other (usually the screener) fanned to an open space.

But if the Jazz succeeded in getting Boozer untracked, just about everybody
else's offense remained under lock and key. Sure, Deron Williams had
excellent numbers ─ 10-for-19, 10 assists, and 26 points ─ but most of them
were registered while he was being guarded by either Tony Parker or Jacque
Vaughn. When Williams played under the surveillance of Bruce Bowen, he was
virtually shut down.

Otherwise, Andrei Kirilenko got off to a good start and, as ever, was a
significant defensive force when closing on the ball from the weak-side. He
was much less effective, though, whenever the Spurs maneuvered him into a
situation where he had to play somebody one-on-one. Kirilenko did shoot well
─ 5-for-11, 15 points ─ but his three assists were negated by his five
turnovers.

Overall, AK was more of an irritant to the Spurs than a serious challenge
that required more than casual attention.

Derek Fisher continued to be irrelevant ─ 1-for-9 for three points. He's
still slick, but the Spurs' defense moved too quickly for him to establish
a comfortable rhythm. Perhaps Fisher will shoot the lights out back in Salt
Lake City.

Mehmet Okur had another bummer of a game ─ 4-for-13, only five rebounds,
and 11 points. Aside from sniping the ball out of Tim Duncan's hands once
or twice, and hitting two of five treys, Okur did nothing. Indeed, his
patty-cake dribblings made him look slow and clumsy.

Young Paul "Moose" Millsap played with much more forcefulness and had the
foot- and hand-speed to almost compete with the Spurs' front-line.

Matt Harpring huffed, puffed, and was breathlessly superfluous.

In Game 1, Jazz shooters curling off weak-side screens wound up with open
shots. In Game 2, the same action drew Duncan away from the paint to help on
the curl and left Boozer alone under the basket. But, as in Game 1, Jerry
Sloan was reluctant to call this number more than a few times. Why he didn't
run the same play until the Spurs stopped it remains a mystery.

For the Spurs, their game plan on offense was deja vu all over again.
TD scoring with ease in the low post (10-15 for 26 points), wiping the glass
clean (14 rebounds), and menacing any and all interior shots attempted by the
Jazz (five blocks).

Bowen played exceptional defense and hit only critical hoops ─ 3-for-4 from
downtown.

Fabricio Oberto executed a back-cut and scored a layup every time Boozer
turned his head. On one fast break, Oberto actually beat Boozer down court
for still another layup.

Williams could not keep Parker out of the middle, hence TP's 7-for-12
shooting, 14 assists, and 24 points. Parker, though, did revert to his early
days in the league by making too many careless passes, which added up to
seven turnovers.

The Jazz had some success in doubling Parker in high screen/roll situations. 
With a big showing aggressively, Parker often had a difficult time scanning
the court and making precise passes. But just as frequently, he managed to
turn the corner and either hit the roller (usually Duncan), found an open
shooter (the Spurs were 13-for-26 from the Great Beyond), or else filled the
hole with his patented floaters and flippers.

Overall, Parker hit four of seven jumpers from long range, including the only
3-pointer he attempted. Still, the Jazz would be better served by simply
going under any S/R that involves Parker and let him fire away. If this does
happen in Game 3, look for the Spurs to counter by simply moving the
high-screens a step closer to the basket.

Manu Ginobili raced around the court like his pants were on fire, finishing
6-for-12 from the field for 17 points. Sometimes, though, he was moving
faster than the action warranted ─ hence his five turnovers.

In the first quarter, the Spurs seemed a bit overconfident. Even though they
only opened with their B-game, they still managed a two-point lead at the
first break. The initial first of several turning points occurred early in
the subsequent quarter when the Spurs' second unit was on the floor ─
Ginobili, Oberto, Brent Barry, Robert Horry, and Vaughn. Instead of the Jazz
taking advantage of Duncan and Parker being on the bench, they succumbed to
Ginobili's madcap drives (often in a 1-4 clear-out alignment) and timely
3-balls. By the time the starters re-entered the fray, the Spurs were already
in firm command of the game.

Another turning point came about at the end of the third quarter when the
Jazz, by virtue of an 11-1 surge, halved what had been a 22-point deficit.
Even though San Antonio's second-unit was in action, the Spurs, as usual,
didn't panic. They simply stepped on the gas and pulled ahead once again.
This time, the fuel was Ginobili's beating Kirilenko for a layup, and then
bagging a gutsy 3-pointer in early offense.

Midway through the fourth period, Utah made another move, cutting the Spurs
lead to seven with 8:45 remaining in the game. But, once again, the Spurs
relished the fresh challenge. A pair of home-runs by Bowen, a fast-breaking
layup by Ginobili, and Michael Finley blowing past Fisher for a dunk
re-established a 15-point margin within 2 1/2 minutes.

Sound familiar?

In both Games 1 and 2, it's almost as if the Spurs got bored with how
effortlessly they could whip Utah. That's when they started taking
unnecessary risks. Tossing lob passes from too far away from the basket.
Trying to thread passes through heavy traffic. Shooting too-quick triples.
Gambling for steals.

And that's when Pop calls a time-out and tightens the reins.

There's no question that the Jazz will play better back home, and they might
even steal a game. But the Spurs are simply too good, and the Jazz are simply
too young.

If the future looks bright for the Jazz, for now they're still a couple of
players shy of being able to compete on even terms with San Antonio.

Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.


                                http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6835002 

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