The "Big Easy" isn't so easy. I could say "Deron was cool and threw Chris Paul a bone tonight", but truth is, they both played great. Chris Paul dominated the first half, and Deron the second half. How fitting.
Jazz were down by 27 in the first half and suddenly people were thinking maybe a Bulls vs. Wizards game wouldn't have been so bad on ESPN. Utah does New Orleans a favor and commits 9, yes 9 turnovers in the first quarter. Game. Set. Match. While most people changed the channel to watch a rerun of Scrubs, I had to force myself to finish it. Of course after one quarter of ESPN, I had all of my "Vote CP3 for President, Mayor, Head of FEMA, leader of Zion" fix and had to turn it to our local talking heads. I think my wife thought my head was going to explode as I watched ESPN lick the dust off his sneakers.
The "New Faces" of the NBA aren't always pretty.
Here are some random thoughts that led to our lackluster performance tonight:
1. AK-47. So the trade deadline passes and suddenly Andrei is back to his 2007 form. Missing jumpshots, dribbling off his legs, and getting bad haircuts. How many times did Mo Peterson block his entry passes tonight? 5. I counted. "Andrei meet Ballfake, Ballfake...Andrei".
2. Booze Hound. Goes off on David West for 10 pts, 9 rebounds. In your face David West. Thanks for making me look like a fool Booze.
Note: There may be a problem in the Jazz offense when Boozer finishes a game taking only 6 shots.
3. CP2. Yeah, 2. One for each of his wins against Deron. He got his team off to a hot start and forced Utah to play catch-up from the opening minutes on. CP2 has officially made me hate the alley-oop. He makes it look too easy and almost like he's cheating. I watch him and go "nice shot idiot...er...pass. Damn." about 3 times a game.
4. Kyle Korver. Where was Kyle tonight? 6 minutes. 0-1. What is Jerry's problem? It's not always the other guys fault Jerry.
Give the Hornets credit. They won a game they needed to win. The Jazz HAVE to figure out how to get a true 4th seed and have homecourt advantage. Winning the division will not get them what they need. I hope they come out tomorrow at Memphis and prove themselves. Hate to say it, but a road win at Memphis would really...(gulp)...look good for this Jazz team.
Here's another really awkward NBA attempt at a photoshoot.
Final Thought:
I'd still take Deron Williams over Chris Paul. Feel free to leave a comment about how I'm a Jazz homer and I'm blind. Well you're a New Orleans homer and you're just trying to clamour to anything that gives you hope in this life. I hope CP3 runs for mayor and builds you (insert comment here).
Links:
ESPN
Basketball John
Hornets 24/7
Hardwood Paroxysm
