PROTECT THE PAINT

While watching the Jazz vs. Spurs game on ESPN tonight, the game that I considered to be the game of the week, I discovered that Utah Jazz sensational point guard Deron Wiliams is refusing to shave his beard until the Utah Jazz win 5 consecutive games, according to Dan Shulman’s statements during the game. Shulman was talking about this statement Williams made:

“I won’t lose it,” he said, running fingers and a thumb over the facial hair. “I’ll probably just trim it a little bit, at least.”

Baron Davis had better be prepared to have his ridiculously enormous beard outdone by Williams. Either that or he could end up looking too similar to Kimbo Slice (the person whose beard we used for the photo below).

5 wins in a row or its the bearded D Will show!

In all seriousness, a 5-game winning streak during the second half of the year is possible, but with the playoff hunt in full effect, it is anyones game on any night. Upsets happen, and Utah has the potential to be at the losing end of an upset as mush as anybody else.

The longest win streak the Jazz have had this year, thus far, are two 4-game winning streaks on November 26-December 4th, losing at  Minnesota, 108-101, before the Jazz could win the fifth game straight.

The Jazz had 4 in a row through January 9th- 16th. The Jazz lost at Denver, 119-112, to snap the streak on January 17th. In retrospect, the Minnesota game should have Deron scratching his beard for some time to come.

In Williams’ defense the Jazz have come close twice. However, it doesn’t look like he will be trimming his beard this month, based on the Jazz’s schedule. They will host New Jersey (1/23/10) and Phoenix (1/25/10), so they could be on a 3-game streak heading into February.

FEBRUARY

Utah starts this month against Dallas, Portland, and Denver. The upcoming schedule has them facing off with Portland at the Rose Garden on the 27th.  It is extremely difficult for teams to win in Portland, hence, the beard should continue to grow and the streak will be reset, in theory.

The beard should be rather beastly by this point. Utah then hits the road for the next 4 games. 4 road games in a row rarely translates into 4 wins in a row.  At this point I will be itching to order my own custom Utah jersey, number 8, with the name “Kimbo” on the back to replace “Wiliams.”

MARCH

March represents the best opportunity for Utah to win 5 consecutive games. Specifically, March 10th-17th. This stretch starts in Detroit, and ends at home in Salt Lake City against Minnesota.

The only team I feel has a legitimate chance of upsetting this streak is Oklahoma City. OKC plays extremely hard at home, and Kevin Durant’s squad is on the rise in general. In a month from now, OKC might have evolved into something monstrous and that the Jazz cannot contain.

APRIL

The biggest factor  this month will be where the Jazz are currently standing in the playoff race at this point. If a favorable spot is secured, as 6th or higher,  look for Jerry Sloan to play his bench more, and rest his stars so they are fresh for the playoffs.

If the Jazz’s season actually pans out like predicted in this piece, Deron Williams will be looking more like Santa Claus than he does Baron Davis by the end of the regular season.

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