Utah Jazz

Scrutinizing Dubs: Warriors Strengthens Grip on Western Top Spot

Kevin Durant

The Dubs proved it all wrong. A huge missing link in the name of their ace point guard Stephen Curry won’t be a hindrance for their domination.

Kevin Durant has been leading the team well especially in scoring ever since Steph was unable to play. The recent finals MVP really got it all if there is an urgent need for a man to step up.
They only lost once in the last 10 games without Steph and managed to climb up to the top spot as they run streaks behind the struggling Rockets.

Why does Steph’s absence turn out to be beneficial for the team?

With Steph, the Warriors is an ultimate shooting squad led by him. Without him, yes the outside domination is still present but his absence gave way for offense to flow inside, led of course by KD.
Another good thing about Steph being unable to play is that it gave time for Warriors’ unnoticed guards to make baskets for the team. In their recent victory against the Utah Jazz, two guards off the bench finished with double figures. Nick Young and Patrick McCaw got significant minutes and scored 15 and 18 points respectively. These two guards were very efficient and productive. Warriors found a saving trump card in some games that Steph may experience foul troubles.

Conclusion

Steph’s absence seemed to go drastic at first but in the long run, it acted as an opportunity in disguise to dig deeper through the bench and let others become the offensive focus.
Kevin Durant’s been leading the offense. Not just leading but balancing it as well. Warriors aren’t just about shooting long buckets. They’ve got big men who can go head to head against stonewall defenses.

Ball Scrutiny: 3 Reasons Behind Celtics’ Collapse Against Jazz

Aron Baynes

As forecasted, the Celtics lost to another team coming from the bottom of the league. The Utah Jazz put Kyrie Irving’s 33 point performance to waste after defeating them 107 -95.


With Kyrie scoring humongously, what could’ve gone wrong for Boston to draw their 7th loss?



1. 59 – 42 Rebounds

A wide gap of 17 in terms of total rebounds significantly tells us a story of who controlled the game. As cliche as it may sound, he who controls the rebound controls the game. And so the Utah Jazz did.

2. Kyrie’s 33 points were sufficient but inefficient

Yes, Uncle Drew scored undeniably high for the Celtics. But looking closely, he shot 11-25 from the field, delivering less than half of his attempts and we know that the Celtics fail to capitalize on the rebounds as stated in reason number 1. This numerous misses became vital as they could not get second possessions in their misses. In fact, Celtics only got 2 offensive boards while Jazz snatched 9 from them.

3. Celtics fail to take advantage of Jazz having no true center

With Rudy Gorbert being injured very early on his left knee, he only managed to play a total of 2 minutes and yet Celtics could not dominate the shaded area particularly their center Aron Baynes, playing 16 minutes but only scoring 2 points given that he has the size advantage without a true center defender.
Maybe at some point, Kyrie is at fault. Those 16 minutes Baynes is on the floor, it was Kyrie who solely runs and finishes the offensive play.

Conclusion

It may not be stated that Celtics ‘fail’ to take advantage. They may have failed to see their advantage on the inside. Baynes only got 4 attempts and finished only one. Clearly, the offense didn’t focus on the opponents weak side. Celtics played the way they used to — focusing on Irving — instead of playing smarter — taking advantage of opponent’s weakness.

Balls-Eye: Will Celtics Lose Against an Underdog Again?

Kyrie Irving

The Boston Celtics. A team emerging this league lead by their new point guard Kyrie Irving. 

They run win streaks, finish games strong, but loses to teams in the abyss. Facing the Utah Jazz tomorrow, a team on number 9 spot. Is this a sign of another defeat?
Jazz is on a 4 straight losing streak after facing very tough teams like the OKC, Rockets and Greek Freak with Bucks. But now, they are to face another beast — The Boston Celtics.
I won’t keep you waiting so here it is.

Celtics: win or lose?

It will be a sweet victory for the green squad if Jazz would not be able to handle Celtic’s main gun, Kyrie Irving. In their recent match, Uncle Drew scored 33 big points.
Now, why did I based my prediction solely onto Irving?
It is because in their recent loss, which was against Bulls. Irving’s absence drastically pulled the team down. Losing in a huge deficit 108 – 85, One hand of Boston is guaranteed empty handed without Uncle Drew. It is the fastest path to victory over the no. 1 team in the east.

Conclusion

If Kyrie Irving gets it going, it will be a sorrowful 5 straight losses for the Jazz, otherwise, Celtics would be beaten once again by a team coming from the bottom. 

Westbrook Missing in action: OKC Falls Against Jazz

Russell Westbrook

With Carmelo Anthony’s 26 points and Paul George with 22, Thunders still couldn’t overthrow the Utah Jazz without Russell Westbrook’s explosive performance. 

The Jazz bagged its 2nd victory after winning against OKC, 96-87 led by Joe Ingles with 19 points and Rudy Gobert’s double-double – 16 points and 13 rebounds. Utah Jazz’s starters 4 out of 5 finished in double figures which became the main dagger for the victory over OKC’s scarce starter production. Only Melo and George contributed big. The triple threat wasn’t in full throttle – Russell Westbrook only with 6 points after playing 36 minutes.
Both teams were not on it outside, shooting at a very poor percentage (OKC 33.33, Jazz 31.0). But when the battle is brought inside, it spelled the difference that determined the winner of the game. Utah Jazz doubled OKC’s production in the paint (40-20). And again, OKC’s defense was too weak to hold its enemy back, hence, therefore, even the small guys who can’t produce from the outside easily penetrated to score baskets in the shaded area, except for Joe Ingles, despite the poor percentage of the team from beyond the arc, most of his points came from the outside. He totaled 19 points with 5 triples.
Russell Westbrook’s dormancy had adverse effects on the Thunder’s performance. With him unable to score well, his speedy penetration won’t be able to attract defenders the way it used to because the defending team knew he’d pass due to his poor accuracy in the game, thus OKC’s offense, which Russell Westbrook is the main play director isn’t as fluid as it is. Westbrook’s dash and pass didn’t work quite well.
Scores:

Jazz 96 – Ingles 19, Gobert 16, Rubio 16, Favors 13, Mitchell 2, bench – 30
Thunder 87 – Anthony 26, George 22, Adams 9, Westbrook 6, Roberson 3, bench – 21
The league’s super teams were simultaneously shut down. –  The Cavs, Warriors and Thunders. What might the reason be? Will too much individual talent be a hindrance to great teamwork? Or is it just a typical bad game that any team experience from time to time?

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Utah Jazz – Full Game Highlights | Oct 21, 2017 | 2017-18 NBA Season

Highlights: Hayward, Gordon’s 33 Not Enough to win Game 2 with Golden State Warriors

Gordon Hayward may have a great performance today but it did not make up against Warriors who scored double today.
Golden State Warriors is now starting to dominate the series, now with 2 wins after today’s Game 2 victory against Utah Jazz. Gordon Hayward may have scored 33 points, 4 assists and 5 rebounds today to lead the Jazz but other than him, Rudy Gobert and Shelvin Mack, no other Jazz player scored doubles today.
Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala lead today’s victory for Golden State. Golden State powered it up in every quarter shooting 49 percent in the field, 45 percent in the three-point line and 85 percent in free throws.

Final score 115-104, Game 3 on Sunday May 7th.

See the game highlights below.

(courtesy: youtube/Rapid Highlights)

Utah Jazz Now Set to Face Warriors After Beating LA Clippers,104 – 91

Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors pumped up their last game against LA Clippers scoring double digits today. Jazz played it good with all their field goal percentage, free throws, three-pointers, assists and rebounds. With George Hill, Boris Diaw, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Joe Ingles, and Rodney Hood doing all the shots and points of the first quarter.
The second Quarter did not go well for Clippers scoring only 15 points against the 22 points of Utah Jazz. With Rodney Hood, Derrick Favors, Joe Johnson, George Hill, Joe Ingles doing all the shots, three pointers and free throws of the second quarter. Hayward, Diaw, Favors, Hill, Hood and Johnson continued all the scoring of Jazz in the third quarter.
Clippers tried to step it up, with help from DeAndre Jordan, Jamal Crawford and J.J. Reddicks three -pointers in the last three minutes of the game to add some score for Clippers. Jazz will now move on to start the second round series with the Golden State Warriors.

Highlights: Utah Jazz beats Clippers in L.A. Staples Center

Utah finished Game 5, leading with 96-92 win against the series with Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
Gordon Hayward scored some 27 points, 4 assits and 8 rebounds all through out the game. Clippers owned the first quarter with a 2-point advantage against Utah Jazz. With power plays from Chris Paul, several dunk shots by De Andre Jordan, three point shots from J.J. Reddick, Paul Pierce and Luc Richard Mbah the first quarter is concluded. Utah 19 and Los Angeles 21.
Second quarter was for Utah bouncing to the ball game with lay up shots from Raul Neto, power plays from Rodney Hood and Joe Johnson, free throws, lay ups and dunk shots from Rudy Gobert, three pointers from Boris Diaw. Gordon also scored with a lay up shot and a free throw and an ending dunk shot from Rodney Hood and three pointets from Hood and Hill. Utah 46, Los Angeles 43.
George Hill chipped in 2 points starting the third quarter followed by hook and three point shots from Boris Diaw. Power shots from Gordon Hayward, a dunk from Derrick Favors and three point shots from Joe Johnson. And an ending dunk by Rodney Hood, ending the third quarter Utah-64; L.A.-58.
Utah filled the fourth quarter with points from free throw shots, three-pointers, powerful dunks and several power plays. Final score 96-92, Game 6 will be on Saturday 10:30 A.M.

(courtesy: youtube/Rapid Highlights)

Lakers Look for their First Win on the Road Against the Undefeated Hawks

The fans went crazy as the LA Lakers won their first game against the Houston Rockets 120-114 in their home opener, post-Kobe Bryant era on October 26. They drop their first road game of the season next. Utah Jazz handed the Lakers their first loss 96-89 of the season Friday October 28.  And just last Sunday, Lakers battled hard but still fall to the Oklahoma Thunder 113-96. Russell Westbrook was just hard for anybody to defend. He made yet another triple double.

Yesterday was game 4 on the road. Lakers looked to pick up a second victory at Indiana. But they didn’t finish and win the game. Paul George puts up 30 to lead the Indiana Pacers past the LA Lakers 115-108. He took over the last minutes of the game down the stretch.

The LA Lakers are in Georgia today as they hit the floor against the Atlanta Hawks for the only time this season. Will the Atlanta Hawks stay undefeated with a win vs. the Lakers or will the Lakers make the Atlanta Hawks suffer their first loss of the season? Catch the game 5 tip at 7:30. Lakers have ruled Timofey Mozgov out due to left eye contusion for today’s game.

Joe Johnson Heads to Utah Jazz For a Two-Year Deal

Joe Johnson leaves the Miami Heat for Utah Jazz. According to multiple reports, the veteran wing guard/forward agreed to terms with the Utah Jazz on a two-year, $22 million deal.

The 10th overall pick of the 2001 NBA draft averaged 12.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game last season. Utah Jazz will be the sixth team of Johnson in his entire 16 years in NBA.

Johnson will provide the veteran presence and leadership to the young Jazz team. This is the second move by the Utah Jazz this off season trading their lottery pick in this year’s NBA draft for George Hill last week,

NBA Trade Rumors: Gordon Hayward Unhappy with the Utah Jazz, Wants to be Traded

(Artwork by Sean Curate)
According to HoopsCritic.com, Brian Geltzeiler reported Wednesday morning that the Jazz forward is unhappy in Utah and wants to be traded. According to Geltzeiler, the Jazz are “actively” trying to move him.
If the Jazz do trade Hayward, the Boston Celtics certainly seem to make sense as a potential trade partner. Boston owns eight picks in Thursday night’s NBA Draft, including the No. 3 overall pick. Not only that, Hayward has an obvious connection to Boston. He played for Celtics coach Brad Stevens at Butler before being drafted by the Jazz in 2010.
#PowcastSports #NBA

Kobe finishes his two-decade-long career in a fashionable way as Lakers eliminate Jazz, 101-96

Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant, right, attemps a shot as Utah Jazz superstar Gordon Hayward challenges him, Wednesday, April 13, 2016, in Los Angeles. Bryant poured 60 points in his final NBA game as the Lakers won 101-96. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) 

Entering the final page of his twenty year long career, Kobe Bryant, dubbed as “The Black Mamba”, turned back the clock and hosted an amazing show in the fully occupied Staples Center crowd one final time, posting a season-high 60 points for the sixth time of his career in a 101-96 comeback effort win that eliminated the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.

After scoring more than the whole Jazz team in the fourth quarter alone by himself, he left the game with 4.1 seconds left while the whole crowd erupting and chanting his name.

“I can’t believe how fast 20 years went by. Man, this is crazy,” Bryant said after the game.

“This is absolutely crazy … and to be standing at center court with you guys, my teammates behind me, appreciating the journey that we’ve been on — we’ve been through our ups, been through our downs. I think the most important part is we all stayed together throughout.”

Bryant spoke about being raised as a “die-hard Laker fan” and the deal that sent him to the one of the most popular franchise that he spent 20 years with and winning five NBA rings.

“You can’t write something better than this,” he said.

Bryant said he was proud that he took the obligations for the team in the declining years “because we didn’t run. We played through all that stuff, and we got our championships, and we did it the right way.”

The retired 18-time All-Star set records in his final game. For the most attempted shots in an NBA game in the past 30 seasons by taking 50 shots and scoring 60 points in a 22-50 outing and for the most points scored by a player in his final regular-season game. No one ever reached 30 points in his final game, with John Havlicek’s 29 in 1978 setting the former record.

“All I can do here is thank you guys,” he told the crowd. “Thank you guys for all the years of support. Thank you guys for all the motivation. Thank you for all the inspiration.”

“What can I say? Mamba out,” Bryant said while flashing his smile.

 The Utah Jazz missed the playoffs, which, of course, is a very embarrasing development..

“This has been a very positive season. It may not feel like that right now because we lost a game to Dallas and obviously the game had huge implications,” Snyder said. “The fact that this group was in that game in and of itself to me is an accomplishment and the fact that we were able to compete down the stretch to put ourselves in that game is a positive.”

Hayward approves his coach.

“I think just based off the experiences we’ve all gained individually and collectively as a team, we’ve been in a lot of big moments,” Hayward said. “Forty wins is definitely a step up from two years ago when we had 20-whatever, so I think we’re trending in the right way.”

Rondo 17 pts 13 asts 7 reb! With a behind the back dribble and a swift one hand pass to Rudy Gay! SWEET!



Rondo displayed his awesome passing ability again and yet fans from Dallas wished he played like this when he was with Dirk. I guess he prefers DMC more and they actually work well together as a team sometimes the Kings seemed like they can get to the playoffs and if they do its because of Rondo. 

I am not taking away anything from DMC and Gay however we all know what they’ve accomplished without Rondo, Its fair to say that they havent had a true point guard to this date.

I really hope that the Kings make it to the playoffs IMO, Rondo can also be effective against Curry and make him defend on the other end. 

Here’s the highlight of his Amazing Performance that gave them the victory over Utah Jazz



Written by:
Aldrin 
Team Powcast



Mavs with Throwback Jersey! D-Will with Throwback performance 23pts 8 assists and 3 steals!

D-Will



D-Will has been somewhat a disappointment after leaving Jazz, I for one thought he was just a system player, he was up there with Cp-3 and Rose when they were starting, D-will lost his touch or interest after leaving Utah, he had some notable performance for the Nets but he wasn’t the D-will we used to know.

Now that he is playing for his hometown seems like D-Will is playing inspired basketball once again. 

D-Will helped the Mavs Beat Utah with a great performance and indeed a throwback one. Is this a coincidence or Mavs can cling on D-will to give Dirk his last run. 

Here’s The highlight of the game:


Written by:
Aldrin
Team Powcast


Ricky Rubio Says Rudy Gobert Has No Class

Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert are leaders of two of the youngest and most promising teams in the Western Conference.
They’re international rivals, too.
Spain defeated Gobert and France, 80-75, in an overtime EuroBasket semifinal Thursday, and the big fella fouled out as Pau Gasol put a monumental 40 points on him.
Gobert’s day ended in the extra period as his team fell behind. After scoring eight points and pulling down 13 boards, he posted a message complaining about the officiating.
Fellow Frenchman Nicolas Batum missed three crucial free throws that would have tied the game in OT. He congratulated his opponents and wished them luck.

The Spaniard Rubio quoted both tweets and called Batum a “class act” while saying Gobert is “no class act.”