Patrick Blake is a sports commentator and host of the Blake’s Take radio show on KZNU Sports 1450 AM 96.7 FM – Southern Utah Sports Network.
COMMENTARY – The Utah Jazz are off to a way better start then anyone in the NBA community thought. The Jazz are 13-11 on the season and host the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight. The Jazz fast start was aided by 15 of their first 22 games played at home. The Jazz are 11-4 at home this season.
The Jazz are led once again by Paul Millsap. Millsap is averaging 16.5 points per game and grabbing a team high 9.7 rebounds per game.
The two “bigs” have led the Jazz all season long, both on and off the court. Jefferson and Millsap are the key to the offense and cornerstone to the defense yet neither was selected to the NBA All-Star game.
The West starters are Chris Paul and Blake Griffin from the LA Clippers, Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum from the LA Lakers, and Kevin Durrant from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The reserves were named last night and the seven that were chosen are, Steve Nash from the Phoenix Suns, Russell Westbrook for the Oklahoma City Thunder, LaMarcus Aldridge from the Portland Trailblazers, Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves, Marc Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies, Tony Parker from the San Antonio Spurs, and Dirk Nowitzki from the Dallas Mavericks.
I only have one problem with that roster: Andrew Bynum! I look at the head-to-head matchups with the Jazz. Millsap had his way with Bynum in the two meetings (they Jazz have played the Lakers three times but Bynum missed the first game because of a suspension). In the first game Millsap went for 29 points and pulled down nine rebounds while Bynum only had 12 points and nine rebounds.
In the second meeting Bynum outscored Millsap but took more shots and played 11 more minutes. In all Millsapm scored 16 points, had 13 rebounds and three blocks. Bynum scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
The All-Star game will be missing a great player in Millsap but, for the Jazz’s sake, lets all hope this puts a chip on his shoulder – that he comes out wanting to show the NBA he deserved to play in the game.
Twitter: @BlakesTake
Copyright 2012 St. George News.