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SLTrib Feature: Miles responds to Balou Bully with 3-point barrage

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https://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/jazz/50723608-87/jazz-nov-points-portland.html.csp

By Brian T. Smith

The Salt Lake Tribune
Published Nov 21, 2010 06:44PM
Updated 8 minutes ago Updated Nov 21, 2010 09:12PM

The words have always stung. The criticism has never stopped. But in the end, Jazz forward C.J. Miles learned that the only answer for personal attacks is on-the-court action. And that is exactly how Miles responded Saturday night, knocking down a career-high seven 3-pointers in 10 attempts and downing Portland as a one-man show.

The sixth-year player’s 25-point outburst set one franchise record, as his 5-of-5 shooting beyond the arc during the fourth quarter established a new high for most made 3s in one period without a miss. Miles also tied two other Utah records, while setting three team-based season highs.

Jazz acting head coach Phil Johnson said Miles was tremendous. Blazers coach Nate McMillan stated that Miles annihilated Portland in transition and let it fly. And current Blazers guard Wesley Matthews — a former teammate of Miles who regularly keeps in contact with the Jazz forward — said that his friend caught fire from the perimeter while Portland failed to react.

Matthews sounded like a believer testifying to the uninitiated after the highlight reel ended, repeating a simple phrase that said everything about Miles’ one-game wonder.

“He can shoot,” Matthews said. “He can shoot.”

Miles was so on during a decisive fourth quarter *— one that saw Utah outscore Portland 38-20, as the Jazz rallied to capture their sixth come-from-behind victory from at least an 11-point deficit in 14 games — that he ended the contest either tied with or falling one shot short of franchise records held by Utah long-range legends Jeff Hornacek and Bryon Russell.

“My first [3] was just a dead-on, wide-open one,” Miles said. “That’s where I was, like, ‘OK. I found it a little.’ I found how I wanted to shoot it. And the guys did a great job of screening for me and helping me get some looks.”

What Miles finally found was his touch. Utah’s premier scorer off the bench had spent the previous nine games enduring one of the worst shooting slumps of his career. Prior to his Blazers breakout, Miles had hit just four of his last 29 3s, including 0-for-4, 0-for-6 and 0-for-5 outings.

During the stretch, the same negativity that had surrounded the 23-year-old throughout various stages of his career hovered once again.

When the Jazz drafted an 18-year-old Miles in 2005 out of Skyline High School (Dallas), many told him that he should have never left Texas. Then Miles was constantly reminded during his first two seasons in the league that he would never last in the NBA.

“I’m fueled by that. That helps me,” Miles said. “Because, sooner or later, I know it’s going to come back around.”

Six years later, Miles is still standing. And the player who is often his own harshest, most demanding critic spent Saturday night rolling off a shooting performance that nearly every person who ever touches a basketball dreams about. Miles’ seven 3s were released from a combined 132 feet away from the basket, while three were fired from at least 26 feet out.

“What are they going to have to say then?” Miles said.

bsmith@sltrib.com

Twitter: tribjazz

Copyright 2010 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Jean-Luc said:
Glad to see CJ's feeling confident. That's big.
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If getting yelled at by Trout makes him shoot better then frankly the Jazz should hire Trout to be on the coaching staff. I'm positive he could come up with a new way to insult him every time he got in a slump.
 
Yeah... I don't really think this Trout interaction has much to do with it.

CJ can flat out shoot. He's the most talented offensive player the Jazz may have had in a long time, I've been saying this since the beginning.

He'll be a force eventually.. just needs to keep getting more confident with his game, and his decisions. Guy knows how to impact the game within the Jazz offense.

I hope this is the year he really shines, and becomes a fan favorite in Salt Lake. We need it.
 
Jean-Luc said:
CJ can flat out shoot. He's the most talented offensive player the Jazz may have had in a long time, I've been saying this since the beginning.

He'll be a force eventually.. just needs to keep getting more confident with his game, and his decisions. Guy knows how to impact the game within the Jazz offense.

I hope this is the year he really shines, and becomes a fan favorite in Salt Lake. We need it.
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Agreed. The critical thing is that he recognized the third three he shot was a stupid shot- just because you're feeling it doesn't mean you break the offense and take a garbage shot. The rest of the shots may have been far out but they were in the flow of the offense.

If he can continue to recognize the difference between a quality shot and a poor one he'll go far.
 
I think one of CJ's biggest developments in the last year has been knowing when to attack the basket and knowing when to let it fly from deep.
 
Can someone read the article [for me] and tell me if Ballou is actually mentioned, referred to, or even slightly insinuated? Something as small as "C.J. doesn't eat fish during the season" would be enough.

Jean-Luc said:
CJ can flat out shoot. He's the most talented offensive player the Jazz may have had in a long time, I've been saying this since the beginning.
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while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads
 
Two really good games for CJ in a row. That's a step worth noting. Not only did he shoot well, he passed the ball, played better defense, played with confidence etc.
I've seen him have a great shooting night frrom time to time, but I can't recall him stringing two really good complete games together. Hopefully it's a step in the direction
of consistency.
 
CJ is a talented player, and great shooter, but he is also a complete slave to his fragile confidence.

Trout is a slave to his Tourettes.
 
Revolution 9 said:
Two really good games for CJ in a row. That's a step worth noting. Not only did he shoot well, he passed the ball, played better defense, played with confidence etc.
I've seen him have a great shooting night frrom time to time, but I can't recall him stringing two really good complete games together. Hopefully it's a step in the direction
of consistency.
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Dogs and cats living together... MASS HYSTERIA!
 
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