Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
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I'm not sure I'm ready to live in this world.
In June, Steven A. Smith said that his sources told him that LeBron and Chris Bosh would join Dwyane Wade in Miami. We all laughed.
When Utah was 8-0 and ranked 5th in the BCS, ESPN had their panel of experts give their own Top 10 ranking. Craig James didn't have the Utes in the top 10. We all mocked.
My favorite tweet said: Craig James doesn't include Utah in his BCS top ten. How does ESPN justify having this guy on their payroll?
C.J. Miles just scored 25 points, hit seven three-pointers and the Jazz are a better road team than they are a home team.
I'm not sure I'm ready to live in this world.
In fact, I know I don't want to live in a world where Steven A. is the NBA insider, Craig James is the voice of reason and C.J. is the X-Factor.
Don't get me wrong. I see why everyone loves C.J. He's fun. If I could have pizza and watch a ballgame with anyone I think it would be Fesenko... but if Fes were busy, I'd take C.J.
You know C.J. would take lead vocals on Rock Band, get extra pepperoni and cheese and have everyone in stitches for most of the night.
The problem is that C.J. is that guy on the NBA basketball court as well.
But there's hope. There's Raja Bell.
When I see Raja step on the court, I think it might be a good idea if the refs searched him for weapons because that guy is intense. Raja will literally do anything to win a game. He almost tore Kobe's head from his shoulders with a clothesline that would make Bret "The Hitman" Hart proud. I think Raja was genuinely disappointed that Kobe's head stayed attached.
That is what I want. I want the guy that has poor people skills and a sharp set of elbows. I want Ty Cobb on the basketball court. I want my two guard to go in with his cleats up. I want him to "Pete Rose-Ray Fosse" an All-Star game because he refuses to lose. We saw that in John and Karl and we see it in Deron.
Raja is a unique breed. He can smile and charm with the best of them, but when he flips that switch and channels his inner Jerry Sloan, people take notice.
Can C.J. learn from Raja? Can he learn to flip that switch?
Until C.J. learns to bring it every night, the Jazz will be painfully inconsistent. They'll look like world beaters one night and playoff scrappers the next.
The difference lies in that smooth left-handed stroke of C.J. Miles.
But that's not C.J.
Lets run some numbers on the enigma that is C.J. Miles' basketball game.
In Jazz losses C.J. averages:
8 points per game
37% from the field
14% from three
Jazz average loss margin 12.8
In 3 Jazz wins (at OKC, Toronto and at Portland) C.J. averaged:
22 points per game
61% from the field
71% from three
Jazz average win margin 11.6
In 3 other Jazz wins (Clippers, at Heat and at Bobcats) C.J. averaged:
9 points per game
25% from the field
7% from three
Jazz average win margin 1.6
The Jazz will most likely lose when C.J. plays poorly. They'll most likely win when he plays well.
Is that enough to make a serious run in the playoffs?
Can C.J. bring it every night?
I don't think so.
But in a world where Steven A. Smith and Craig James are right, I hope I'm wrong.
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That being said... Here's some interesting numbers on C.J.
In Utah's 103-94 win over Portland last night, C.J. Miles set a new career-high while also tying and breaking several Jazz records (25 points, 8-13 FG, 7-10 3FG; in fourth quarter: 17 points, 5-5 3FG):
• Set new career high for three-pointers made in a game (7).
• Was one shy of Jazz record for most three-pointers made in a game (8 by Jeff Hornacek vs. Seattle, 11/23/94).
• Tied Jazz record for most three-pointers attempted in a game with 10 (also by Bryon Russell @ Minnesota, 12/23/96).
• Tied Jazz record for most three-pointers made in a quarter with 5 (also by Gordan Giricek vs. Portland, 4/16/07 (4th).
• Tied Jazz record for most three-pointers made in a half with 5 (sixth time, last also by C.J. Miles, @ Chicago (2nd), 3/9/10). Also done once each by Walter Bond, Jeff Hornacek, Bryon Russell and Gordan Giricek.
• Set new Jazz record for most three-pointers made in a quarter without a miss (5-5 in fourth quarter).
• Set new Jazz season highs for points off the bench (25), three-pointers made (7), three-pointers attempted (10) and tied Jazz season high for points in a fourth quarter (17, also by Deron Williams @ Orlando, 11/10).
