The results are in...guess who's #1?

The results of LA Ball Talks team blog contest are in. And once again, Jazz fans have made it clear that True Blue Jazz is their favorite Jazz blog on the Internet. Thanks to all who voted. Stay tuned because we have big big BIG news on the way....Prepare for Jazz heaven.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

How did we lose that game?

Thanks.

67 comments:

The Napster said...

where in the world is boozer

M. D. said...

Who? Never heard of him. Check a Clippers blog.

JAZZMAN said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
JAZZMAN said...

A special thanks should also go out to Delaney and Javie for yet another unbiased, fairly officiated game. Somewhere, David Stern is smiling proudly.

Anonymous said...

lake show!

Brandt Lovell said...

I'd say your poll over there is lacking the "Big 3" (black and white) who deserves much more credit for the Jazz loss than Boozer does. David Stern has got to be happy.

embizzles said...

How?.. well because, the lakers are a much better team, and came out with a little more intensity today

JAZZMAN said...

Jazz can't win when they're playing 5 on 8. However, the Jazz can't win when Boozer plays like a softer, lazier version of Greg Ostertag.

Unknown said...

Matt Harpring is a living, breathing foul.

UofTOrange said...

IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE REFEREES!!!!!!!!!! Stop going to that failed excuse. Deron Williams played like a man posessed and not a single other player on the team joined him. You in no way can blame the refs for that. The Jazz foul on every single defensive posession, you have exactly one good defender in AK47 and even he is overrated because he stands out among the rest of the horror squad you have on defense. There is a very good reason why the Jazz had a hard time winning on the road this season. And that reason is that on the road, the game gets called more evenly for them and all those hacks, slaps and tugs actually get called, unlike in Utah where they get called about a 1/3rd as much.

Jazz fans, I implore you, stop bitching about the referees. I know it's fun, heck, I've put up about 5 posts this season where I whined about them. But come on, the Jazz are one of the teams in the NBA that gets excessive home cooking, that luxury does not mean that the refs are out to get you on the road. It means that they are actually willing to call the game closer to right there.

Adam said...

Dude, this is a sweet blog. Consider yourselves added to my feed.

As far as game 5 goes, I am suffering in the swamp of east coast basketball (Knicks Country. I rest my case.) so I have to learn about the games the next morning on ESPN.com. Needless to say, this morning was a rough one.

I'm going to post about you guys on my sports blog: go-cougs.blogspot.com. I write about all sports, but obviously the Jazz are the top subject right now. Feel free to add me to your blog list if you feel so inclined.

rj said...

I am going to bring it out cause everyone else is afraid to talk about it. The russian mafia once again shows its looming shadow over american culture by not only owning the nba but taking an interest in it and fixing the games. Anyone who says that this was not a direct result of the officiating should have their eyes removed because they are obviously not paying attention. Sure the jazz had missed oppertunities but they were still tied going in the 4th quarter. I think I counted 6 calls that were key to our destruction from those asinine zebras who are under russian control. The nba will never let Utah win. Oh and BOOZER SUCKS!!!!! trade him for a 2 liter and some mentos and that will play better defense.

Pick-n-Roll said...

I told C.B. before he did his weekly visit Steve Mason Show that the game would come down to Pau's offensive put backs and the Dwill needs to contoll the game..We'll like Boozer free throws 1/2 isn't that bad I guess..I thought Dwill was played again amazing but for the following thing...Stop throwing the ball into Booz!!!!!!

Dear Booz, this in the NBA playoffs...Game 6 of the 2008 Playoffs..I hate to say it but last night I wanted AK to have the ball more than I wanted you to have the ball..Booz did you know that you can't go left? Did you know that LamarICANTgoright Odem has made u look like a second rounder in this series..Did you know that Millsap will be the starter next seaon?

Game 6...I can't watch because I know that Mr All Star will once again go for under 20..What an All-Star.I know that nobody is a fan or will like this comment...But evern though he scored in double digits Ron-Ron needs to get off the court until he can hit that jumper and make Kobe defend him. He isn't stopping Kobe anyways and sorry C.B. but we need to stretch the floor and who stretches it better than Korver and Mr Handshake(Miles), nobody..I'm not a big Miles fan but we need to make the Lakers work on D, which we're not.Jazz please don't let me down for game 6 because I have already made plans to watch the best game 7 in NBA history.

UofTOrange said...

@Anyone who says that this was not a direct result of the officiating should have their eyes removed because they are obviously not paying attention.

Or it could be that they are an unbiased fan that knows what they are talking about. You know, either or...

Unknown said...

UofTOrange-

The refereeing tonight was not the only reason Utah lost, but it was the MOST egregiously bad officiating I've seen.

Biased fans? check out this thread from a Law School Discussion Forum (somehow I don't think the majority of them are Jazz fans)

http://www.xoxohth.com/thread.php?thread_id=814080&mc=21&forum_id=2

The Machine said...

The refs didn't make you miss all those shots. The refs didn't make you throw the ball away 14 time in the first half. The Lakers were in control of this game the entire time. Sure it was close points-wise, but we got easy baskets when we needed to, and the Jazz did not ever take the lead in this game. You know the game isn't really in jeopardy if Kobe isn't taking a shot in the 4th quarter. If it weren't for some crazy shots by Williams, it would have been Lakers by 15. Maybe Boozer needs to shoot some threes like Okur does. Then maybe Gasol and Odom will leave him alone.

The Machine said...

Michael, they even say in the thread that they are Jazz fans. If they weren't, why would they care? Just like I don't care whether or not the Cavs get calls, unless they're playing the Lakers. The refs were no more biased in this game than they were for the Jazz in the last two games.

Matt said...

I am in utter dissappointment stage right now due to missed oppurtunities last night. We had our chances time and time again...we just couldn't hit the shots.
The key to the game--defense--or lack of it. Check my latest blog's post for my take on Boozer's defensive prowess.

Unknown said...

They are not Utah fans. one of them says something to the effect that he's a utah fan, and hopes that everyone else can see what he does - and they all do.

I'm not going to get into a reading comprehension battle with you, but I think you missed something.

At FB&G - there was a comment to the effect that it was Dwill against the refs last night, and another that said it was horrible how gasol ran over Harpring, and the ref just stared at Harpring.

This long winded post is just to say that the poor officiating was definitely noticed by other, non-partisan viewers.

M. D. said...

I agree with Lee. The officiating was not as bad as I have seen it. Flat out the Jazz couldn't hit that dagger shot to take the lead. A result of no confidence on the opposing teams court.

I don't blame the referee's. Sorry guys. This one has to lay on our players.

Aside from Deron paying like an absolute mad man, and Brewer getting 32 dunks. Who else brought their "this is the playoffs Game 5 if we win we can go all the way" game? Nobody.

Perhaps CJ would be a good fit.

As for that Law School thread? Makes me trust lawyers less than I already did. jk

Brock Kassing said...

I was going to write an entire post about last nights game but C.B.'s picture post explains it all.
Of course we are going to whine about the refs. Every good homer does. No, we didn't lose because of the refs. We had our chances to get back in the game, such as:

1. A.K's missed layup to give us the lead.
2. Memo's missed free throw to give up by one.
3. Money Man Memo and Korver missing open threes.
4. 18 Turnovers (the sad thing is L.A. had 14 which we should have taken advantage of.)
5. Boozer being intimidated by anything in a Yellow uniform.
6. Boozer & Memo do not play "Help" Defense...oh Milsap was no help last night.

We had our chances, no question. On to the refs, (just for you utoforange.) Here is another reason we could not break the lead (in no particular order:)

1. The Phantom Foul Call on Odom's monster dunk. This was towards the end of the game when he drove the lane, untouched and the ref blew the whistle for the "and one." Absolute BS.

2. The mugging of Brewer under the hoop only to get called for a travel. Nice work stripes.

3. A.K. tips the ball, "Hair Net" kicks it, A.K. gets the foul. Huge momentum swing caused by the refs.

4. Walton chucks it up and hits nothing but air..Harpring called for the foul.

5. D-Will being the superstar that he is but not getting any calls. All Kobe and Fish have to do is look at the refs and the whistle is getting blown.

The thing I love about D-Will is that he gets no calls at all yet he gets up and keeps playing. He is one of the premier players in the league.

No, the refs did not lose the game for us but they made a lot of calls that changed the pace of the game. Here's to some extreme home cooking in Game 6!

Brock Kassing said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Brock Kassing said...

Sorry, me again. I have to vent. Is it just me or was the TNT crew of Doug Collins and Farmar's boyfriend really bias last night? Maybe it was the mood I was in, but Farmar hits a three for his first points of the game and here is what they yell "the lid is opening up for this young man tonight!" Then, he hits a layup for his 5th point when I hear:
"Farmar has found his game tonight!" The guy ended up 6 points. I would hate to see what this crew does when the kid scores double digits.
CJ Miles posterizes Odom and they go in to the break with a montage of Odom. Yes, Odom posterized us 15times but give the poor kid some credit.
Anyhow, I know this is just me whining but I had to vent.

moneyman memo said...

Lee and CBJ, I agree and disagree with you about the refs. They weren't as bad overall, but they did blow some major calls at the end of the game that tipped the game in the Lakers favor. I'm not going to recap all of the bad calls, but I will provide evidence in the form of something I have never seen before - a paragraph in an article on ESPN that actually admits that the Jazz got hosed on several ref calls. This by itself should confirm how biased the officiating was at the end (Odom phantom call, Sasha phantom call, Memo getting pushed):

From J.A. Adande's column on ESPN.com today, May 15, 2008:

"When the Jazz got close to the basket, there was more contact than in a rush-hour crowd shoving into the subway, but rarely a blown whistle. Meanwhile, at the other end, Lamar Odom breezed past Carlos Boozer for a layup and got a gift and-one. And Utah players and coaches are still wondering how Mehmet Okur could wind up sprawling toward the baseline, leaving Pau Gasol alone under the basket for an easy offensive rebound and dunk to put the Lakers ahead by five points with 20.5 seconds remaining."

J.A. is not an un-biased fan - if anything, I would call him a Kobe-lover.

Brock Kassing said...

Nice find Moneyman. See, I just whine and complain and make up my own evidence, you actually do research. This is why you will go places in life and I, well, I will sell cars for the rest of my life....speaking of which, if you are in the market I would love to show you a few beauties I have on the lot......

The Cell Center Blog said...

I actually looked around for Jazz blogs just to see if you guys were complaining. Boozer was basically assaulted every time he went to the basket and on the other end I saw two blatant charges go uncalled. The officiating was horrifying. In the fourth a ref kicked the ball out of bounds and called a foul on Kirilinko. I mean like every blown call was biased to the lakers and seriously what they were doing to Boozer in the paint should warrant criminial battery charges. I root for the nuggets btw so I was just watching for kicks.

Brock Kassing said...

Wow a Nuggets fan! I can only imagine how hard that was to say "cell center." Thanks for adding fuel to the fire. It doesn't give us a "W" but it still feels good.

M. D. said...

After Booner and MM's post. I need to stand corrected.

Yes there were a lot of bad calls. Booners list was right on. I remember each one in detail. Horrible calls.

Here was my thinking. Depsite the horrible calls. We were still in this game. We still had our chances to win. We still could have taken the lead on any of our 6 chances. While the refs certainly didn't help tip the hat in our favor, the players lost the game with their inability to convert at necessary times.

I hate refs. I hate the Lakers. I hate the Rockets. I hate the Nuggets. I hate Hair Net. I hate Stern.

But the players still could have overcome it all and won this game. I saw a Jazz team that thought they were in the regular season playing a game in December. There has to be another level they can find this time of the season. Games like this make me wonder why D.Will would want to stick around.

Ace said...

you jazz fans should be blaming the 19 turnovers for losing the game, not the refs.

M. D. said...

By the way. The Russian Mafia comment was classic. You and my dad are two peas in a pod.

Damn Russian Mafia. Taking over our garbage businesses and the NBA. Slowly taking the world over...one game at a time.

M. D. said...

Ace,

lern tu reed. We said the turnovers killed us.

UofTOrange said...

I guess my point is more that while there were some awful calls, there are ALWAYS some awful calls that go against you in LA. Other teams have found ways to win there in spite of those calls. The Jazz, past the second best PG in the league, didn't bring their B game, much less their A game. That is the reason you lost, not the refs.

That being said, much like in game 4 where the Jazz shot 20 more free throws, I think the Jazz homecourt advantage will be there in Game 6. Not in the same way the LA homecourt advantage is there, bc Jazz fans in the lower bowl actually cheer (no matter how untastefully), but the result will be a lot of ridiculous calls for the Jazz, just like there were ridiculous calls for the Lakers in LA.

M. D. said...

I hate the Rockets, but I do not hate uoftorange. You bring it from the heart.

Ace said...

c.b. jack

half of the posts here are blaming the refs

Brock Kassing said...

18 ace. 18. Now that you have the correct amount of T.O's you can see why we are blaming the refs.

Ace said...

18, 19, whatever. the fact is that the turnovers cost the jazz this game

Brock Kassing said...

oh, and ace, it's because half of them are me and I am completely irrational and emotional.....omg, I totally almost died on the way to work!!!!

Ace said...

you did? poor you

Brock Kassing said...

well, turnovers and refs.....Oh "and the refreshments? Bush League!"
M. Scott

M. D. said...

Ace. agreed. I for one am not blaming the refs.

The real question is...

What the hell is that picture next to your name? You need to relax..."go draw a bath and curl up to a good vampire book".

Brock Kassing said...

Just "full-sized" it C.B. It looks to me like a naked guy holding the world. A rather ripped naked guy. Could be Zeus, but I will need to check with some guys at work.

M. D. said...

I prefer the small version where it looked like one of those mythical creatures who are half horse and half man.

So dreamy.

Brock Kassing said...

I cannot wait to see the new Narnia!

The Machine said...

Maybe Boozer can go see it with you. He won't have anything else to do.

The Machine said...

Looking again at that "push-off" by Gasol, if Okur hadn't been so dramatic, he could have still been in a defensive position to prevent a freakin dunk. You can't flop like that and depend on the refs to bail you out. Just make a play, man. They should have called a foul on Okur for being such a pussy.

M. D. said...

Agreed Hair Net. It was a bad flop at an even worse time.

Booner. Are you seriously going with Boozer to Narnia? Room for 3?

pslakerfan said...

"Here was my thinking. Depsite the horrible calls. We were still in this game. We still had our chances to win. We still could have taken the lead on any of our 6 chances. While the refs certainly didn't help tip the hat in our favor, the players lost the game with their inability to convert at necessary times." - CBJack

If that doesn't sound like a Laker fans description of game 4 I don't know what does.....

Point is you get the calls at home. I agree the calls went in favor of the Lakers in the 4th quarter, but so what. If Utah didn't get no calls on every "shove", "over the back", "reach-in" in Utah then the series would be over by now. Don't even get me started on the bull**** calls on D-Fish, which brought on Farmar and the end of the Lakers chances in Utah. Or how about the Flagrant 2 on Turiaf, come on are you serious, is this softball or basketball???

M. D. said...

It's basketball. Softball is played on dirt and grass. No biggie though.

I'm glad you liked my analysis.

Welcome back psLakersFan.

The flagrant was harsh, but necessary after the bench and players reactions. The refs couldn't lose control of the game. As for D-Fish and his bull**** fouls? They were legit. Every one of them. The guy is a reach-in fool. Not to mention, he is a horrible flopping guard. I was embarrassed of it when he was a Jazz man. I'm now embarrassed for you because of it.

You can have D-Fish. We're over him.

Brock Kassing said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
moneyman memo said...

Besides what, Booner?? Don't leave me hanging, broseph!

moneyman memo said...

It JUST dawned on me - the refs and the Jazz turnovers might not be to blame AT ALL.

The real question is - what were you doing during the game, my dear Booner? Especially during the 4th quarter? Did you watch it, or were you doing a prescribed activity from the list we made for you? Remember, those activities should not have involved you being anywhere near a device running on electricity that could broadcast the Jazz game.

Hmm...I'm looking at one of your comments up there - how is it that you were able to give such a detailed analysis of the missed opportunities and bad foul calls in the 4th quarter?

Answer us, Ron!

The Machine said...

I am still upset at Luke Walton for not finishing on that break away in game 4. I wanted to strangle him, Sprewell-style. Can't wait to hear that pin drop in game six when the Machine drops 30 on the Jazz, en route to a 16 point Laker win.

akamoroti said...

Yeah, surprised that no one talking about the last board by Gasol, good point Booner. It looked like he saw the bounce the ball took and knew he wasn't going to get it, and unfortunately for him Gasol didn't extend his arm or it would've been called. One thought on the Odom phantom call from the side angle you see Boozer catch Odom's jersey (I think as Odom catches the ball?) but you clearly see jersey being pulled, it wasn't long but I can see how a ref with that angle makes that call. And they gave Boozer at least one makeup call when he bowled over Gasol but they called the block instead, I think that was after they blew the open court call against AK.

UofTOrange said...

There is absolutely no way that any team in the playoffs beats the Jazz by double digits in Utah. There would be a riot before that was allowed to happen

Brock Kassing said...

To answer your question Moneyman Memo, here is how last night went down.

8:00: Got the girls ready for bed.
8:15: Forgot I was supposed to put the girls to bed.
8:30 My wife put the girls to bed as I went outside and worked in the yard, with cell phone in my pocket.
-Game Starts-
First Score Check via Phone: Lakers 10 Jazz 4 (not looking good)
Second Score Check:
Lakers 17 Jazz 10 (already considering other superstitious options)
Third Score Check:
Lakers 25 Jazz 16 (Dammit!)
Right then and there my buddy four blocks over calls and says he has a few guys over and wants me to come watch the game. I thought to myself, "is this a sign?" Am I supposed to change things up. As much as I didn't want to bail on the "cell phone score check", I had to do it for the team. I hopped on my adult razor scooter, (for real, no it does not get any lamer than that, but hey, it was there and I needed to act fast.)
As I am at my buddies house I pick my spot carefully. I sit in the same spot I was when my Patriots ended their 16-0 season. Where my Utes one the "who gives a ratsass bowl." Good vibes from this seat. Jazz fight and fight to stay in it. I could go on and on but let me wrap this up. The seat has just tied us up with under two minutes left. From there, we all know what happened. Did I move, I don't think I did. I may have jumped out of my seat when we tied it up and that is what haunts me. Because of this, I am willing to take the blame for this one. It's on me Jazz fans. It's on me. I am already re-thinking my startegies for tomorrow.

The Machine said...

You don't "allow" Kobe to embarrass you...he just does it.

Unknown said...

Damnit all of you, there is one thing and one thing only that caused this Jazz loss....I am going to give you all a second to think about it....do you have it?

It was the freaking powder blue jerseys!! I swear the Jazz are 0-15 in those things this year and this is the game that they decide to break them out on? Leave those things at home guys, how many times do you have to get burned before you learn that they are a bad Karma?

It might not mean much, but Carlos Boozer is officially on probation with me. I will now go by the moniker of "Hammy". You have 2 games left to prove your manhood Carlos and get your name back where it belongs. If not, you will be dead to me.

And yes, you read that right Laker fan, I said "2" more games. In the immortal words of you crazy governor, "We will be back". There is no way in hell that you are winning game 6 on our court.

Unknown said...

See, here it is. The first comment/slash post as just the Hammy. Pick up your game Carlos, pick it up.

pslakerfan said...

"The flagrant was harsh, but necessary after the bench and players reactions. The refs couldn't lose control of the game." - CBJack

I like you CB so I will give you the nice version of my response:

That is the dumbest thing I have read yet on this blog. If I read this right you are saying that it was not a flagrant 2, but had to be called such because of the reactions of the players and bench. I am reading that right???

Are you serious? Maybe charging should be changed to blocking if the benches react strongly enough?

If they were concerned they should have called a flagrant 1 and warned both coaches. It's called a second chance for a reason.

Sorry CB, but you just lost me with that logic.....

booleanslayer said...

pslakerfan... the flagrant 2 was given because Turiaf hit him really hard AFTER the whistle had blown. whoever it was Price blew by got whistled for a reaching foul and as typical, the player with the ball went and shot anyways. yet Turiaf met him with an elbow to his head anyways. that is why it was a flagrant 2.

pslakerfan said...

Thanks peterpanning, but what does that have to do with my comment???

Unknown said...

Why shouldn't we make a big deal about the refereeing? Adelman and PJ did, and here we are today.

Lost in all of this media-fed "Utah is a fouling machine, but LA is such a finesse team that would NEVER hack, grab, or push" is the fact that LA committs, on average, slightly over 3 fewer fouls than Utah per game. Let's make a very generous assumption that 3 of those fouls are shooting fouls. 3* 2 FTs per foul * 5 games = 30 more FTs. What does this series FT disparity stand at?

I don't think its a conspiracy - I do think its the result of successful lobbying.

booleanslayer said...

are you serious? are you an idiot?

"Or how about the Flagrant 2 on Turiaf, come on are you serious, is this softball or basketball???"

you bitched about the call and that was my respose. do you seriously see no correlation?

The Machine said...

I agree that the powder blue jerseys didn't help your cause. That's probably why Okur flew so far when Gasol tapped him on the back. At least they didn't wear booty shorts like the Lakers did in that home game against Boston.

booleanslayer said...

this temporarily took my mind off of killing boozer. it's an even beter version of the second round virgin poster

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/2495500810_27b1b4cb66_o.gif

The Machine said...

Nice...what's he looking at, anyway?

pslakerfan said...

peterpanning,

apparently you did not read my post. My problem was with his reasoning. His reasoning was that the players reaction was the reason for the Flagrant 2, not the actual foul.