This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Tribune columnist Gordon Monson says Utah Jazz basketball coach Tyrone Corbin should lose his job after this season due to the team's poor defense ("Monson: Corbin's return to Jazz is hard to defend," Jan. 28). Monson fails to take into account the fact that the Jazz have been playing .500 ball since rookie point guard Trey Burke became a starter, overcoming a 1-14 start.
When asked why the Jazz struggled when a starter is out, Corbin said, "look at the roster." Corbin is in a no-win situation. If the team wins they don't get a lottery pick. If they lose he gets blamed for poor coaching.
The blame for this bad team should go to new General Manager Dennis Lindsey, who let seven of last year's players depart to free agency, including Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson. They are both having all-star-type seasons with their new teams.
Two Jazz sales reps told me that the franchise is going "young and cheap." Attendance is down, losing is up. Corbin is sure to be the scapegoat despite trying hard to win. The Miller family should retain him, lottery pick or not. Put the blame where it belongs, with Lindsey not Corbin.
Marty Bernstein
Midvale