Game Three: Intro and Invocation

Ah, another fine night of NBA on ABC. And yes, that means even more PussyCat Dolls. However, for those that are growing tired of "Right Now," I offer you the following alternative via suggestion from Kicky:



Ah, John Tesh.



Does that picture not scream to you "NBA Playoffs"? Does it not call to mind images of war are conflict? Does it not beg you to oil your chest and leap into his manly arms?

Er...me neither.

There's nothing like a Game Three where a generally boring team is down 2-0 and the networks scramble for some storyline or hook to interest the viewers. This time, the pundits have latched onto the following statement:

"I don't think we're playing the game we played in the first or second round," Kirilenko said after practice Thursday. "I think we're playing weaker. I don't know why. Probably, we kind of not really believe in ourselves. Probably, we think probably that's our ceiling, for this moment. Maybe."
Pressed on why he thinks the Jazz might have maxed out for the moment or begun to lack confidence heading into Game 3 against the Spurs at EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday, Kirilenko clarified his comments.
"I just said, 'Maybe,' '' he said. "It's not a fact. Just maybe. I hope it's not. All we can do right now is just compete every game."

Let's look at some important phrases in that quote. "Probably, we think probably that's our ceiling." "It's not a fact. Just maybe. I hope it's not." So, if I understand correctly--and who knows if anyone does, judging from AK's past struggles with the English language--he thinks the team might not be playing to potential because they feel they've reached their ceiling for the year and have had enough success. A valid point-of-view, and he makes it clear that he's not on that side. Of course, SLTrib follows with this:

Several of Kirilenko's teammates still discounted the idea that they have reached their potential for this season and simply need more time to grow into the kind of team that can seriously contend for a championship.

Wait, what? I thought he discounted the idea himself! Read his quote! And of course, the Trib follows with this quote from Boozer:

"That's terrible," he added. "That's a terrible attitude, if you ask me. I hope all the guys are on the same page as I am, that we can get better in the next two days and have a great Game 3 and change the outlook of the series. But we have to have that mentality first."

If SLTrib is using their usual journalistic integrity, I'm sure the question asked him was: "AK just said the team has reached their ceiling, do you agree?"

Of course, Grant Hill just said he'd be disappointed if he were AK's teammate and would question why he's giving up on the team, and Wilbon echoed his comments. Sorry, AK, it doesn't matter what you said. It matters what the media wants you to say.

And somehow, I have a feeling this will be a bigger story after a Game Three than the missed coaching assignments, nonexistent support from the bench, and second-quarter collapses.

SLTrib, I applaud you for once again supporting your team. Time to write another fluff piece on the Jazz's hard-nosed style.

Turning it over to Team Girl Power for the first quarter. I'll be blogging the second quarter, after the Jazz have given false hope in the first that quickly dissolves into a double-digit deficit by halftime.

[edit: Hey, just found this quote from Thursday: "We can beat this team," forward Andrei Kirilenko said. "We know that." Wonder why that's not getting any coverage?]

[double edit: And hey, this quote from the same interview in a different newspaper: "San Antonio is a great team, but it's a great opportunity for us to show we're really on that level," Kirilenko said. Gads, I hate SLMedia.]

SL Media in Playoffs Mode

Matt Harpring, Playoffs Warrior:

"Once the ball gets thrown up, it becomes basketball again," forward Matt Harpring said. "You know, these guys have played in a lot of games, and we've played in a lot of tough games. So I just don't think that's going to be that big of an issue."
He should know.
In Harpring's first playoff game as a rookie for Orlando, he was assigned to guard Philadelphia's Allen Iverson. That worked out so well the Sixers later traded for Harpring, helping cement his reputation as a tough player perfectly built for the crucible of the playoffs.
But will the Jazz have anybody shine the same way?

That first game against Orlando, Iverson scored 30 points with 5 rebounds and 7 assists.

In fact, AI in the Magic/Sixers series:

FG%: 44.4
PPG: 28.25
RPG: 3.75
APG: 6
SPG: 4 (including 10 in Game Three)

AI in the 1998/1999 season:

FG%: 41.2
PPG: 22.0
RPG: 4.9
APG: 4.6
SPG: 2.3

So AI scored 6.25 more points per game on substantially better shooting while also passing and stealing the ball at a higher rate. To be fair, Harpring cut back on his rebounding.

It's rather sad when SLMedia is actually rewriting history to make their favorite players look better. Judging from the stats, I would think Orlando traded Harp to Philly to try and get someone that could guard.

Getting to the Basket a Positive Good?

Let's take a look at today's Jazz Naotes [sic]:

Fisher searching for shooting touch

Ah, this will be Fisher apologizing for his horrible performance in the last 13 games, wherein he's shooting 30.6% with 9.5 FGA/Gm.

Deron Williams jokes with Derek Fisher about passing the ball to him, and Fisher — smile ear-to-ear wide — plays along.
"He's just bitter," Fisher, the Jazz's starting shooting guard, says of Williams, the Jazz's starting point guard who this season is averaging more assists per game (9.4) than everyone else in the NBA except two-time league MVP Steve Nash.
"He's just bitter because he's second in the league in assists and not first," Fisher adds with a sincere laugh, "and he feels like it's my fault, because if I hit a couple more shots then he would have been first."

Here's how I guess that "joke" went:

Deron: "This guy ****ing sucks, he doesn't pass, he can't shoot, and he keeps driving 1-on-4 and getting blocked."
Fisher: "He's just bitter."
SLMedia: "Hahahahaha!"

Nothing like a person making fun of doing his job horribly. Right now, Fisher's in the Sitcom Zone. He has become so inept and so inexplicably liked that he's Urkeled the SLMedia into fawning submission.

My favorite part, of course, is Fisher's replying with a "sincere laugh." What does that even mean?

All kidding aside, Fisher — who won three title rings with the Los Angeles Lakers and is known for being a sharpshooter when games are on the line — realizes he is struggling with his shot.

He's "known for being a sharpshooter when games are on the line"? Yet again, perception has out-distanced reality, and--in this case--is lapping it. In recent weeks, there have been quite a few games on the line. And in recent weeks, Fisher is shooting 30.6%.

Before making just 1-of-4 against Portland on Monday, the veteran guard hit just 2-of-9, 2-of-10, 3-of-13 and 4-of-11 in four of his five prior games.
"It's probably a small mechanical thing that I'm continuing to try to work through — trying to keep my focus on the rim, trying to stay with my shot," Fisher said.

That's a pretty small sample. Here's an expanded one:

Apr. 16: 1-4
Apr. 14: 2-9
Apr. 13: 3-7
Apr. 11: 2-10
Apr. 9: 3-13
Apr. 7: 4-11
Apr. 6: 5-15
Apr. 4: 3-8
Apr. 1: 2-7
Mar. 30: 5-11
Mar. 28: 3-8
Mar. 26: 2-10
Mar. 24: 3-11

That's a small mechanical problem the way lacking an engine is a small mechanical problem for a car.

Here's a better suggestion for the root of his problems:

Derek Fisher, Career FG%: 39.7

If the guy's a sharpshooter when games are on the line, he must have been in many, many blowouts. In reality, his recent struggles are just part and parcel of being a crappy shooter. Occasionally, when he gets hot, he'll hit 44% for a stretch. But in general, he'll be hovering in the low 40s and high 30s, the Jazz equivalent of Montana.

"But I'm attacking the basket better than I ever have and getting to the free-throw line," he added after making 11-of-12 from the line against the Trail Blazers, "so I'm really just trying to stay focused and in the moment."

Hey, gotta give him credit. In that same 13-game stretch, he's shooting 4.6 FTA/GM, higher than 2.2 career average. But, then again, attacking the basket is usually a lot better when that attack doesn't result in the ball getting spiked to midcourt by Earl Watson. One of my favorite stats is Points Per Shot, which generally shows how well offensive attempts are translating to points. Fisher's PPS over the last 13 games:

1.0.

1.0! He is scoring 1 Point per FGA. By comparison, on the season:

Notorious Offensive Liability, AK: 1.40
MLA King, Harp: 1.36.
Soft European, Giri: 1.24.
Rafer Alston: 1.19
Adam Morrison: .97

OK, Adam Morrison really sucks, but you get the idea. Even when Fisher is "attacking the basket better than [he] ever [has]," he's being less productive than the average production of his teammates. Incredible.

Even with only one regular-season game, tonight's vs. Houston, remaining before the Jazz open a playoff series against the Rockets this coming weekend, Fisher is confident he can iron out the wrinkles before postseason play gets under way.
"I guarantee you there won't be many people that'll leave me open come the playoffs," he said. "There is no question that I'm gonna be able to knock shots down if my teammates continue to hit me when I'm open. I'll get the job done — that's no problem."

What we have here is a guy that's not only admitting he only turns it on for playoffs, he's bragging about it. But, a few points:
-I guarantee you there will be people leaving Fisher open in the playoffs
-I guarantee you that he will knock down shots if his teammates continue to hit him when he's open, just at around a 40% clip
-he won't get the job done, that's a problem

And if there is one thing that is no problem for Fisher, especially lately, it's taking shots.

Heaven help me, but I can't tell if this is supposed to be a dig or admiration.

"I've been frustrated and disappointed with myself throughout the season at times because I feel like knocking down a few more shots would have helped us win a few more games," he said. "But, at the same time, the reason I was brought here was ... not just shooting the ball, not just one aspect of the game.

Not just shooting the ball? If the Jazz brought Fisher in AT ALL to shoot the ball, then they need to purchase a simple calculator and learn how to divide total FGM by FGA. But you gotta give Fisher credit. As frustrated and disappointed as he's been at his inability to help the team succeed, he plays through it. Like when he shot 3-11 in 18 minutes versus the Grizzlies. Or 5-15 versus Sacramento in a 4-point loss.

"It was being a leader on and off the court, helping guys understand how to be professional. I feel like I've lived up to those expectations," added Fisher, who took several shots Monday that were directed at Jazz owner Larry H. Miller because of disparaging remarks that Miller earlier had made about the club. "Now we're getting into that part of the season where people really feel like I can help this team, and I'm relishing the opportunity to be a part of it."

Ah, and we finish with the classic "Juxtapose-Comment-with-Contradictory-Context-
that-May-or-May-Not-Be-Intentional."

And yes, we are getting into that part of the season where Fisher can help the team: the off-season. Any time Fisher is not on the court in a Utah uniform is a win/win situation.

SLMedia, God bless'em.

Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc

Well, the Jazz won last night, but the Harpring start was a pretty big failure. He hit 5/14 shots (and that was only after going 2/3 after the game was pretty well in the bag), played his usual abysmal defense, and generally was Matt Harpring. Glad to see that the Jazz can go ahead and get past the experiment before the playoffs.

Oh, wait, Harpring was awesome.

DALLAS - Matt Harpring did not manage another season scoring-high when the Jazz beat the Dallas Mavericks 104-89 at the American Airlines Center on Friday night.
But he did make a big difference.

Already analyzing Harpring's game in terms of the last. "Wow, he scored 31 points, he's going to be great when he starts!" I fully expect his next 3/11 shooting night to be greeted with, "He didn't pull down 19 rebounds like he did against Orlando in 2003, but he might have been just as effective regardless."

Harpring entered the starting lineup for the first time all season to help the Jazz combat All-Star Josh Howard and avoid another sluggish start, and it worked. Though Harpring made just five of 14 shots on his way to 14 points, he held Howard to 12 points and fueled a fast start that the Jazz never relinquished.

Oh, so his importance was in setting the tone, eh?

First quarter:

(11:30): Harpring gets the ball in the post, tries to go up for a layup surrounded by three players, feebly passing it back when he realizes even he can't figure out a way to get a shot up. Scowls.

(10:50): Howard gets the rebound off a Fisher MLA. Howard gets the rebound at the free throw line. Harpring looks at him in puzzlement as he decides to run the ball downcourt. Harpring shuffles quietly behind him. He drives to the rim and is fouled shooting the ball. Harpring scowls at the help defense. Howard, however, is intimidated by Harpring's presence during the free throws and misses both.

(10:13): Harp makes a nice layup off a cut to the basket. Ah, HERE is the tone-setting.

(9:53): No, wait. Harpring takes the ball downcourt (!) and Boozer screens the defenders under the basket. Harpring, seeing his opportunity, drives and misses a point-blank MLA. But the thought sure set the tone.

(9:39): Josh Howard gets the ball at the three-point line. Harpring stares at him intensely, ready to defend. Howard blows by with next to no effort for an easy layup. Harpring stares at him intensely, ready to defend.

(9:10): Harpring, still thinking about the last play, watches Howard with a look of contemplation as he blows by again, only to short-arm an open layup. Harpring feels there was something he was supposed to do on that play, he just can't think of what.

(8:03): Harpring goes out to help on a screen and somehow ends up on the standing five feet beyond the three-point line with no opponent near him. Howard gets the ball and drives to the basket, hitting another chippy with minimal defense. At this point, Howard has had two free throws, two easy baskets, and a blown open layup in four minutes.

(5:36): A bit of space between Harp updates, but he that's because he didn't do anything in that time. For some odd reason, Sloan switches Fisher to Howard and Harpring to George. George quickly realizes his opportunity and knocks down an open jumper as Harpring flies by, making a Defense Gesture.

(4:00): Harp suddenly realizes he hasn't shot the ball in a while and shoots an ugly three with 16 seconds on the shot clock. He clanks it off the rim and into said shot clock.

So, eight minutes into the game and Harp is 1/3, Josh Howard is 2/4 (a missed open jumper on Fisher accounts for the fourth) with 2FTA, and the Jazz lead 16-10. The only real visible difference between this game and the last to the casual fan is the inclusion of Harpring in the starting lineup. Unfortunately, beat writers shouldn't be casual fans.

"Matt a lot of times sets the tone by coming in and working hard on offense and being physical," teammate Derek Fisher said. "And we seemed to start the game that way and played the way, for the most part, the entire game."
Harpring said he was surprised that coach Jerry Sloan asked him at the pregame shootaround to start. "We played hard," he said. "No question about that."

First, to be nitpicky, that second paragraph doesn't make sense. The quote they used from Harpring doesn't work with the previous contextualizing sentence. Unless that's now his answer to frickin' everything.

Second, that is not the reason the Jazz won. Here are some valid reasons the Jazz won the game:

• If you take Harpring out of the equation, the Jazz shot a blistering 56.1%.
  
• Dallas didn't play Jason Terry (Jazz-killer), Jerry Stackhouse (Jazz-player-killer), and Erick Dampier (probably just a killer).
• Avery Johnson wasn't exactly treating the game as a playoff matchup. Jose Juan Barea (who?) played 24 minutes and shot 15 times.
• The Mavs missed 13 out of 18 3FGA, and trust me, it wasn't from shutdown defense.

NOT BECAUSE THEY FRICKIN' PLAYED HARD.

*sigh*

Salt Lake Media.

[Edit]Holy crap, it gets worse.

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.

An Exercise in Media

While this blog is in its fledgling phase--still adorable, even when pooping itself--I would like to take this opportunity to demonstrate the central facet of the Tater Post: over-analyzing innocuous comments in the media.

JAZZ: Harpring is team's 'Energizer bunny'

Oh dear. I didn't hear the Energizer Bunny had two knee surgeries.

Asked to describe his role on the team as Utah's season winds down, Matt Harpring doesn't show any emotion as he envisions he and his teammates making it into the postseason for the first time in three years.
"It's the same as always, come off the bench and provide energy to do what I can to help our team win," he said.
They are words that don't exactly elicit excitement or reveal much about Harpring's character, but that is what those around the Jazz have come to expect from the eight-year pro.

It's a great sign when the media that tends to fondle you once a month can't find much to say for you other than: "Yeah, he's not exciting, but at least we expect it now."

"He's about like that post over there," said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan of Harpring's personality as he nodded toward one of the baskets in Utah's practice facility.

This is possibly the most accurate thing Sloan has ever said about Harpring. In fact, numerous other players have said the same about Harpring, generally as they drive by him near the free throw line.

He's a guy who comes to work, gets his work done, avoids the chatter at the water cooler and leaves without saying much more than "down" when he steps on the elevator. Many of his teammates consider carefree things like music and video games as their hobbies; Harpring's is the stock market. Odd indeed, for a hoopster.

OK, this is a great paragraph for demonstrating the Salt Lake Media's interpretation of Harpring.

• First, it manages to use the word "work" twice in the first 10 words. Matt Harpring and "work" go hand in hand. Because he works hard. And of course, the analogy continues with the water cooler.
• Second, let's think about those people we know that avoid the chatter, don't socialize, and are too arrogant to push the damned elevator button themselves. Basically, this paragraph is politely saying: "Boy, that Matt Harpring sure is an ass."
• Third, has the SL Media mentioned that Harpring plays the stock market? Have they? 'cause I'm not too sure I've heard that.

Hard-working and a bit of a lamer. Yeah, so far this sounds like Harpring.

"He has a different way of getting himself ready to play," said Sloan with a bemused smile on his face. "I dunno, the guy never says anything. He's the same every day."
Luckily, something happens during Harpring's walk from the bench to check in that transforms him from a quiet, easy-to-overlook kind of guy into one of Utah's hardest working players.
He's always cutting, he's always banging, he won't hesitate to dive for a loose ball or crash head-first into a row of fans while trying to keep the ball inbounds.

Did I mention he works hard? Note the fact that he's unafraid to crash head-first into a row of fans while trying to keep the ball inbounds. In fact, most prolonged attempts at ball-handling by Harpring end with him head-first in a row of fans. As do most attempts at defense. As do most attempts at walking.

"As long as he has been here, he has always brought energy," Sloan said. "That has never been a problem with him. As soon as he comes off the bench, he is ready to play and he instantly knows what we're trying to do, knows how to get open and works hard at it."

In case you didn't know, the Jazz had a problem with players coming off the bench that weren't ready to play--Kris Humphries once checked into the game while in street clothes--and not knowing what to do--again, see Kris Humphries. In contrast, Harpring knows how to come in, wave his arms, slide off a screen, miss a layup, and glare at Kirilenko.

Overall, Harpring's numbers are down slightly this year compared to the past. He is averaging 11.1 points and 4.7 rebounds, but his averages are more a product of a better Jazz team than a drop in his game. If anything, Harpring has improved in his role as a bench player, Sloan said.

While other players' drop in production--such as AK--can be attributed to lack of effort, deteriorating skills, or failing to run the offense, this will never ever be the case for Harpring. In five years when he's averaging .6 PPG in 15 minutes, it will be because the Jazz team is the best in the history of man, not because of Harpring.

He has filled in for Andrei Kirilenko when he has struggled and he has played alongside him when the Jazz go toward a smaller lineup, and the spark he brings is most noticeable when it isn't there, such as Utah's last road trip.

What? I mean, seriously. What?

Harpring missed the Cleveland game because of knee inflammation. He returned to the lineup Tuesday and scored eight points in 25 minutes.
"This summer, he didn't have to worry about his knee like he did last year after he had surgery," Sloan said. "Having a veteran player like him makes us very good. We struggled with that back East when we didn't have it."

This is another classic example of SL Media. "Let's see, I just mentioned Harp's knee flaring up. With what should I start the next paragraph? Oh, I know, let's talk about how Sloan thought he was good because he didn't have to worry about his knee." And what is the deal with this mythic Harpringless road trip? He missed one game. Apparently, the team started losing in advance because they knew they would seen be without his spark.

So how does he feel about all that? You guessed it, he barely moves, giving a slight sway, much like a post in a wind, as an answer.

Matt sways hard.

Matt Harpring, ladies and gentlemen, the Utah Jazz Energizer Bunny. He keeps sucking and sucking and sucking...