Bolerjack, Locke and Garrard
STAT CHECK - Rookies numbers in month of February
David Locke - February 22nd, 2012
Tip Off Feb 22nd
David Locke - February 22nd, 2012
Each morning David Lokce, Utah Jazz play by play announcer, gives Jazz fans unparalleled access to thier team with insider information and insight. Today he talks about playing without the ball, what we are asking of Favors and Millsap.
INSIDER - Favors reaction to Rising Stars Bid
David Locke - February 21st, 2012
Derrick Favors will be joining Gordon Hayward in the Rising Stars game in Orlando for All-Star weekend. Both of the Jazz 2nd year players will be on Team Chuck. Favors was named today as a replacement for Spurs 2nd year player Tiago Splitter.
Just talked to Favors at our hotel in Minneapolis. He is really excited to go to the game. His agent called him this morning and told him there was a chance but that nothing was official. He was planning on going to Orlando for All-Star break for one night and then going to Atlanta to see family. Now he will be staying a little longer.
Favors will be heading from Minnesota directly to Orlando as will Gordon Hayward.
This is a nice well deserved honor for Favors. Favors is in a tough spot right now. He is not getting a huge amount of minutes and so it has been difficult for him to put his stamp on a game. Moreover, those minutes are with other inexperienced players.
This will be a nice confidence boost to Favors and let him know that he is being recognized for what he is doing despite not getting an endless supply of minutes.
For the Jazz organization it is nice to have two members playing in this game while arguably the most deserving Enes Kanter is being left out. I have a feeling the Jazz will have 2 players in this game a year from now as well.
PLAYBOOK - How the Spurs got Richard Jefferson’s three late in the game?
David Locke - February 21st, 2012
The Spurs took their time getting into the set and had perfect spacing to start the play.
Bonner in the left will hold Jefferson, Neal and Richard Jefferson on the right wing. Interesting move by the Jazz to have Millsap defend Duncan because he is a better pick and roll defender. Tony Paker and Tim Duncan are setting up the pick and roll.
This is the breakdown by the Jazz. Devin Harris pops out onto the right shoulder of Parker. This means Millsap needs to go right and cut off the Parker drive. Instead, Millsap goes left and shades out to the outside of Duncan leaving Parker a wide open lane for the drive. This is a major miscommunication. Earlier in the play, Harris looked over to the bench for the defensive call and he moved first. Not sure whose fault this is, but this is where the play breaks down. The Spurs genius from here is their patience and spacing to take avantage.
Josh Howard does a nice job attacking Parker to stop his drive. Jefferson and Howard moved to where they needed to go. Howard came from the right block and stops Parker.
Hayward slides down to take the passing lane to Richard Jefferson away. Big Al has left Bonner completely to stop Parker. Parker makes the natural pass to Neal
Neal immediately moves the ball as Hayward gets back. The best part of this shot is look at Richard Jefferson and Matt Bonner. Both of them are shooter ready. Jefferson even has his legs bent. Josh Howard didn't waste a moment. The minute he could he turned toward Jefferson but it was too late.
Richard Jefferson nails the three. Give the Spurs credit. The Jazz made a mistake early in the defense and the Spurs had the paitence, the perfect spacing, ready positons, and the completion of the play. From a Jazz standpoint this is why 5 guys have to be on the same page the mistake at the point of the pick and roll was too much to recover from even though 4 of the 5 players did the correct thing.
FILM STUDY - Jazz offense the last 5 minutes v. Spurs
David Locke - February 21st, 2012
FILM STUDY – Jazz Offense Final 5 minutes v. Spurs
Al Jefferson scored back to back baskets from the left block over Tim Duncan. From that point on the Jazz offense got just two field goals. Let’s breakdown what took place in this film study.
Jefferson’s 1st fg was a 17 foot jumper that gave the Jazz a 2 point lead with 5:40 left.
Then Jefferson went up and under on Ducan to give the Jazz the 96-94 lead. Then the Spurs adjusted.
4:43 left – Spurs 97-96 – Spurs commit back to back fouls defending Jeferson. They bring the double team from the baseline and Richard Jefferson. Al gets fouled by Jefferson.
4:33 left – Spurs 97-96 = Jazz got to the right block for Millsap guarded by Matt Bonner and Millsap works to the middle and misses the 6 footer over Bonner.
4:07 left – Spurs 98-96 = Harris runs side pick and roll with Jefferson. Parker intercepts the pass to Jefferson that had no room. Turnover Jazz.
3:44 left – Spurs 100-96 = Jazz run Jefferson to left elbow. Hayward is coming off a baseline curl but Spurs are switching so Howard instead of picking pop out to the right elbow off a Millsap pick and Howard misses the 15 foot jumper. Really good execution on the play by the Jazz and a good look.
3:16 left – Spurs 100-96 - Spurs double Jefferson in left block with Bonner. Jefferson kicks out to Harris who swings to Howard. Howard penetrates and finds Millsap under the rim to left of the basket but as Millsap goes up Duncan and Bonner recover and Millsap can’t make the shot in the paint in traffic. Again very good execution by the Jazz.
2:50 left – Spurs 100-96 – Jazz run a pick and roll angle left with Harris and Jefferson. Key to this play the pick and roll is not really a side and not a high pick and roll they catch the Spurs in between. Jefferson sets the pick and Harris veers left for a nice open 16 footer and he hits. Very strong play set by the Jazz. Pop takes a timeout.
2:27 left – Spurs 102-98 -- 1st option on the play is to go to Millsap in the left block but Bonner denies and Millsap can’t get the ball. Jazz then go to option 2 nicely. Howard hits Harris at the top and quickly get into a pick and roll at the top of the key with Harris and Jefferson. Harris goes left kicks to Jefferson for the free throw line jumper and he hits. Jazz execution so far has been flawless.
1:49 left – Spurs 102-100 – Parker misses, Jazz have transition opportunity and Howard throws awful outlet pass that is stolen. Turnover.
1:25 left – Spurs 102-100 – Howard with the steal. Great transition defense by Spurs. Jefferson in left block. As he goes to work Spurs double with Bonner. Jazz spacing is not as good as Howard is in the right block standing next Millsap allowing Richard Jefferson to guard both players. Jefferson passes out to Harris. Howard flashes to the free throw line. Same play as before, but last time he was at the three point line. Howard goes 1 on 1 and misses the runner. Hayward was wide open in right corner but has not been making that shot. Jazz got Howard on a runner but the play was never smooth out of the inbound wth :14 on the shot clock. Howard shot with :09 Jazz rushed this a little. Offensive tip by Jefferson no good, next rebound in Millsap arm’s and gets ripped away.
:39.8 left – Spurs 102-100 – notice time difference from Howard’s turnover at 1:49. Jazz only get 1 chance in 1:10. Spurs brilliant use of the clock. Jazz make an initial quick look to Jefferson in left block. Hayward couldn’t get free on the left wing to make the entry pass. Harris astutely re-sets the play with a wing pass to Howard on right wing who then re-sets Harris.
The Jazz then run into a high pick and roll with Harris and Jefferson at top of the key. The pick by Jefferson is at the top of the three point line straight away and he flairs to the right elbow. Harris finds Jefferson and he misses the jumper. This is the same play that worked at the 2:27 mark. The lack of a three point shooter hurts the Jazz because Neal slides in off Hayward on the left wing and never gives Harris any chance to really drive and therefore, Duncan is able to get back to Jefferson and effect the shot. Execution was as good as it could have been again.
PODCAST - Friends of Locke - Chuck Cooperstein Mavericks Play by Play man
David Locke - February 21st, 2012
In a Friends of Locke Edition, Locke is joined by Mavericks Radio voice Chuck Cooperstein. They talk Western Conference powers, Linsanity, LeBron, Best coaches in managing a game and the Jazz route
Tip Off Feb 21ST
David Locke - February 21st, 2012
Each morning Utah Jazz play by play announcer gives you his morning breakdown in the Tip Off. Today look at Kobe and Deron, the Jazz performance against the Spurs and a request for Derrick Favors.
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