It seemed like an ominous sign.
Before the ball was even tipped off, the refs had to pull everyone back and send them to their benches.
The shot clock at one end of the floor was not working. Try as they might, the technicians could not get the clock to work, so they shut off both clocks and Dan Roberts, the Jazz public address announcer, was forced to count down the shot clock in intervals, as well as give score and time when the main clock broke down as well.
Similarly, it seemed the Jazz broke down early in the game as Chicago came out firing, content to get into an outside shooting contest in the first quarter instead of pounding it inside, which worked to perfection later in the game.
They also failed to contain Derrick Rose in the final period, who cut up the woeful Jazz defense brilliantly in the final minutes of the game and scored eight points in the final three minutes.
Give all the credit in the world to the Bulls, who despite playing the night before and having a horrid circus trip at 1-3, came out much more energized than their counterparts.
The Jazz were completely out of sync for stretches in the game, and two plays epitomized their confusion.
On one play when Ronnie Price came down court, he kept motioning for C.J. Miles to cut baseline to the side where he and Mehmet Okur were, presumably to have him work the ball in to Memo in the post. Miles looked lost and unsure and, eventually, Price was forced to wave him off when he finally tried to cut and work a two man with Okur.
- B/R Ticket Guide
On the defensive end, one time it looked as though Okur and Paul Millsap were arguing over who was supposed to guard Drew Gooden. Unfortunately, before either ran to him, the ball was thrown to Gooden who hit an uncontested jumper.
In fact, it seemed that for stretches at a time, the players weren't sure who they were supposed to man up on as they came down the floor and were taking a man only after conversing about it.
Though Sloan doesn't want to hear it and was venomous when the question was asked, the loss of consistency due to injuries may be taking its toll. Last year, when players knew their roles, you never saw this type of confusion on the floor.
However, as Sloan is quick to point out, you can't use that as an excuse to not play hard. You have to play hard every night. You can't just complain about not having players. You're being paid to compete every night. Now, with multiple people riding the pine, Sloan is looking for anyone to come in and just provide a spark.
For the first half, only Memo seemed to truly have it going. He had 16 points in the half and was single-handedly keeping the Jazz afloat in a half where the Jazz looked like they were there to practice while the Bulls came there to play. The Jazz shot only 43 percent in that half, while the Bulls shot what they would shoot for the night: 50 percent.
For one quarter, all that changed. The Jazz played with the hustle they've showed at times and did it at both ends of the floor. The Jazz erased a nine-point halftime deficit and turned it into an eight-point lead before settling back down to three at the end of three. They forced turnovers, they ran the break, the crowd might have even gotten in the Bulls head a little.
The Bulls rallied though, bringing their shooting back over 50 percent again as they tickled the nets time and time again. Then it became a shootout and defense became an afterthought as both teams seemed to get whatever shot they wanted from the floor. It culminated when Ronnie Brewer, on a miss by Okur, fed Miles and the Jazz led by one, 100-99.
Unfortunately, with 11 seconds to go, it was a second too much time. Derrick Rose took a shot with 2.7 seconds remaining, the shot missed, but the ball bounced out to Larry Hughes, who took a 22-foot shot at the buzzer and nailed it, stunning the raucous EnergySolutions crowd into shocked silence. The refs reviewed the play, the shot was counted good, and the Jazz dropped their first at home.
The Jazz, who were already the walking wounded, lost Matt Harpring before the game to a back injury in practice and Brevin Knight left the game with 8:30 to play.
It was almost fitting that the shot clock was broken down, the lights off all game. After all, the Bulls did the same to the Jazz.
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about 1 month ago
Very good article. As a Bulls fan I was sitting on the edge of my seat as I'm sure you were too. It was a very close game and one that both teams were seeing who would blink first. When the Jazz went up by 1 with 11 seconds left, I was a little nervous but I knew that Derrick Rose would seal the deal if he had the ball in his hands. When he missed I thought we missed our chance. When Larry Hughes got the rebound, I knew the game was over because Hughes can't shoot to save his life... but apparently God answered his "prayer" of a shot.
from about 1 month ago
It happens, especially when it comes to last second shots by a Bull against the Jazz. ;-)
about 1 month ago
That game except for a few minutes in the 3rd quarter was very nerve wracking to watch. The Jazz just didn't seem like themselves. I know injuries shouldn't count but I feel like they do. If we had Deron, or Boozer we wouldn't have lost. I think it's getting hard on guys night in and night out to play way more than they're used to playing.
Man I hope we're done with the injury bug for awhile.
Great analysis by the way!
from about 1 month ago
Thanks Diana. I hope they get Deron back Wednesday, since it looks like Knight is out again
about 1 month ago
I really think the shot clock fiasco contributed to the Jazz being outplayed essentially by Chicago. The Jazz are a team that depends heavily on executing halfcourt offense and the announcer just made it worse by counting down the seconds, can you say ANNOYING.. it just seemed like they did not have any energy, especially in the first half of the game......great game overall. DW needs to get back in the lineup asap....
from about 1 month ago
Both teams had to listen to them countdown the shot clock so I don't think that is a good argument about being outplayed. Also, Hughes was able to hit a game-winner with that guy counting down.
Didn't seem to bother him.
(maybe that's the key to getting him to shoot better! haha)
from about 1 month ago
Bottomline was the Jazz were outplayed by Chicago in that game, even the broadcasters mentioned how the Jazz seemed frazzled by the announcer counting down the seconds and my theory is it CONTRIBUTED to the Jazz losing and thus contributed to Chicago's sustained momentum. And it is not an argument just a theory of mine....that shot by Hughes was the luckiest shot he ever made, dont expect too many more of those from him, lol. The Bulls capitalized on the Jazz' lack of concentration in the first half, I have watched this team play hundreds of games, I can tell when they are not themselves, period...
from about 1 month ago
I don't think that the shot clock fiasco bothered Chicago as much, but I don't think it was the cause for the Jazz loss either. This Jazz team just doesn't look as comfortable as last year's team, and probably the questions of who will get playing time when everyone's healthy and when everyone will be back may be finally getting to them. Having to play basically an 8-9 man rotation in the game didn't help either.
about 1 month ago
Hey Brandon,
Good read. The game was so intense! I wrote about it as well, from a Chicago fan side. I said that it felt like a playoff game with the crowd and the back and forth. It was really a great game. Sorry it did not turn out the way you would have hoped.
Good analysis, if you get a chance, take a look at mine and tell me what you think!
Thanks
Scott
from about 1 month ago
"Oh, come on, Stan. Not everything ends the way you think it should." Gabriel Shear, Swordfish.
It really did feel like a playoff game, but I'll be happier if the Jazz ever get their whole team healthy. ^_~
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