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SALT LAKE CITY — I get it, the Spurs are really good.
They have a Hall of Fame Coach. They have a Hall of Fame big man. Parker and Ginobili are All-Stars every year.
I never thought the Jazz would win their best of seven series with San Antonio, but I did think they would at least steal one game at home.
The problem is that it seems as though the Jazz thought that as well. After game one, I was actually encouraged. I thought the Jazz hung right with San Antonio for most of the game until the fourth when the Spurs put them away. I was encouraged because the Jazz were competitive even though they didn't particularly play well.
Game two? Different story.
It was pathetic effort all around. The Jazz got nothing from the point guard position. Hayward has struggled. Josh Howard and DeMarre Carroll haven't done much. Paul Millsap has played hard, but hasn't really produced. Al Jefferson has looked completely shell shocked.
I know that the playoffs are different, but it is still just basketball. Will someone please tell these guys this is basketball?
Oh, wait. Maybe that is the problem. Who is going to tell these guys that it is just basketball? Anyone? Anyone? Buehler? Buehler?
I think that is the issue. Who leads this team? Which player rallies everyone together to get them on the same page?
Honestly, who is it?
The last good leader the Jazz had was most likely Derek Fisher. Say what you want about the way he left, but when he was on the team the Jazz went to the Western Conference Finals. After he left, the team fell apart.
It was obvious during the Stockton and Malone era who the leaders were. Who is the leader now? This is not a knock on these guys, but it is an honest question. Some say Big Al, some will say Millsap. Is it Devin Harris?
I think these guys play hard. I think they like each other, but that is not enough to win a series. They need a leader on the floor and they don't have it. It only becomes more obvious when they play a team with multiple leaders.
In the locker room after games the team continues to say that they are young and they are learning. I believe that to a certain extent. They have young players on the team. Hayward, Favors, Kanter, and Burks are all young, but even for them they are 68 games into this season.
The Spurs have young guys starting and contributing. What is the difference?
Again, I never thought they would win this series, but going forward it is obvious what this team needs. They need a leader.
