In last season’s NBA playoffs, Carlos Boozer cemented his status as one of the NBA’s elite forwards with a remarkable performance in leading the Utah Jazz to the Western Conference Finals. This season, Carlos has built on that signature performance with a terrific season, averaging 21.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per game en route to his second All-Star selection. Adding to the accolades last week, Boozer was named to the All-NBA Third Team, joining Grant Hill and Elton Brand among the ranks of All-NBA Blue Devils currently in the league.
As the best defensive player on the best defensive team in the NBA this season, Rockets foward Shane Battier deservingly finished third in the recent NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting, behind only winner Kevin Garnett and runner-up Marcus Camby. Monday, the recognition for Battier’s amazing defensive performance on the season continued, as he was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Shane was the top vote-getter on the Second Team, missing a place on the First Team by only four points. Congratulations to Shane on his amazing accomplishments this season.
Boozer Breaks Out in Game Three
In the Western Conference Semifinals, the Lakers have focused their defense on slowing down Carlos Boozer on the interior, limiting him to 12.5 points per game through the first two games of the series, both Lakers wins. In Game Three, however, with the Jazz staring at a potentially devastating 0-3 series deficit, Carlos once again put on a signature performance, dominating the L.A. front line to the tune of 27 points and 20 rebounds and joining Karl Malone as the only players in Utah history to record a 20/20 game in the playoffs. Boozer was particularly effective down the stretch, with 11 points and 7 rebounds in the fourth quarter, including a clutch rebound and putback of his own miss at the free throw line to hold the Lakers off down the stretch. Boozer’s big night may have shifted the momentum in the series, as Utah rallied to a 2-2 series tie Sunday night in an overtime win. Carlos was again huge down the stretch, scoring 12 points in the second half, including two clutch free-throws in the closing moments of regulation.
Despite being held below his scoring average against L.A., Boozer has found other ways to help his team, improving on his season averages in both rebounds (12.8 per game for the series) and assists (3.5 per game for the series). The series now moves back to Los Angeles Wednesday night, where a win could put the Jazz (owners of the NBA’s best regular-season home record) one home victory away from a return trip to the Western Conference Finals.
Playoff Updates
Carlos Boozer isn’t the only Blue Devil still alive in the NBA Playoffs. Danny Ferry, the general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, watched his team tie up their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series against Boston Monday night. In addition, the Orlando Magic and J.J. Redick hope to avoid elimination Tuesday night against the Pistons.
Carlos Boozer took home the top ranking among individual players in this year’s Blue Planet Fantasy League. The All-Star and All-NBA choice averaged 44.0 fantasy points per game, as Duke boasted five of the top 16 performers on the year.
Scoring summary: one point for each point scored, 1.5 point for each rebound, two points for each assist, steal or block, 0.5 points for each 3-pointer made, and -1.2 points for each turnover. Field-goal percentage is included by subtracting 0.2 points for each field goal attempt and adding 0.5 points for each field goal made, which would mean you break even by shooting 40% from the field … NBA Fantasy League Participants (the top seven most productive programs in the NBA) included Duke, Connecticut, UNC, Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Kansas
“I love Coach K’s passion, his intensity for the game. He and I had some conversations when I was in school about the system and the style of play, and I just really found him to be a person that I can get along with, not only on the basketball court, but off the court as well. We just hit it off and I’m very fortunate to be playing for him this summer.”
NBA MVP Kobe Bryant
