If anyone on league pass wants to chime in, that could be fun, but I won't be during the game. I'll put some impressions on later tonite. Game at 7pm here.

I was looking at courtside tix for $262 a piece but they were gone fast. Courtside is on my bucket list. Mrs Nalod said if it were knicks we should jump on it but she is still baffled why they are called the Jazz cuz Salt Lake don't have any. No funk either.

Got 25th row center lower bowl for about $80 with service fees and taxes. That shyt adds up.

For the record, I told her the story.

Allanfan20 wrote:

Dagger wrote:Why are you in Utah, doing some skiing? If so I'm jealous. Park City doesn't have any reckless snowboarders haha

Why are you going to the airport? Flying somewhere?

Har har har

Felt like getting out of the She-she world (don't get me wrong, its nice!)and take in a game. About a 40 min drive to SLC. Having been here now a few times, once for business its really quite amazing it lives up to some of the stereo types. First off there are no black people here. Im not saying thats a good or a bad thing. Just saying. More Mexican and Hispanic than I remember and quite a bit at the game. Not saying its a good thing or a bad thing. Just saying. No black people in the stands I could see. None. Not saying its a good or bad thing. Just saying.

For the most part its a family atmosphere with lots of kids. Attendance was 19600 about capacity. I'd say of them you got like 10,000 of some of the worst DNA mutant ugly white folk congregated in one place I have ever seen. Pasty white, eyes too narrow, unremarkable features and either too short or too tall for their frames. Im not saying its a good thing or a bad thing. Im just saying. These people need get out more.

The food sucks at the arena. There are a few restaurants in the building it seems like they do real well because the choices in "lobby" was lousy. I like to grab something reasonable and watch the players warm up. Funny, the arena was nearly empty with 15 minutes before the cheezy opening and national anthem.

The Arena was built in 1991 and like most of Salt Lake its unremarkable. Its sits in a shopping entertainment zone Im going to guess was build up before the 02' olympics. INside the arena the new scoreboard the first thing that hits you.

The next picture compares the old one with this one.

A real life view:

I've been to the garden a few weeks ago, and lets just say there is no comparison. I like the Bobcats arena and the Hurricanes arena in Raligh. Two examples of small market arenas. The carolina's arenas are newer. I go to the ACC tournament in Greensboro and that arena, which opened in 1959 and has been expanded twice has a new round scoreboard and is much nicer while not being an NBA spec arena.

Considering what a lousy season they are having they still draw pretty good in SLC!

The game, Im not going to recap what you can read about on nba.com but even though these are not the two best teams right now, and the Suns are struggling to hold on to the 8th playoff spot out west, its still the NBA.

Gordan Haywood almost has his first triple double. He missed it by one assist. The kid is coming up on free agency and Boston is hot after him. Sure he's white and Playa2 will no doubt link something to that but the ball goes thru him and he knows what to do with it. He is explosive to the rim, can hit the outside shot, control the ball and got the assists. He did not play the last 6 minutes of the game as Utah had the win well in hand. He'll get paid by someone. He is the face of the utah franchise but outside of the mountains, I'd look to leave if I were him. Larry Miller was smart to get Stockton and Malone to invest in his car dealerships and keep them around. Not to say making 20mil a year you can't be happy anywhere, but SLC is not a place I'd want to be. If Melo opts out I think you go after him. My thinking is Boston makes a run reuniting him with his college coach.

Channing Frye looked ok at times but nothing remarkable. Miles Plumlee played good at times but Favors did well against him on the other end. Alex Len looks skinny and is a project. Kanter is a big kid and has the moves but is not quite there. makes you appreciate BroPez.

Dragic did not play and Ish Smith started in his place. Suns had a good first period and then was cooked. The Morris twins are ok but look pretty disinterested at times. I can't tell who was who.

Richard Jefferson can still play. His name has come up by one of our posters whose "GayDar" might be more developed than some but he looks good. If he is gay I'd stay the phuch in the closet if I played and lived in Salt Lake City. Marvin Williams still sucks and I have no idea why he is still in the league. Trey Burke looked OK but really its Haywood who runs the ball.

PHX had an awful game considering their record and have good assets. Gasol or chandler would have been a good idea but teams are not giving up picks these days.

We here for the Snow but had fun walking around SLC for a bit and going to the game.

yellowboy90 wrote:I like Hayward and would maybe trade Hardaway for him but that wouldn't be enough probably. Burke and Hardaway ther again. Hayward is having an awful year shooting but could possibly go well along side Carmelo if he stays attacking 4s off the dribble, spotting up, and running PnRs. I see him as Chandler Parsons lite but maybe if he was not ask to be the focal point he would have blossomed this year too. Although, Parsons is basically a 50/40 guy from two and three that can get rebs and ast at a high level. It's really hard to evaluate a young player like Hayward, is this a down year or is this the new norm. The guy is shooting the ball worse than Raymond Felton so its a huge risk to go after him. I see the draw in keeping him for Utah but the smart move may be to trade him this summer.

Boston has the picks but lacks players to give Utah that are young to grow the team but Picks are hard to beat.

Haywood is a 2 and facilitates. Parsons lite? I guess one has to do the white guy comparison thing? Haywood is more the PG on the team. Utah has roster problems given it starts Marvin Williams at the 4 and the dude just takes long jumpers. Im not sure what Hardaways value is, and Im sure fans have over valued it some what as we usually do. I think Haywood is restricted this year so if he gets offers it will be over priced.

Im not saying this is the guy you go after but just seeing him off the ball, was not taking a lot of shots, looks to facilitate, can rebound, explosive to the rim I'd say he is a $15mil+ guy and will get paid. He is "Larry Bird" Lite. I said lite! Again, the dude sets up the plays. Parsons is more a finisher. Just my take. We'll see how it pans out. Boston has his college coach and they are fond of each other. If Haywood is willing to wait one more year and be unrestricted he'll force Utah to trade him or risk losing him for nothing. Not sure why they did not extend him last summer but from what I read it was fairly amicable or thats how its being portrayed. Bird rights are important but if you go in with a 3rd year opt like Melo did and your young, its not a big deal unless you blow your leg out. Then you lose that 5th year.

SupremeCommander wrote:I like this. Can the official uk.com game threads be games that the Knicks aren't playing in for the rest of the year?

At least the knicks don't lose on game threads not involving them! No whining about firing the GM or coach, and Melo mention!

I just did it because I was in the building.

Nalod wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:I like Hayward and would maybe trade Hardaway for him but that wouldn't be enough probably. Burke and Hardaway ther again. Hayward is having an awful year shooting but could possibly go well along side Carmelo if he stays attacking 4s off the dribble, spotting up, and running PnRs. I see him as Chandler Parsons lite but maybe if he was not ask to be the focal point he would have blossomed this year too. Although, Parsons is basically a 50/40 guy from two and three that can get rebs and ast at a high level. It's really hard to evaluate a young player like Hayward, is this a down year or is this the new norm. The guy is shooting the ball worse than Raymond Felton so its a huge risk to go after him. I see the draw in keeping him for Utah but the smart move may be to trade him this summer.

Boston has the picks but lacks players to give Utah that are young to grow the team but Picks are hard to beat.

Haywood is a 2 and facilitates. Parsons lite? I guess one has to do the white guy comparison thing? Haywood is more the PG on the team. Utah has roster problems given it starts Marvin Williams at the 4 and the dude just takes long jumpers. Im not sure what Hardaways value is, and Im sure fans have over valued it some what as we usually do. I think Haywood is restricted this year so if he gets offers it will be over priced.

Im not saying this is the guy you go after but just seeing him off the ball, was not taking a lot of shots, looks to facilitate, can rebound, explosive to the rim I'd say he is a $15mil+ guy and will get paid. He is "Larry Bird" Lite. I said lite! Again, the dude sets up the plays. Parsons is more a finisher. Just my take. We'll see how it pans out. Boston has his college coach and they are fond of each other. If Haywood is willing to wait one more year and be unrestricted he'll force Utah to trade him or risk losing him for nothing. Not sure why they did not extend him last summer but from what I read it was fairly amicable or thats how its being portrayed. Bird rights are important but if you go in with a 3rd year opt like Melo did and your young, its not a big deal unless you blow your leg out. Then you lose that 5th year.

It has nothing to do with comparing two white guys. It's comparing games. That's not what I do am not that narrow minded so don't go there. I know his game and have been watching him since college and have always compared the two because Parsons was a point forward at UF and was a jack of all trades guy. Everything you say Hayward is Parson still does for Houston especially when Harden is out.

Right now Hayward is not a 15 mm guy unless he improves his shooting and I know about the Boston connection. However I think Hayward needs to go back to being a piece of the puzzle and not the man. Also, Boston and Houston were in talks but Houston would not give up Parsons. PArsons will probably get pad more than Hayward going forward unless Gordan gets back to shooting well.

Nalod wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:

Nalod wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:I like Hayward and would maybe trade Hardaway for him but that wouldn't be enough probably. Burke and Hardaway ther again. Hayward is having an awful year shooting but could possibly go well along side Carmelo if he stays attacking 4s off the dribble, spotting up, and running PnRs. I see him as Chandler Parsons lite but maybe if he was not ask to be the focal point he would have blossomed this year too. Although, Parsons is basically a 50/40 guy from two and three that can get rebs and ast at a high level. It's really hard to evaluate a young player like Hayward, is this a down year or is this the new norm. The guy is shooting the ball worse than Raymond Felton so its a huge risk to go after him. I see the draw in keeping him for Utah but the smart move may be to trade him this summer.

Boston has the picks but lacks players to give Utah that are young to grow the team but Picks are hard to beat.

Haywood is a 2 and facilitates. Parsons lite? I guess one has to do the white guy comparison thing? Haywood is more the PG on the team. Utah has roster problems given it starts Marvin Williams at the 4 and the dude just takes long jumpers. Im not sure what Hardaways value is, and Im sure fans have over valued it some what as we usually do. I think Haywood is restricted this year so if he gets offers it will be over priced.

Im not saying this is the guy you go after but just seeing him off the ball, was not taking a lot of shots, looks to facilitate, can rebound, explosive to the rim I'd say he is a $15mil+ guy and will get paid. He is "Larry Bird" Lite. I said lite! Again, the dude sets up the plays. Parsons is more a finisher. Just my take. We'll see how it pans out. Boston has his college coach and they are fond of each other. If Haywood is willing to wait one more year and be unrestricted he'll force Utah to trade him or risk losing him for nothing. Not sure why they did not extend him last summer but from what I read it was fairly amicable or thats how its being portrayed. Bird rights are important but if you go in with a 3rd year opt like Melo did and your young, its not a big deal unless you blow your leg out. Then you lose that 5th year.

It has nothing to do with comparing two white guys. It's comparing games. That's not what I do am not that narrow minded so don't go there. I know his game and have been watching him since college and have always compared the two because Parsons was a point forward at UF and was a jack of all trades guy. Everything you say Hayward is Parson still does for Houston especially when Harden is out.

Right now Hayward is not a 15 mm guy unless he improves his shooting and I know about the Boston connection. However I think Hayward needs to go back to being a piece of the puzzle and not the man. Also, Boston and Houston were in talks but Houston would not give up Parsons. PArsons will probably get pad more than Hayward going forward unless Gordan gets back to shooting well.

We'll see! I really don't have skin in his game. Parsons is obviously on the better team and if Haywood was also he'd be a piece of the puzzle as well. I really don't disagree with you as I have not studied it.

No intentional "white vs. white" thing but you have to admit it usually happens even subliminally (look it up Playa, its a big boy word").

Haywood had the national exposure with the run by Butler and the near miricle shot against duke. that thing goes in this dude adorns boxes of Wheaties! Haywood got that goofy boy look but he's been hitting the weights and like I said he had a great game, so he looked "special". Rockets grabbed Parsons in the Second round? Morey looked good on that won!

Yeah, It's all good just saying that's not what I do. I try to compare games and saw what Hayward did at a small school like Butler and thought it would open the door for a player like Parsons because their games where so similar collegiately. Parson was probably the more inconsistent shooter but displayed an all around game and athleticism. I still remember Greg Anthony raving about how much potential he thought Parsons had if he put it all together. Parsons was always a late bloomer and ad to work to receive a scholly to UF. They waited until after a growth spurt and a great AAU run. He was always Nick Calathes(Griz pg) sidekick(h.S. & Col. teammate). It was the junior and senior years where he took over as a point forward and was SEC player of the year only to be defeated by Butler in the elite 8 I believe.

I have always like Hayward though and made it known on this board that I would have traded Shump for Hayward earlier in the year since Gordan was having a contract dispute with Utah. I think he has too much on his plate and would be great next to another big time player. I would like it to be with the Knicks and Melo but if you add him to Love that would be awesome too.

His numbers have him 94% of the time playing sf and two out of the previous three years 80% of the time he played SF. Last year it was 51% sf and 49% sg. (basketball-reference). Anyway with Ny I could see him taking over JRs role but as a starter and someone who could stagger minutes with Melo so that one of the two is always on the floor. But, imagine Hayward at the 3 with Melo at the floor and Gordan guarded by power forwards. That should be a priority given how teams play Melo. Get an SF who can create for himself and others but who can also run off screens. They also need an coach to exploit that. Players like Shump and Hardaway can't exploit that mismatch because of their ball handling. Hardaway can at times when his shooting is on because he is a pretty good shooter off screens. JR can occasionally attack this sf/pf match up but JR is JR.

Anyway glad you enjoyed the game.