August 20, 2004- Ogden, Utah- After Larry Miller, owner of the Utah Jazz for nearly 20 years, decided to sell the franchise back in June nobody knew what to expect. Now, on August 20, 2004 the Utah Jazz have a new owner. 17-year old Danny Topper bought the Jazz for a quarter of a billion dollars. He bought the team with money that he inherited from dead Grandparents. He looks to bringing the Jazz forward to finally winning a championship. Here’s a preview of the 2004-2005 Utah Jazz:
Utah Jazz 2004-2005 Roster
Carlos Arroyo-PG, 6’2” 202 lbs. 4 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 78
The starting point guard. Well look to run the team and to score where necessary.
Gordan Giricek- SG 6’5” 210 lbs. 3 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 74
Beat out Matt Harpring for the starting shooting guard spot. Excellent shooter.
Andrei Kirilenko- SF 6’9” 225 lbs. 4 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 89
Starting small forward will also see some time at power forward. The man, he can do it all. The Jazz will need him to have a great season if they expect to make the playoffs.
Carlos Boozer- PF 6’9” 258 lbs. 3 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 82
Starting power forward. Will give the Jazz the inside presence they missed last year.
Jarron Collins- C 6’11” 255 lbs. 4 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 63
The starting center, but for how long? Both him and Okur aren’t very good defenders and Okur is a better offensive player. Will see some minutes but not very many.
Mehmet Okur- C 6’11” 249 lbs. 3 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 77
Coming off the bench, he will provide a good inside scoring threat and a body for the middle on defense.
Raul Lopez- PG 6’0” 160 lbs. 2 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 73
Has had knee problems in the past and with his crazy, all-out approach to running the team, it’s not a question of if he will get hurt but when.
Kirk Snyder- SG 6’6” 225 lbs. R Overall- 72
One of two rookies on the team, Snyder will look to come off the bench and give the Jazz a scoring punch.
Kris Humphries- PF 6’9” 235 lbs. R Overall- 71
The other rookie on the team, he should provide a body in the middle on both the offensive and defense.
Keith McLeod- PG 6’2” 185 lbs. 2 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 66
The third-string point guard for the Jazz, he should see some minutes in the second and third quarters.
Raja Bell- SF 6’5” 210 lbs. 5 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 76
A streaky shooter and an aggressive defender, he was named one of the team's captains in the off-season.
Curtis Borchardt- C 7’0” 240 lbs. 3 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 63
The biggest man on the team, he’ll start the season the injured reserve.
Howard Eisley- PG 6’2” 180 lbs. 11 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 71
The oldest member of the team, he’ll start the season the injured reserve and will only see some time if one of the other point guards get hurt or aren’t producing as good as they should be.
Coach- Jerry Sloan
Captains- Matt Harpring, Raja Bell
9 min. quarters
All-Star Difficulty
Game #1- Los Angeles Lakers (1-0) vs. Utah Jazz (0-0)
Starting Lineups
Los Angeles Lakers-
PG- Chucky Atkins
SG- Kobe Bryant
SF- Lamar Odom
PF- Brain Grant
C- Vlade Divac
Utah Jazz-
PG- Carlos Arroyo
SG- Gordan Giricek
SF- Andrei Kirilenko
PF- Carlos Boozer
C- Jarron Collins
Utah Jazz- 106 Los Angeles Lakers- 86
Key Stats
Los Angeles Lakers-
Kobe Bryant- 21 PTS 7 AST
Lamar Odom- 20 PTS
Utah Jazz-
Carlos Boozer- 24 PTS 11 REB 11-15 FG
Andrei Kirilenko- 16 PTS 5 REB 6 AST 3 STL 1 BLK
Matt Harpring- 12 PTS
Mehmet Okur- 12 PTS 9 REB
Carlos Arroyo- 12 AST
Gordan Giricek- 11 PTS 5 AST 3 BLK
Best play- 6’0” Raul Lopez dunking the ball on a fast break early in the second quarter.
Player of the Game- Carlos Boozer
Note- I played the game on Pro that’s why it was a blow out.
Utah Jazz 2004-2005 Roster
Carlos Arroyo-PG, 6’2” 202 lbs. 4 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 78
The starting point guard. Well look to run the team and to score where necessary.
Gordan Giricek- SG 6’5” 210 lbs. 3 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 74
Beat out Matt Harpring for the starting shooting guard spot. Excellent shooter.
Andrei Kirilenko- SF 6’9” 225 lbs. 4 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 89
Starting small forward will also see some time at power forward. The man, he can do it all. The Jazz will need him to have a great season if they expect to make the playoffs.
Carlos Boozer- PF 6’9” 258 lbs. 3 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 82
Starting power forward. Will give the Jazz the inside presence they missed last year.
Jarron Collins- C 6’11” 255 lbs. 4 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 63
The starting center, but for how long? Both him and Okur aren’t very good defenders and Okur is a better offensive player. Will see some minutes but not very many.
Mehmet Okur- C 6’11” 249 lbs. 3 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 77
Coming off the bench, he will provide a good inside scoring threat and a body for the middle on defense.
Raul Lopez- PG 6’0” 160 lbs. 2 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 73
Has had knee problems in the past and with his crazy, all-out approach to running the team, it’s not a question of if he will get hurt but when.
Kirk Snyder- SG 6’6” 225 lbs. R Overall- 72
One of two rookies on the team, Snyder will look to come off the bench and give the Jazz a scoring punch.
Kris Humphries- PF 6’9” 235 lbs. R Overall- 71
The other rookie on the team, he should provide a body in the middle on both the offensive and defense.
Keith McLeod- PG 6’2” 185 lbs. 2 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 66
The third-string point guard for the Jazz, he should see some minutes in the second and third quarters.
Raja Bell- SF 6’5” 210 lbs. 5 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 76
A streaky shooter and an aggressive defender, he was named one of the team's captains in the off-season.
Curtis Borchardt- C 7’0” 240 lbs. 3 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 63
The biggest man on the team, he’ll start the season the injured reserve.
Howard Eisley- PG 6’2” 180 lbs. 11 Yrs. Pro. Overall- 71
The oldest member of the team, he’ll start the season the injured reserve and will only see some time if one of the other point guards get hurt or aren’t producing as good as they should be.
Coach- Jerry Sloan
Captains- Matt Harpring, Raja Bell
9 min. quarters
All-Star Difficulty
Game #1- Los Angeles Lakers (1-0) vs. Utah Jazz (0-0)
Starting Lineups
Los Angeles Lakers-
PG- Chucky Atkins
SG- Kobe Bryant
SF- Lamar Odom
PF- Brain Grant
C- Vlade Divac
Utah Jazz-
PG- Carlos Arroyo
SG- Gordan Giricek
SF- Andrei Kirilenko
PF- Carlos Boozer
C- Jarron Collins
Utah Jazz- 106 Los Angeles Lakers- 86
Key Stats
Los Angeles Lakers-
Kobe Bryant- 21 PTS 7 AST
Lamar Odom- 20 PTS
Utah Jazz-
Carlos Boozer- 24 PTS 11 REB 11-15 FG
Andrei Kirilenko- 16 PTS 5 REB 6 AST 3 STL 1 BLK
Matt Harpring- 12 PTS
Mehmet Okur- 12 PTS 9 REB
Carlos Arroyo- 12 AST
Gordan Giricek- 11 PTS 5 AST 3 BLK
Best play- 6’0” Raul Lopez dunking the ball on a fast break early in the second quarter.
Player of the Game- Carlos Boozer
Note- I played the game on Pro that’s why it was a blow out.