Shootaround Report

By Ben "Napoleon" Wilson

Twitter: @NapoleonKFAN

A sweaty Randy Foye came off the court after shootaround this morning and promised a better performance this evening from the Utah Jazz as they host the 15-30 New Orleans Hornets. Listen below to Foye talk about the embarrassment of being booed by the home fans vs Houston:

Al Jefferson's pick-and-roll defense has never been very good but it was particularly horrible vs. the Rockets on Monday. Big Al's pick-and-roll defense has been better at times this season but recent games including Indiana, L.A., and Houston have seen guards penetrate and kick to wide open defenders. Al hasn't been able to cut off the lane, whether that means showing and bumping the guard enough to slow him without fouling or sagging back and protecting the rim on the drive. He seems to be caught in between the two strategies and getting lost on the rub every time. I asked Al at shootaround why he's struggling so much on the pick-and-roll defense. Here's his answer:

Here's Paul Millsap from shootaround this morning on the keys to beating New Orleans tonight:

Even though those keys are answers you hear often when listening to players speak, if the Jazz do those 3 things, they will cruise to an easy win tonight. Energy, execution, and defensive rotation were no where to be found vs. Houston on Monday. If they run the offense with energy and precision the Hornets can't hold the Jazz under 100. If they rotate on D and aggressively mark their man with energy, the Hornets will struggle to score 90.