Goodbye Deron, Hello Size and Quickness

As of last Wednesday, February 23, 2011 the Utah Jazz acquired guard Devin Harris and forward Derrick Favors along with two future first round draft picks (New Jersey’s 2011 pick and Golden State’s 2012 pick) from New Jersey in exchange for guard Deron Williams.

“We feel that we’ve addressed a current need at point guard with Deron’s departure, as well as the future with draft picks and a big man,” said Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor. “To do so we had to give up an All-Star, but we feel like this is a win for both sides.” 

We can only hope that this trade makes the Jazz a better team in the future. The Jazz are currently 1-6 without former coach Jerry Sloan. A week or so of practice in the new system and the new Jazz members should be ready to compete for a playoff birth.

Come On Jazz!!

There are two main factors the Utah Jazz need to focus on greatly, rebounding and finishing games. The Jazz started the season off not knowing how to start games losing the majority of their first quarters. Now that Coach Corbin has taken over it seems that they have lost there ability to come back from a deficit. The Jazz can finally start games well but when it comes down to the last four minutes or so of a game they lose their focus and have given games away, even against sub-par teams. I sure hope that this All Star break has given the team some good rest especially with our recent injuries to Kirilenko, Bell, and Price. If the Jazz don't start winning games and gaining their confidence back, a playoff run looks slim to none. It's only a little over half way through the season, so it is very possible, even with a new head coach. When they step up their hustle, continue to dish out assists and start rebounding more, Millsap, D Will and Jefferson can take over and lead this team to a turn-around season.

Jerry Sloan Calls It Quits!?

After 26 years in the NBA, 23 of them with the Utah Jazz, Jerry Sloan resigns along with his good friend and assistant Phil Johnson. Some said a clash with Williams was to blame for Sloan's departure, but Sloan said he merely lost the energy needed to coach in his famously intense manner. When Williams, who openly challenged Sloan at times this season, was introduced before the game, loud cheers were mixed with a measure of boos. "Maybe I feel a little more pressure now," Williams said. "Do I care what the fans think of me? Yeah, I'd be lying if I didn't. I don't want them to think I ran a Hall of Fame coach out. But I can't get caught up in that anymore. ... They can choose who they want to believe."

So what does this mean for the Jazz? Tyrone Corbin who has been an assistant coach under Sloan for the last 7 seasons takes over and has a sudden intense pressure to try and attempt to turn the Jazz's season around. This just adds to the frustration of being a Jazz fan, shockingly increased by Sloan's departure. Fans can only watch and hope that Tyrone Corbin's new system and the possibility of Deron Williams' "freedom" can take the Jazz into the playoffs. The Utah Jazz rematch the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday the 15th in Phoenix, where both players and Coach Corbin can make a big statement with a win on the road.

The Struggle To Get On Track: Jerry Sloan's Quest

The Utah Jazz beating the Charlotte Bobcats lost the next game two days later against the Houston Rockets by a devastating one point. Two days later the Jazz went into Denver to play the Nuggets and looked really good. They were up on the Nuggets basically the entire game and came out with a 7 point win against an athletic Denver team. This game may have tired the Jazz out, because coming back home the following day you would think they would have a good chance to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder. With a surprising start hitting all 11 of their first shots the Jazz went up early, but only to continuously slip the rest of the game and eventually lost by 16. Now I'm beginning to see a pattern here. Starting with the loss against San Antonio the Jazz have won every other game for the last seven games. They look surprisingly good one night and the next night they will have no rhythm and struggle on one of the key components whether its scoring, rebounding or defense. I know each team is different and takes totally different schemes and tactics to beat, but 68 year old Jerry Sloan has been there multiple times before. Jerry, being a coach in the NBA for the last 23 years should know more than most any other coach in the league today. 23 years and not ONE coach of the year award! He is arguably the most successful NBA coach who has also never won a championship. A coach with old school skills yet he needs more new school tactics. The Utah Jazz definitely have the talent and potential this season to make a deep playoff run, but it's up to the players and more so, coach Sloan, to really take them there. A championship is well over due in Utah and all of these players deserve it. I want to say it is VERY possible IF everyone stays mentally prepared. GO JAZZ.