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Carlos Boozer To Miss One Month After Knee Surgery

Matt MoorePosted Dec 30th 2008 9:24PM by Matt Moore (author feed)
Filed under: Jazz, NBA Injuries

It starts with a simple procedure. The subsequent effects are as dramatic as they are extensive.

Carlos Boozer, who's already missed 21 games this season due to injury, will miss an additional month of action due to arthroscopic knee surgery, according to the Salt Lake City Tribune.

Now, the Jazz have suffered with injuries all over their roster this season. Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko, most of the roster has missed some time. Boozer's time away has been tempered, somewhat, by the emergence of Paul Millsap. Unfortunately, this simple surgery affects that as well.

In the immediate, this makes the Jazz' trek to retain their Northwest title and top four seed that much more difficult, a prospect that's already daunting considering the Blazers' inevitable emergence and Denver's resurgence. It means that the odds are significantly impacted that they will be able to enjoy the friendly confines of their home come April and May, Considering the vast advantage they enjoy in Salt Lake, that's a pretty big hit. But the long term effects are also notable.
Continue Reading Carlos Boozer To Miss One Month After Knee Surgery

So Much for the NBA's Flop Crackdown

Tom ZillerPosted Dec 29th 2008 2:55PM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Jazz, Mavericks, NBA Referees

First, a retraction of sorts: on Sunday, I bemoaned the league's suspension of Dirk Nowitzki for his swing at Matt Harpring's face in Friday's Jazz-Mavs match-up. Rules are rules, and the league had to sit Dirk for a game. It was silly to suggest that ruling had been wrong. (I will not, however, back down from my statement that Harpring is ugly. And also, the opinion at the bottom of this Jazz Notes post regarding Dirk's potential reputation as a dirty player for having the temerity to fight back against the extremely, eternally dirty Jazz is absurd and reeks of localist triumphalism.)

But since rules are indeed rules, what happened to the rules the league created last summer to discourage flopping? In May, ESPN reported that the NBA would create a fine schedule to impose on the most egregious actors in the league. Almost nothing has come from it -- not one fine announced this season, no release of the ground rules or discussion of the review procedure.

This all comes to mind because of Andrei Kirilenko's flagrant flop, shown in the clip posted Sunday. Even Vlade Divac, Manu Ginobili and Anderson Varejao rolled their eyes when they saw that fall. Clint Eastwood is jealous. (And mad, also. He hates wimpy maneuvers. And Russians, also.)

If ever a flop deserved punishment, it was this one. I understand the need to keep fists at bay, but I plea for the league to understand how discouraging modern flopping is to the sport. I daresay that without the flop, Dirk's fist doesn't come out to play.

UPDATE: A league spokesman contacted FanHouse to say that contrary to the May ESPN report, the NBA is not fining players for flops this season. The league is monitoring the trend but has told media it will not fine players this year.

NBA Essentials: Bonzi Conquers China, AK-47 Conquers Azeroth

Tom ZillerPosted Dec 29th 2008 1:45PM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Celtics, Jazz, Nets, Trail Blazers

NBA Essentials provides the must-see links, quotes and videos of the day.

* "Former NBA bad boy Bonzi Wells scored 52 points and hauled in 14 rebounds as he continued his spectacular start in Chinese basketball's top league, leading Shanxi Zhongyu to an overtime victory." - AFP, via You Been Blinded.

* "[Channing Frye's] primary World of Warcraft character is Dookiedrawls, a level 76 gnome frost mage -- though he maintains he's not as serious about the game as Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, who has a 'really nice level 80 paladin.'" -- Williamette Week, via TH.

* Bob Cousy: "This [parade] thing, as I said I had no idea what to expect, I have never seen anything like it. There had to have been a million-and-a-quarter people on a Thursday morning throughout that whole route! There were green people everywhere! They were hanging from the trees and the poles." -- Hoops Addict.

* "Once an energetic spark off New Jersey's bench, [Sean] Williams may need MapQuest to find his way back into head coach Lawrence Frank's good graces." -- Hoopsworld.

* Chris Paul's little things, a new Carnival of the NBA, and Mark Cuban's insane idea to take over sports pages everywhere.

In Defense of Dirk Nowitzki's Elbow

Tom ZillerPosted Dec 28th 2008 12:05PM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Jazz, Mavericks, NBA Videos

On Friday, Dirk Nowitzki was ejected from the Mavs-Jazz game after sending an elbow at Matt Harpring's grill. If you follow the league, you don't need to see the clip to know that Harpring deserved it: for the last five years, the dude's been one of the dirtiest players in the league. He picks fights with anyone and everyone.

When people call Harpring the quintessential Jerry Sloan player, they mean that (like John Stockton and Karl Malone) Harpring constantly punches, elbows, bumps, trips and muscles his opponent. It's something you adore if you root for the Jazz, and something you loathe if you're one of the six billion other people on the planet. With that in mind, this biased breakdown of what led to Dirk's elbow is just what the world needs to see.



It's not all Harpring -- Kyrylo Fesenko gets bumpy too and Andrei Kirilenko provides potentially the greatest flop in the history of the Western Civilization. But I don't blame Dirk. Do you?

The league hasn't told the Mavericks whether Dirk will be suspended for today's game against the Clippers. If there's any justice, instead of a suspension the league will grant him a Christmas bonus for his handiwork on Harpring's face.

UPDATE: Shortly after this posting went live, news broke that Dirk has in fact been suspended for today's game in L.A. Complete bollocks.

Paul Millsap Joins Carlos Boozer on Shelf

Tom ZillerPosted Dec 26th 2008 6:33PM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Jazz, NBA Injuries

If Kevin O'Connor and Jerry Sloan really do have some Magic Power Forward Beans in the safe, now'd be a splendid time to push them into some soil. With Carlos Boozer still ailing and awaiting a second MRI this weekend, replacement Paul Millsap has received a pair of health shackles. Steve Luhm of the Salt Lake Tribune reports Millsap will sit for 7-10 days with a strained knee ligament.

Boozer has been out so long and you don't really get the impression he's anywhere close to ready to get back in sneakers -- there have even been whispers of surgery for Boozer. Meanwhile, starting center Mehmet Okur has missed a few starts due to back spasms. That's three of your top four big men off the bat. The Jazz have survived Boozer, Okur and Deron Williams' previously sprained ankle. But this is getting a bit absurd.

Andrei Kirilenko -- who has done masterful work as a sixth man -- will take the power forward position, apparently. Luhm reports that unless Okur can play, rookie Kosta Koufos will start at center tonight when Utah meets Dallas. Yes, it has come to this: Sloan is starting a rookie. (A rookie he doesn't seem to particularly like, at that.) It's only a matter of time until Kyrylo Fesenko gets his big break, right? (Right?)

Jazz: The NBA's Best-Kept Secret

Elie SeckbachPosted Nov 21st 2008 8:00AM by Elie Seckbach (author feed)
Filed under: Jazz, NBA Videos, Interviews

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

The Utah Jazz are among the best teams in the NBA, but for some reason people tend to leave them out when it comes to talking about the best of the west. In this video we ask the players about their low-key profile. We also find out from All-Star Andrei Kirilenko why he has a welcoming dog and not a watch dog, and we audition Kyrylo Fesenko as a reporter.

Check out the full video after the jump.

Continue Reading Jazz: The NBA's Best-Kept Secret

Fesenko Is Jazz Funny Man

Elie SeckbachPosted Nov 7th 2008 10:00AM by Elie Seckbach (author feed)
Filed under: Jazz, NBA Videos, Interviews

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

In this exclusive video we talk to 7-foot center Kyrylo Fesenko of the Utah Jazz. 'Fes' as he is known, is a one-of-a-kind individual whose teammates absolutely love. The reason? He keeps them smiling. We talk to 'Fes' about his creepy-funny Halloween costume, why every big man in the NBA wants to be a point guard and the best big men in the league. We also hear from All-Stars Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko and Jarron Collins.

Check out the full video after the jump.
Continue Reading Fesenko Is Jazz Funny Man

The Andrei Kirilenko Sixth Man Expirement Becomes Permanent

Nate JonesPosted Oct 21st 2008 10:07PM by Nate Jones (author feed)
Filed under: Jazz, NBA Awards

Earlier this pre-season there was a big fuss about Lakers star forward Lamar Odom moving to the bench this season. Odom initially wasn't happy with the move, but after some success with the Lakers young run 'n gun subs, he has become happier with his new role.

Similarly, the Utah Jazz have been experimenting with having star forward Andrei Kirilenko, come off the bench this pre-season. With the injury to Deron Williams, some suspected that the Kirienko 6th man experiment would end. But Monday, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan confirmed that AK would continue his reserve role:
Asked about moving Kirilenko back to the starting lineup, Sloan said: "Probably not. Not at this stage. I hope that works out. Andrei's played awfully well coming off the bench."
And for his part, Andrei also seems pretty happy with his new role:
"Coming off the bench is not an issue for me, Kirilenko said. As long as I have time on the floor, I feel pretty good."
That's good for Jazz fans. For a second there, I thought he was going to respond with an "I must break you!!!!"

Anyhow, with both Odom and Kirilenko becoming reserves this season, this might be the most competitive sixth man of the year award race we've seen in years. It might even be more of a nail biter than Kobe Watch 2007. Who do you think will win this year's sixth man award?

Headlines to Watch: Northwest Division

Tom ZillerPosted Sep 29th 2008 11:00AM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Jazz, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Trail Blazers, Thunder



Check out FanHouse's NBA Preview.

The opening locale for our NBA Preview tour hosts a championship contender ... unless you believe in Vegas, where two teams have odds of at least 18-to-1 to win the title. Bettors have Utah at 18-to-1 and Portland, ahem Portland at 12-to-1. Clearly, folks expect big things from the newborn Trail Blazers.

That brings us to our first topic: how good will Portland be? The Blazers caught much of the nation off-guard last year, with a long winning streak through the early winter keeping the team alive in the rough Western playoff race. Clearly, Portland overperformed based on common expectation. Is that even possible this year? Win or lose, the Blazers will likely get more attention than any other Northwest team this season. The burgeoning tomorrow promises excitement, and no one wants to miss out the introduction of greatness. No pressure, kids.
Continue Reading Headlines to Watch: Northwest Division

Chris Bosh at Beijing's Opening Ceremonies, Guest Starring Andrei Kirilenko

Brett PollakoffPosted Sep 23rd 2008 12:42PM by Brett Pollakoff (author feed)
Filed under: NBA Videos, USA Basketball, Chris Bosh

Today we have three more offerings to share from Chris Bosh's Beijing collection. First, a look at what it was like to be on the ground in the middle of the opening ceremonies, with a cameo appearance from a Russian-speaking Andrei Kirilenko.

Also, check out a Bosh-eye view from Chris's seat at one of the U.S. women's games, as well as a quick look at a U.S. "shoot-around" that has Kobe, 'Bron, 'Melo and CP3 in it (at least according to CB4).
Continue Reading Chris Bosh at Beijing's Opening Ceremonies, Guest Starring Andrei Kirilenko
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