Story Created:
Jan 21, 2010
Story Updated:
Jan 21, 2010
Did the Jazz post the best win of the season?
There’s three of them to choose from out of 24, each impressive in its own way.
Which one would you pick?
Did the Jazz post the best win of the season?
There’s three of them to choose from out of 24, each impressive in its own way.
Which one would you pick?
The subject is the Jazz’s best win this season. The candidates are, in chronological order, the Lakers (102-94 on Dec. 12), Cleveland (97-96 on Jan. 14) and San Antonio (105-98 on Jan. 20).
Starting with the first one, it’s huge any time a Western Conference team beats the Lakers. The defending champions are still the NBA’s best, remaining the favorite to capture the grand prize in June (which would be championship No. 5 for Kobe Bryant, making it a real possibility he could surpass Michael Jordan’s six titles).
In that game, which was at the EnergySolutions Arena, the league’s best player was held under 20 points for the fourth time this season. Bryant had a broken index finger from a game the night before and had the stomach bug, which caused him to get fluids before the game and at halftime.
Despite all his troubles, nothing was bothering his conscience. Bryant still hoisted up 24 shots, making seven of them.
Seven players scored in double figures for the Jazz, with Deron Williams posting a team-high 21 points. Wesley Matthews, who played only seven minutes last night against the Spurs, had 19 points and six assists.
The win over Cleveland at home last week was the most exciting this season – by far. It’s also the most thrilling moment since John Stockton’s shot over Houston that put the Jazz into the NBA Finals in 1997.
As good as those two wins were, they aren’t better than the San Antonio game. Simply stated, it was the best win of the season – by far.
Let me list the ways.
Venue
The other two games were played at home; this one was down around San Antone. Even in down years, the Jazz have played well and won big games at EnergySolutions. The problem for this team, since The Statues retired, has been winning on the road.
This was a well-rested San Antonio that had no excuses. Without question, this was the best road win of the season.
Motivation
Already having lost three times to the Jazz this season, the Spurs absolutely wanted to win for several reasons.
Except for a few hours, LeBron James and Co. barely gave the Jazz a second thought. It was just another game along the road, taking nothing away from the victors.
But the Spurs care about the Jazz. They get that both teams are fighting for playoff seeding and that a postseason match-up is a real possibility.
Nature of the game
The Jazz handled a 25-0 run and still didn’t fold, as has been the case several times against lesser competition. That’s the very reason this was a better road win than the Jazz had against Dallas; in that game the Jazz were cruising in the fourth quarter.
This type of win means more than a blowout. As Williams said, it greatly bolsters the team’s confidence.
For these reasons, last night’s game was the best win of the season.
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