Travis Heath

Hello Everyone. My name is Travis Heath and I'm a writer for SWISH Magazine and HOOPSWORLD.com. Figured some of you guys might like to read my stuff on the Jazz. I write a team report on them every Monday and Thursday, and I will post a link here for you to read them. My latest is on Utah's chances of having an All Star representative come February.

Enjoy!

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_19755.shtml

AK-47

Good read, but Boozer is putting up 23/12/3.5 shooting nearly 60% from the field. He is also in leading for MVP so far of the season on NBA.com. Boozer should get in by the coaches if he keeps up that pace.

Chan

I consider Boozer a superstar. If Dirk is one with 24/10, Boozer is one with 23/13.

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I know I contradicted myself/look I don't need that now.

Travis Heath

I think Boozer is definitely playing like a superstar so far this year. However, you have to remember that perception is reality when it comes to All Star voting from both the fans and the coaches -- albeit to a lesser extent with the coaches. If Boozer can keep up his current pace, he'll be an All Star. If his numbers start to dip, though, like say 20 and 9, then there will will be some trepidation on the part of the coaches to vote him in over "already established" superstars. It ain't right, but it is reality.

Thanks for reading guys.

AK-47

You think he may drop to 20/9? I don't think he will, he is the Jazz's go to guy and already has several 30+ points games. He is leading the league in efficiency and MVP voting. He has also improved on his defense over the last few years, he looks like he is trying harder on defense than I have ever seen him. He is putting up better numbers than a lot of the "established superstars". Boozer is also leading the league in double doubles. He is only playing 35 minutes a game. His rebounds won't drop to 9, because he is too good of a rebounder if you have seen him play. The Jazz have the best rebounding team in the league, and Boozer is a big part of that.

If the Jazz are leading the league in record before the all star game, they would be crazy not to take at least 2 of the Jazz players (Boozer and Williams) to go the all star game. Think of the Pistons when they had that crazy record, they had 4 of their 5 starting players in the all star game.

It is very rare when boozer doesn't shoot greater than 50% from the field, and usually always gets 10+ rebounds a game. When he shoots over 50%, he will score 20+. He is the kind of player that can take 16 shots and score 36 points (including free throws). He did that against the Raptors. He went 14-16 with making 8 free throws on top of that with 16 rebound. Boozer is not slowing down either, he is only 25 years old and has yet to hit his prime.

Travis Heath

I think it is possible that Boozer drops to around 20 and 9, but I wouldn't say it's probable. Defense's in the NBA learn to adjust, and Boozer and the Jazz will have to counter-punch as that starts happening. If the Jazz can get a consistent third offensive option to go with the play of Boozer and Deron -- think A.K. or Memo -- than teams will have a much harder time clamping down on Booz.

AK-47

Boozer has already been doubled quite a bit this year. That is why you see him getting around 7 assists in a game recently. The bucks were doubling Boozer most of the night, but the Jazz's execution got boozer the ball for high percentage shots. He ended up with 30/13 and I think 4 or 5 assists to go with it.


Boozer is good at getting open in the paint and working his man down to going around him or just stepping back for the fade away. Boozer may be the best left vs right finisher in the league. That is why it is hard to guard boozer, you have no idea if he is going to go right or left. And when he is near the basket you think he will go one way, but he goes the other. He has said before that he likes to eat with his left hand and do other things with both hands. His dad pushed him when he was younger to be able to use both hands. Boozer is undersized and was taken in the 2nd round with the 35th overall pick by the Cavs. 34 team opportunities to select the current leader in MVP rankings.