Jazz faithful have plenty to worry about until Friday's game
Doug Robinson
Panic.
Brace yourself. Jazz fans will bombard the talk shows and the blogs with their angst, just as they do every spring with the ups and downs of playoff basketball.
They will find plenty to fret about in the wake of Tuesday night's 95-69 loss that was never close. Therapists are standing by now.
"It's not the end of the world," guard Deron Williams said after the game.
Hold that thought.
After the Jazz won the first two games on the road, this series seemed to be in the bag. The Rockets were done. But here it is a week later, the Jazz's series lead has shriveled to 3-2, and they are one loss away from a return trip to Houston and Game 7.
The NBA should start an investigation: Were the Rockets really that good, or were they playing with a sixth man on the floor?
The Rockets were playing with 35-year-old Bobby Jackson at guard.
They put 41-year-old (or older?) Dikembe Mutombo at center. He's got age spots that are older than Deron Williams.
The Rockets leaned heavily on two rookies — Luis Scola and Carl Landry.
And still the Rockets, who lost to the Jazz in seven games in last year's playoff after taking a 3-2 lead, overwhelmed the Jazz in Houston.
The Jazz said earlier in the week that they were eager to finish this series so they could rest for a few days before starting the next round against the Lakers.
Now the Lakers will rest and the Jazz will brawl with the Rockets this weekend.
Here's a handy clip-and-save list of things for Jazz fans to worry about until Friday's Game 6.
• Carlos Boozer finally showed signs of life in the second half, but by then it was too late. In the first half, while the Jazz were falling behind by 17, he was MIA. He committed a traveling violation, missed layups, bonked a foul shot, drew a technical and looked lost.
It wasn't pretty. Deron Williams needs Boozer like McCartney needs Lennon.
• In the last two games, the Jazz have made 2-of-20 shots from 3-point range. Anyone seen Kyle Korver and Mehmet Okur lately? The Rockets continually forced the Jazz to take perimeter shots they couldn't make. Things got so bad that even Matt Harpring and Andre Kirilenko were taking deep shots, which is never a good sign for the Jazz.
• The Jazz made only 13-of-23 free throws, which just about matches what they have done the entire series.
• Houston coach Rick Adelman complained to the league that Tracy McGrady was being roughed up by Jazz defenders, but on Tuesday night it was the Rockets who were pounding the Jazz and especially Boozer.
• The Jazz bench, a strength throughout the season, was outscored 18-0 in the first half.
• Tracy McGrady, the star who has never won a playoff game, lit up the scoreboard for 29 points, making 13-of-26 shots.
That ought to be enough for Jazz fans to fret about until Game 6.
E-mail: drob@desnews.com
Recent comments
re: Idaho Fan
We know you are really Chris.
No...
Sloan Hater | May 1, 2008 at 12:25 p.m.
Go Houston! I've had enough of Larry Miller, the Jazz and Doug...
Anonymous | May 1, 2008 at 10:25 a.m.
Everyone needs to settle down. I was just as disappointed w/ the...
Idaho Fan | April 30, 2008 at 10:24 p.m.
