For Boozer, the most well-known is his contract incident with the Cavaliers.
In the 2002 draft, Boozer was selected by the Cavaliers with the 35th overall pick. In his rookie season, he averaged 10.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, and his second-year data increased to 15.5 points and 11.4 rebounds.
For a second-year rookie, such statistics are very impressive.
After the 2003-04 season, the Cavaliers can choose to keep Boozer for another year at an annual salary of $695,000, or let him become a restricted free agent.
Obviously, an annual salary of $700,000 was completely inconsistent with Boozer's worth at the time.
But according to NBA rules, if the Cavaliers keep Boozer for another year, he cannot refuse.
In the end, the Cavaliers and Boozer reached a six-year, $39 million contract extension agreement, ending Boozer's second-round pick contract with a lower annual salary early, and Boozer verbally committed to renewing the contract.
But after the Cavaliers released Boozer's contract, Boozer accepted the Jazz's six-year, $70 million offer.
In this regard, the Cavaliers can choose to match the contract.
But due to salary space reasons, the Cavaliers were unable to match.
Therefore, Boozer signed with the Jazz on July 30, 2004.
Gordon Gund, the Cavaliers' owner at the time, said Boozer had broken his promise and betrayed their trust.
Of course, Boozer has always denied that he ever made a commitment to the Cavaliers.
But every time Boozer goes to the Cavaliers home game, Cavaliers fans will boo him.
The impact of Boozer's incident is still very bad.
If the Cavaliers keep Boozer for one year with a 700,000 contract, and then Boozer and the Cavaliers reach an extension agreement and then tear it up, that's fine.
If you don’t agree with the high price offered by others, you should also pay this price!
But when the Cavaliers and Boozer negotiated and the Cavaliers gave up the right to renew the contract at a low price and reached a new agreement with Boozer, Boozer should not break his promise.
It cost a lot of money!
Of course, no matter what, for Boozer personally, this is a typical example of a second-round pick's counterattack.
In addition to Deron and Boozer, an important figure in the Jazz is Okur.
As a center, Okur has accurate three-pointers and strong defense. He is a very unique existence in this era.
When playing against the Rockets, Okur is responsible for supporting Yao Ming on the defensive end, and he is responsible for opening up space on the offensive end.
Generally speaking, Okur and Lopez are very similar.
Both can shoot three-pointers and can defend centers in the paint.
The difference between the two is that Lopez can play in the back and attack the opponent's center alone.
Okur basically has no post-up ability inside.
In fact, Okur's biggest weakness is his speed on the defensive end.
Okur's defense is indeed good, but he is defending the center, and he does not suffer in terms of strength and confrontation.
However, Okur's movement speed is very slow, his bounce is average, and he blocks very few shots.
If you switch to a smaller guard, it will be a disaster for Okur.
This is also the reason why Deng Fang is not afraid of Okur's return.
With Curry around, it is impossible for Okur and Boozer, both of whom move very slowly, to play at the same time!
In addition to Deron, Boozer and Okur, the Jazz also have Matthews and C.J. Miles in the starting lineup.
Both of these two are very good three-point shooters.
In comparison, Matthews' three-pointers are more accurate and his defense is better.
Matthews was an undrafted player who was discovered by the Jazz in the offseason this year and slowly became the Jazz's starter in the second half of the season.
Generally speaking, the Jazz's starting lineup has a wide offensive space and strong outside firepower.
Since the players are slower and not weak in strength, the Jazz are more suitable for physical combat on the defensive end.
The Jazz's starting lineup is the same as before. Surprisingly, the Warriors' starting lineup has changed!
The Warriors removed Azubuike and replaced him with Belinelli!
In this way, the Warriors' starting five are Curry, Belinelli, Laga Bell, Prince and Lopez.
Why did Deng Fang do this?
Because Oku is back!
After careful research and analysis, the Warriors coaching staff determined that if Okur recovers his health, he will definitely start the game.
In the last game against the Nuggets, Okur started the game and played more than 30 minutes.
It can be concluded from this that Okur has fully recovered and the Jazz will definitely put him in the starting lineup.
The Jazz rarely use post-up play, and their outside perimeter is very accurate, so the Warriors' flanking tactics are not easy to use.
It is not easy for the defensive end to really limit Deron and Boozer's pick-and-roll.
In this case, let’s start from the offensive end!
I can't guard you, and you can't guard me!
If you cut me with a knife, I will stab you!
Let’s see who has more firepower!
The Jazz have no flaws on the offensive end, but there are big problems on the defensive end.
Their biggest problem is their slow movement speed!
Especially when Okur and Boozer play at the same time.
How to exploit this weakness of Jazz?
Simplified version of Splash Brothers!
Curry and Belinelli's off-ball movement is the best choice to deal with the twin towers tactics!
Curry and Belinelli kept running around the pile, and their teammates provided cover for them.
Once the pursuer is blocked, the Jazz's defense will be in trouble!
Boozer and Okur cannot switch defenses!
They are too slow!
Should we let Curry shoot a three-pointer or let Belinelli shoot a three-pointer?
If both of them don't allow shots, then the teammates who cover them will definitely get a lot of open opportunities in the paint!
No matter which one, it is unacceptable to Jazz!
Curry's three-pointer must not be missed!
This is already the default fact for all teams.
Although Belinelli is not as good as Curry, he is also a quality shooter, so giving him an open three-pointer will not work.
As for letting go of inside players, there's no need to think about it.
what is it now?
Salad!
As long as the Jazz play Boozer and Okur, two slow big men, there's nothing they can do!
The trend after the game started was as Deng Fang expected.
The Jazz never expected that Deng Fang would change the lineup!
The Warriors' starting lineup has almost remained unchanged throughout the entire season!
Even if there were changes, it would be because someone was injured and had to add more players to the starting lineup.
This is the playoffs!
Still semi-finals!
Changing the lineup at short notice is a big no-no!
So the Jazz were confused as soon as the game started.
Of course, there is another reason for the Jazz's lack of response, and that is that their preparation time is too short.
We just finished the first round series with the Nuggets the day before yesterday, and the series with the Warriors started today.
There is only one day in between!
After playing 6 hand-to-hand games with the Nuggets, who have excellent athletic ability, the players were exhausted both physically and mentally, and they didn't have much mood or energy to focus on training.
Even if the coaching staff made some preparations in advance, the work was not very detailed.
Who knows if the Jazz can get past the Nuggets?
Who knows who will win between the new Warriors and the powerful Spurs?
If you can't determine who your opponent will be in the second round, and if you can't beat the Nuggets, it's pointless to do so much preparation for the second round!
Therefore, the real preparation time for the Jazz coaching staff is only one or two days.
With such a short preparation time, the coaching staff will definitely prepare according to normal conditions.
What is normal?
That's the Warriors using their regular rotation!
Who knew the Warriors would change their formation!
