Potpourri

A Pine-Scented Exploration of the Last Few Days in Jazz Quotes

First candidate:

He had hit just 1-of-8 shots from the field through three quarters and hadn't played for the first 10 minutes and 59 seconds of the fourth quarter.
But veteran guard Derek Fisher got up off the bench, came in cold and scored five points — a key 3-pointer and two free throws — in the final 44.2 seconds of Utah's six-point win over Washington on Monday.
Take note, Jazz youngsters, coach Jerry Sloan suggested Tuesday.
"He missed a couple free throws (earlier in the game), and you think maybe there's some question — but you know a guy's a professional about what he does," Sloan said. "Young guys don't always see that side of it and get upset with not playing. But he (Fisher) stepped out on the floor and was ready to play, and that's what this game is about.

How in the world would Fisher get upset about not playing? In a season in which he's shooting 39.6%, averaging 5.7 Assists per 48 minutes, and making horrible decisions on offense, he's averaging 27.6 minutes (he was up to 33.6 in February). And I really bet Fisher's going to be professional if he's playing 10 minutes a night.

"That's why it's important to have guys that have that attitude. Yeah, he was maybe probably upset because he wasn't playing more — but he didn't let it take him out of the game.
"That," Sloan added, "is the difference of playing younger guys and veteran guys."

Classic Sloan-Speak: "Young guys don't always see that side of it and get upset with not playing." Then: "Yeah, [Fisher] was maybe probably upset because he wasn't playing more." Sloan is an expert at switching arguments mid-thought. Also, I love that Sloan recognizes the difference between playing younger guys and veteran guys. Here's the difference: Sloan plays veteran guys, he doesn't play younger guys.

Of course, the most important part of this whole discussion was Fisher's game that night. He was 2-10. Most of those shots were not what anyone would call "quality", unless you mean "quality entertainment." In 25 minutes, he had one assist, one rebound, and one steal. He continually pounded the ball into the floor and either ignored teammates or lacked the ability to get them involved. Fortunately, he hit one three at the end of the game that turned him into the hero. Lesson learned? If you're put in the game late, immediately shoot the ball and pray it goes in. Unless you're a young guy. 'cause then it would still end up being selfish and lucky.

Point #2, from last night:

And Kirilenko was the Andrei of old, though he didn't agree that he played with more energy than at other times.
"Come on," Kirilenko said, "I play always with lot of energy. Not always ball goes in. Not always you can get what you want. I played with the same energy but like lots of good moves — like, I got it. I got a steal, I got a block."

This is a subject for another post, but notice how this quote devolved from an apparent question as to AK's playing with "more energy." You see, the SL Media are an example of a theory advanced by Pierre Bourdieu--and to a lesser extent, Antonio Gramsci--wherein the leaders of a society--Sloan, Jazz FO--have the social capital necessary to structure those with less social capital--fans, media--into a mode of thinking that serves the interests of the leaders. In this case, SL Media has bought into the concepts espoused by Sloan--"playing with energy", "play hard at practice", ""playing physical"--rather than helpful categories--"more inclusion on offense", "better coaching strategy", and so on. In this case, SL Media saw better results from AK that actually resulted from being fed the ball in the post more often, a lineup that allowed him to float more often, and minutes and reduced it immediately to "energy." Too bad no one saw the real reason.

Oh, wait:

"I agree I was kind of active," said Kirilenko, who was 6-of-9 shooting for 13 points plus eight rebounds, three steals and five blocked shots. "And don't forget, we lost Matt (Harpring) for the game (ill), and I had much more time to play. I kind of replaced Matt inside a little bit because he's our inside banger. I need to be little bit inside," he said of his own intentions Wednesday.

But...but...I thought bringing Harpring back to this team did nothing to interfere with Andrei's game? It certainly wouldn't change his minutes, right? Or how he's used?

Expect to see Harpring back on Friday with AK shooting 2-6 and Harpring shooting 4-11.