| 08 May 2012
A look at the end of the season from around the Interent.
Jazz Vs. Spurs Series Stats NBA.com Advanced Stats
The Utah Jazz? Gone till November Kelly Dwyre BDL
The Utah Jazz couldn't even take a game in the team's opening round series with the San Antonio Spurs. It took a furious rally in the fourth quarter of Game 4 for the Jazz to even lose a game by single-digit points, as the group lost by an average of 16 points per game. The shooters weren't shooting well, nobody could stay in front of Tony Parker, and one-time All-Star guard Devin Harris managed a shockingly-low single digit PER over the first three games of a four-game postseason.
And it doesn't matter. Would we have liked to see the Jazz give the NBA's hottest team a few more close games, or even a win? Sure. But this wasn't ever supposed to be the year for Utah to attempt this. The Jazz went into 2011-12 fully ready to use each of the season's 66 games to develop rotations, give Tyrone Corbin his first full year (if you can call it that, with a shortened season and training camp, and so few practices) as head coach, and see how well the team's bigs played off each other.
Spurs survive scare, advance to Round 2 Fox Sports
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich shrugged when asked about Manu Ginobili's mini-shooting slump.
''I don't even think about it. He's Manu,'' he said. True to form, the Spurs' invaluable sixth man led the charge off the bench when San Antonio needed it most. He hit consecutive 3-pointers after the Utah Jazz had pulled within 61-58 late in the third quarter in Game 4 of the first-round Western Conference series. And after the Jazz rallied from 21 points down to get within four in the final minute, Ginobili turned a steal by Tony Parker into a layup that sealed an 87-81 victory and series sweep.
Kurt Kragthorpe: Utah Jazz benefit from exposure to Spurs’ greatness
Late in the first quarter Monday night, Jazz forward Derrick Favors soared to block Tiago Splitter’s dunk attempt, then guard Devin Harris raced down the court and delivered a pass that sailed high and out of bounds. If there was a snapshot of Game 4 — and this whole series, really — that was it. Even when the Jazz managed to do something right, everything eventually went wrong.
Spurs Sweep Jazz: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili Lead San Antonio To Second Round (VIDEO) Huffington Post
Spurs Sweep the Utah Jazz, Advance to the West Semifinals PoundingtheRock
With their 87-81 victory over the Utah Jazz, the San Antonio Spurs advanced to the Western Conference semifinals where they will face the winner of the Grizzlies-Clippers series.
It was as one sided as a sweep can be, with the Spurs dominating each game for long stretches and the Jazz looking overmatched. After all the criticism they received last season when they were eliminated by the Grizzlies, I'm sure the Spurs were looking forward to quiet the doubters with a convincing first round win over a team that, on paper, was supposed to be a tough matchup. While not really surprising, the Spurs' victory over the Jazz was impressive and conclusive. If there were still people out there with doubts about the Spurs' chances against big frontlines, this series probably changed that. Some notes on the game and the series after the jump.
Harris sees silver lining in Game 4 loss Roy Burton Standard Examiner
"This team's been doing it all year long," Harris said. "We could have easily just folded in that fourth quarter when they built that lead, but the guys fought it out to the end. We've (come back) multiple times, making the playoffs the way we did, and it shows a lot of character and a lot of heart we have on this team."
Spurs shush Jazz with broom Jeff McDonald of Spurs Nation
SALT LAKE CITY — EnergySolutions Arena was howling. The Utah Jazz, down on the canvas just moments before, were surging. In one brilliant last gasp, they sensed a chance to extend the game, the series, their season.
Then, Manu Ginobili was gift-wrapped a chance to put an end to all of that.
As Ginobili glided alone toward the basket late in the Spurs’ 87-81 Game 4 victory Monday, no defender within 50 feet of him, Stephen Jackson hoped his teammate recalled the lesson of Game 1.
“The older you get, the more you understand,” Jackson said. “Two points is two points.”
Meaning: No dunks, Manu. Just lay it up. Nice and easy-like.
NBA.COM Video Recap Game Four
ESPN True Hoop
Jazz from long range: For all the credit due them for a hard-nosed, spirited comeback, the Jazz would make things a lot easier on themselves if they hit a 3-pointer. Yes, the Jazz did not make a single trey in 13 attempts from the floor Monday. Yes, Jeff Hornacek is not walking through that door.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
