Great win by the Utah Jazz last night. It's fun to see the team play good team ball like they did against Memphis. The Jazz had 26 assists on 42 made baskets and 6 players had 3 or more assists. It is obvious this team really likes each other off the court, so it is surprising to see them play such selfish basketball at times. Off the court, they stick up for each other when the fan base wants a guy traded. Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson talked about how the other guy got snubbed for the All-Star game. Jamaal Tinsley never plays, but he's the most positive, encouraging vet on the team. When Matt Harpring foolishly brought up a starting point guard controversy on twitter, Earl Watson immediately shot it down. These are awesome guys in the locker room. Unfortunately, team chemistry isn't the most important thing in producing wins although it certainly helps. And i don't think great team chemistry will, or should, keep the Jazz from making trades to better the team. But it is super refreshing to see that the teammates on your favorite team are friends and care about each other.
One thing I love about twitter is that you can get a decent feel of how Jazz fans are feeling about their team by scanning the comments. Two nights ago, the Jazz were one of the worst 5 teams in the NBA. Tonight, Jazz fans are talking about an easy win tonight in NO and about how huge this win will be for the playoff tiebreakers over Memphis. I just want to mention that the truth usually lies somewhere in the middle of an issue. The Jazz aren't as bad as the team that lost to Toronto at home, but they also aren't as good as the team we saw play last night. Look at the averages and don't get too high or too low about the team. Or do, if that's what you want to do. It's just that I've had an ulcer before and I don't want each of my Jazz friends getting one.
I have mentioned this before in comment threads, but I feel the need to again express my concern over the make up of this team. You see, I'm a huge Oakland Raiders fan. And they are currently lost as a franchise. And a good reason they are lost is because they mortgaged their future to be competitive in the present. After beating the Cleveland Browns this past season, the Raiders found themselves with a 4-2 record and without a quality starting quarterback after Jason Campbell broke his collarbone. The Raiders were left with what was a likely, or at least possible playoff team (for the first time in like 9 years) and a decision of how to land a quarterback. Instead of signing a decent qb and making a run for it, or else cashing in the chips and trying for the next year, the Raiders traded a first and second round pick (the equivalent of two lottery picks in the NBA) for Carson Palmer. In essence, if the Raiders made the playoffs, great, but if they didn't, they would also have no top 18 pick to heal their battle wounds. As you probably know, the Raiders did miss the playoffs and sacrificed their future in order to not really get ahead in the present anyways. It was a poor trade made by a poorly run organization, but I can't help but think that the Jazz are doing a similar thing right now on a smaller scale. The Jazz are not only keeping their veterans, but they are signing more of them and giving them too many minutes and touches for the sake of winning now. It's the playoffs or bust, because if the Jazz proceed like this and still miss the playoffs, they will have become the Oakland Raiders, only instead of draft picks, they will have sacrificed minutes for young guys, time to evaluate the players they don't know about yet, and the opportunity to show trust in their future cornerstones. Don't be the Oakland Raiders, Jazz. I beg of you.
What Does Carson Palmer have to Do With the Utah Jazz? More than I want him to.
I also realized something that troubles me about this team while watching the Thunder Game Friday night: almost nobody is playing the right part. Take a minute and think of the ideal situation for each and every Jazz player and ask yourself if they are being utilized in that way right now. For me, Earl Watson is the only Jazz guy playing the right part: a backup point guard who brings toughness and energy to the team for 20 minutes a night. Paul Millsap is a very good starting power forward, but he could be the best sixth man in the game. Al Jefferson is an above average center, but you aren't going to be an above average team if he is taking the most shots. Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, and Alec Burks are all brilliant basketball players held back by youthful mistakes, but there's no arguing that they need more minutes. I feel confident that no one is sure of Gordon Hayward's role, including Gordon Hayward and the front office.
Right now we are watching a potentially great film like The Dark Knight. The problem is that Michael Caine is playing the Joker, Gary Oldham is playing Harvey Dent and Heath Ledger is playing Alfred. And no one has cast the role of Batman yet.
I'm a big fan of the movie Remember the Titans. It's a well made and well acted movie about high school football in the 60's with some moments of inspiration, truth, morals, and only a small dash of cheesiness. But mostly I find a lot of the lessons in the movie to be applicable to life and especially sports. There's a scene where the defense is getting killed by an athletic running back who is too fast for the linebacker (Ryan Gosling). So the defensive coach subs in the athletic running back who has been benched for fumbling issues (Donald Faison) to guard the running back, even though he has never practiced with the defense. The defensive coach tells the worried running back to forget about plays or schemes and focus on nothing else but guarding the opposing running back. And just like what happens in Hollywood, the running back causes fumbles and gets an interception and leads his team back to victory.
I thought about this scene a few weeks ago when Roddy Beaubois was absolutely torturing Devin Harris and Earl Watson. Why couldn't Tyrone Corbin grab Alec Burks and say, "I don't want you to worry about anything else for the next 10 minutes. Just go stop Roddy Beaubois. Don't even let him get the ball and if he does, don't let him get into the paint." Would it have worked? Maybe not. But it would have been as good as what we were getting. And it would have shown faith in Alec Burks. And it would have allowed Coach Corbin a chance to see if Alec Burks could play lock down defense, or at least give the effort. There was nothing to lose because we were clearly going to lose that game at the rate we were going.
The way I see it, that is the way the Jazz have handled the young guys. They've given them one thing or one move to work on for a game and then added to it. It is how the coaches should teach every Jazz man. "Paul, all I want you to do is get every rebound you can. Al, you can only shoot as many shots outside of 5 feet as you have assists. Enes, don't dribble the ball in the paint one time this game. Jeremy, go show us what happens when you shoot a couple 15 footers." What one piece of advice on their game, would you give to a Jazz man right now?
In light of Tyrone Corbin taking the team to a civil rights museum in Memphis yesterday, I leave you with another scene from Remember the Titans.
1 recs | 61 comments
Gordon Hayward should be the most important story to the team this year
He had a few decent games at the start of the year, after which he really struggled with his shot and confidence. But Ty kept playing him, kept giving him about 28-30 minutes per game—basically sent Hayward a huge stamp of approval.
And look at how much Hayward has progressed. We can honestly debate whether he’s the Jazz best player right now.
This is the kind of progress every young player with legit talent, good work ethic, good coaching, and good attitude can make in a season if they are given minutes. This is the kind of progress I had hoped to see from all our young guys. It’s what I think we would be seeing if Favors was also getting about 30 minutes per night, and if Kanter/Burks were getting at least 20+ minutes per night. They’ve got talent. They have good coaching. And everything we see indicates good attitude and work ethic.
Argh.
Yucca Man - February 13, 2012
Awesome DB.
This is one of the best DBs I’ve read in a long time (no offense to the other writers). This is exactly how I feel about the team right now. Unless something changes from the front office, like the goal for the season, or a trade happens, this team is destined for perpetual mediocrity. And that thought hurts worse than any losses do. With that being said the OKC loss really upset me. Not because we lost to a team much better than ours, but because of the way the minutes were distributed. I have no problem with losing right now if the young guys are getting minutes and playing hard. It bugs me how when the young guys are struggling the only support they get is sitting the bench (except Hayward) but when the vets are struggling they just need time on the court to get over it (Raja, Devin, Josh and Millsap). In nearly every case it as worked and they have noticeably improved. So why does Burks get 4 DNPs in a row and Favors only gets 12 min a night?
BigGreen - February 13, 2012 via mobile
I could not have said it better myself.
That also goes for you Clark, great DB.
SexualFavors15 - February 13, 2012 via mobile
The answer is simple
When the Jazz are losing, Ty feels more desperate to play the guys he trusts (vets) more minutes. Which is silly, because they still end up losing most of these games that they get down. The more they lose, the more he limits minutes to the rookies, which leads to more losses, and fewer minutes to rookies … and on, and on, and on, and on.
Yucca Man - February 13, 2012
Everytime Al Jefferson touches the ball an Jazz angel dies...
Because that’s one touch Favors and Kanter didn’t get…score, turnover, assist or Ostertagesque bonehead play it doesn’t matter to me at least they have the OPPORTUNITY to learn from their mistakes.
I don’t want to play for an 6-8 seed every year…that’s not in my Jazz life plan. It’s time to suck it up and realize that the only way teams reach championship caliber is through free agency (not happening in utah) and the draft. The only way to get a good draft pick is to suck – we need to suck this year to have the OPPORTUNITY to be champions in 2015-17
This my friends, is the great Jazz fan conundrum of our time…
David Marquardt - February 13, 2012
Two problems with building through the draft:
The first is that we have 4 lottery picks on our team right now, 3 of which aren’t getting adequate minutes. I don’t see that changing with this organization. We could potentially add two more this year.
The second is about filling a need. What do we need from this draft? A point Guard and a shooter? or maybe one player that could do both. I don’t follow College ball that closely so I’ll be working from Chad Fords analysis. I see Bigs and Tweeners. Do we need another big? even if we trade Big Al or Millsap, I don’t see us needing a Lottery talent big. So that leaves Harrison Barnes and MKG as SF’s in the top ten right? Barnes is a shooter isn’t he? I guess that fills a need. Personally I like Kidd-Gilchrist better, seems like a prototypical Jazz guy. The other Lottery players who might fill the shooter need are Undersized Bradley Beal and Jeremy Lamb. Both are late lottery picks who are probably going to be within reach if we fall just short of the playoffs.
But none of those players fill the need of PG, and I don’t know how we fill that need. Maybe Al Jefferson?
I think the problem we have is that we don’t give anybody under the age of 25 consistent minutes besides Hayward, and I don’t know when that changes. I think Clark hit it right on the head, give them minutes with a specific purpose.
Kfunk - February 13, 2012
The Jazz aren't the Raiders
There is a difference when it comes to playing time vs. draft picks. I’d like to see the young guys get a little more playing time too, but I don’t think they’re completely rotting away on the bench either. While there is no replacement for game experience, players can learn in other ways, too. Players learn a lot working with coaches, observing from the bench and practicing against teammates. I recall Jermaine O’Neal once stating those first 4 years of his career when he averaged less than 15 min/game (playing behind Rasheed) were incredibly valuable to him (though I hope our young guys get PT a little quicker than that). I’m sure the same could be said for Blake Griffin’s first season (lost to injury, but still associated with the team) or John Stockton’s early years playing behind Rickey Green.
Of course, I do wish they were getting a little more time. I’d like to see more mixed lineups, where Millsap and Jefferson are each teamed with one of the young bigs more than with each other. It would give us a veteran big who can score paired with a young big who is better at rebounding and playing defense. That could potentially be a little bit better of a mix on the floor.
Burks maybe got some DNPs because he was playing a little too out of control. But with Howard playing terribly and CJ remaining inconsistent, Burks deserves a little more time.
Again though, as much as I would like to see a little more PT from the young guys, I don’t think it means we’re completely stunting the growth of our young talent.
flibbidy - February 13, 2012
yeah but
Jermaine O’Neal was learning by watching Rasheed Wallace, who is crazy, but also a brilliant basketball player when he wants to be, and full of wisdom (I read about him being somebody most players think could make an amazing coach one day if he could ever get his mouth under control).
I don’t know if Favors is learning anything watching Al Jefferson make shot-put hooks from 12 feet out once or twice a game. I don’t want Favors patterning his game after Jefferson.
It’s a truism that big men take longer to develop than guards (look at Shaq – he played almost 20 years and still hasn’t developed actual basketball skills), but I can’t help but think the fastest way to development is minutes.
MTN - February 13, 2012
Actually Big Al has helped both Favors and Kanter with their footwork.
I guess you must not have noticed that Al has some of the best footwork for a bigman in the game. He learned from McHale who was pretty good himself in the post. Favors and Kanter are both showing more post moves every game and yes Big Al has helped them.
Also if you listened to Barkley the other night he said the most important player to his career was Moses Malone. He talked about how important vets are to have around young guys. Minutes are important, but not every guy that gets 20 mins a night as a rookie pans out. Sometimes you just have to have patience as a kid and learn your way along.
BobbyD31 - February 13, 2012
Yeah, we don't want Favors learning the shot put "wheezy" shots
But there are ways Al can help, as stated with footwork. Also, if you hear Al talk, he knows more about the defensive end than he may appear to on the floor, so he can be a teacher. Mike Sanders has been working with the young guys a lot as well.
Also, minutes are limited and Al gives the Jazz the best chance of winning right now, even with his flaws. No, the Jazz aren’t contenders, but it’s not a bad thing for the young guys to learn on a team that fights for every game as opposed to a team that is OK with losing.
Minutes are tough to come by right now. If you cut Jefferson and Millsap down to 30 min/game each, there are still only 36 minutes for Favors and Kanter to split. It’s a bit of a logjam, but in our situation, it’s a good problem to have.
flibbidy - February 13, 2012
So True.
BobbyD31 - February 13, 2012
"Al gives the jazz best chance right now" = "No, the Jazz aren't contenders"
I think this is the point.
(So let’s hire Kevin McHale and give the minutes to Favors. He needs minutes. He needs minutes.)
MTN - February 13, 2012
My point is that minutes are not always the best form of development.
It’s not about teaching them how to play like Jefferson and Millsap, it’s about teaching them how to play on a team that wants to win.
But I suppose it’s a bit like the debate on economic policies – some believe in Austrian economic theory (conservative) and others believe in Keynesian economic theory (liberal). Both have debatable pluses and minuses and people have their opinions on which is more effective. I happen to be more on the side of “Play them fewer minutes and try to teach them winning habits” than the side of “Play them more minutes and let them learn through playing time despite losses.” Either philosophy probably has its own value.
flibbidy - February 13, 2012
This may be the wisest statement ever made on SLC Dunk!
jjrosk - February 13, 2012
Learning winning habits from the bench of a .500 team?
kind of like learning to speak a foreign language by reading about it
or learning to play piano by listening to music
or learning to drive by sitting in the drivers’ seat
I think they need minutes.
Moreover, conservative economic theory does not have debatable pluses, only rhetoric on a scale from deceptive to dishonest. :-)
MTN - February 13, 2012
Says the guy who I disagree with.
BobbyD31 - February 13, 2012
I shouldn't have made the mistake of mentioning politics
But both philosophies do have at least a solid theory behind them, whether you agree with that theory or not (or whether practice matches theory).
And yes, learning habits from a .500 team works. It’s not necessarily about actual wins, it’s about working hard, having the will to wins and not accepting a losing culture. I think our team started to develop a losing culture last year after the Sloan departure/Williams trade and it was not a healthy environment for our young players to be in.
flibbidy - February 13, 2012
It's a good problem to have if you're competing for something.
clarkpojo - February 13, 2012 via mobile
Good then because we need to competing with this many young guys.
BobbyD31 - February 13, 2012
Raiders? The Raiders?
Clark – dude – you’re a Raiders fan?
1. Best thing about the game yesterday was watching Hayward play stretches of elite NBA basketball, and getting to see Burks.
2. I’m still figuring out Twitter. What is the best app for laptop Tweeting, or for iPad? I don’t have a smart phone.
3. Your point is clear, but I’m aghast that someone who is intelligent and good can… nevermind.
4. Good analogy. For all of the Jazz’s good qualities – as an organization, from top to bottom, from beginning to present – you would never call anyone in the organization a “risk taker.” Am I right? Did Sloan ever run a freak defense? Ever try anything innovative or different? (I know, I know, what he did worked well…) Has the front office ever made a move you would call “bold”? We laud them for being smart, persistent, solid, etc. But never “shrewd” or “clever.” I think this is where Ty is right now. He’s doing great things for being a rookie head coach. But he’s playing it very conservatively. What all of us are asking for – play the rookies – would be bold, risky, and that’s why he won’t do it. Big risks pay in big dividends. I don’t know why you would ever coach a team to be “good enough” in the short run instead of coaching a team to be great in the long run. I suppose there are arguments to be made both ways.
5. I need to re-watch that movie. I went to the Civil Rights museum in Memphis a few years ago. It’s sobering. You can stand in the street and look up to the Motel balcony where Dr. King stood. I’m pretty certain that the only other Americans as important to our nation’s history as Dr. King are Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, George Washington and Alexander Hamilton.
In other movie news, I watched Munich this weekend. Very cool movie if you haven’t seen it.
MTN - February 13, 2012
No one ever mentions James Madison when they talk about the founding fathers
He was the main author of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
flibbidy - February 13, 2012
Madison doesn't get mentioned much because he was a sub par president.
But as a founding father, outside of Washington who was more just a presence anyways, Madison is probably the most important. History geek by the way.
hamfist - February 13, 2012
Re: #2
I’m partial to TweetDeck for the laptop.
Great points in #4. And Munich was great.
shandonfan - February 13, 2012
No love for Abe Lincoln?
To address the basketball concerns, I’m fine worth how the minutes among our bigs are being distributed. If Corbin were to sit Jefferson or Millsap for more minutes we would risk team chemistry with players demanding trades. In all honesty, this team is a borderline playoff team, which is much better than I thought we would be. I can’t begrudge the owners wanting to make a little money from a playoff series, although I would rather have a draft pick.
However I don’t understand why Burks doesn’t get a little more run. Signing Howard looked like a good idea, but he has stopped producing, and his minutes could definitely be put to better use. Bell has earned playing time, so no complaints there. The only thing I would say is lets try some different lineups.
jrclone - February 13, 2012
and Lincoln.
I know I was missing somebody.
My point, I think, is that he belongs with these names, and not with names like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, the Wright Brothers…. Elvis Presley.
MTN - February 13, 2012
No love for FDR?
Susan B Anthony?
ForTheLove - February 13, 2012
3. Raiders???
The Raiders are not like the Jazz. You are comparing one of the poorest run organizations in football to one of the best run in the NBA. Plus your correlation doesn’t even add up. The Jazz are like the anti-Raiders. They were the Bengals in that trade if you will. Remember it was the Jazz that traded away their version of Carson Palmer, for a rookie PF lottery pick, a starting PG, and 2 future lottery picks. The Jazz also traded a vet former All-star big man to open up more playing time for that PF and one of those lottery picks this year. If anyone is like the Raiders in this scenario it is the Nets. They mortgaged their future for a top level player to play out the last year and a half of his contract on a sub .500 team. That sounds more like the Raiders than anything the Jazz are doing.
BobbyD31 - February 13, 2012
Though they'll look brilliant if they manage to keep Deron and pair him with Dwight
It’s far from guaranteed, but they have a shot.
flibbidy - February 13, 2012
Are you talking about NJ or Dallas?
BobbyD31 - February 13, 2012
If Dallas got those two
Jersey then really does look like the Raiders.
flibbidy - February 13, 2012
Totally agree with this, the Jazz are nothing like the Raiders
There’s a big difference between giving the future limited minutes and giving the future away. The Jazz still have their future, the Raiders do not.
allen aoki - February 13, 2012
The Raiders dont have a future?
They’ve been drafting in the top 10 for years now. You take away the Jamarcus year they have some nice talent on that team. Their downfall this season was coaching and discipline. And it’s been like that for years now. That locker room needs a culture change, and they’ll be fine. They should look across to their bay area rival, and know what a great coach can do for them.
EcERyda69 - February 13, 2012 via mobile
3. Raiders
Plan would have worked, if not for TEBOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol.
For the record i’m not a Tebow crazy. Just had to throw this out there.
Canadian_Braeden - February 13, 2012
Hope the Jazz learned..
from the whole thing that happened with that guy that went to Portland for a bigger offer you know who I’m talking about… The young guys are important and the Jazz realize that now I think especially from that experience and what happened with our vets who we invested so much time in (Boozer, Korver and Williams) all who either left us or were going to.
At the beginning of the season I was really down on 2 vet signings (Howard and Tinsley) but I don’t think they mortgaged away the future of their young guys with those signings; Both hardly play and while I don’t mind seeing Tinsley who isn’t really going to take any of the young guys’s minutes instead we get Howard’s veteran “leadership” (bad shot selection non team oriented style basketball). It’s a bit disappointing to see Ty go to Howard so much especially in crunch time situations which I think would be the best times to teach the young players.
What I find absolutely perplexing though is bringing in these vets who usually teach the rookies like others have mentioned when we don’t have a young point guard that will learn anything. And what has Josh Howard ever done to show our young forwards/guards what to do? Maybe he was brought in to show them how not to take shots?
They did trade away Okur though which means they do want our young bigs playing more which in my opinion is a good sign to the commitment and future of the young guys.
And finally how the heck do you compare us to the Raiders? The last 4 vets that we signed (Earl, Jamal, Josh, Raja) won’t be taking any minutes from Kanter or Favors and I don’t think Gordon either. They are taking minutes from Evans (whom I still adore!) and Burks (who I still haven’t seen enough from). Seriously the Raiders have a jerk owner, absolutely no consistency (7 head coaching changes in the last 10 years), Championships, a rich storied history and trendsetting uniforms that people outside of their area actually want to wear.
We are not like the Raiders in any way. OK maybe for that whole let’s try to be mediocre spiel.. Awee dang………
utahspazz - February 13, 2012
He's saying that the way the Jazz are handling this team is reminiscent of what the Raiders did this year
He’s not saying the Raiders and the Jazz are dopelgangers—but that this particular situation is similar.
Yucca Man - February 13, 2012
"Don't Be the Oakland Raiders" is a phrase I use all the time
As in “dinner, be delcious, don’t be the Oakland Raiders” or “New episode of The Office, please don’t be the Oakland Raiders”.
I kid, I kid…seriously though, good DB. Despite the playing time conundrum though, I feel like the team is being run mostly well. Here’s my ideal situation though, regardless of how many wins/losses this makes for the team:
Harris gets traded. Frankly, I don’t even care what we get back, although ideally it’s a role player(preferably a Kyle-Korver-esque 3 pt expert) and a pick in this year’s super-deep draft. Bell is relegated to “first man in status” and line up becomes
PG Watson/Burks (Watson starts, Burks gets more time than he does now)
SG Hayward
Some combo of Millsap/Jefferson/Favors down low
BJInIndiana - February 13, 2012
loving these downbeats
keep it up!
Bryan Chang - February 13, 2012
Very high-quality downbeat
I don’t think that now is the time to be worrying about the minutes for most of the youngsters. To me they are still within normal parameters for rookies. Gordon is getting plenty of minutes, and the two rookies are getting what I think are acceptable minutes. Last night, for example I think it actually hurt the team a little bit to have Alec in there, but CJ wasn’t doing that much so Corbin just put him in. That sucks for CJ, but it does show a commitment from Corbin to get Burks in there when he can. His level of play doesn’t allow him for more minutes at this point.
My huge problem with the minutes revolves around the Favors situation. I am terrified that his growth is being stunted. He has shown as much as Gordon has at times, and should probably be getting the same amount of time on the floor. He is pretty effective when in there, and he is THE piece that needs to develop for the Jazz to be an Elite team. His ceiling is the highest.
At this point I would trade Al or Millsap for almost anything in order to get Favors more minutes. I think he can develop consistency with a consistent Role. I think you could pencil him in for a double-double every night right now if he got the correct amount of minutes. I think for several reasons it makes more sense to keep Al. (less tradeable, more consistent scorer than Paul, bigger) because in reality within 3 years Kanter will be starting anyway. But at this point I would be ok with either one staying.
davidthecomposer - February 13, 2012
Im down with this
Favors needs the most development. As you said he is the piece that can propel this team to being elite because of his potential. I dont care who they trade be it Big Al, or Sap, but Favors needs big minutes right now! The thing with Favors is, can he bring the scoring that Big Al brings to this team every night. Love Sap, he’s everything I love about this team. I just wish he would except a role as being the 6th man on this team, but the thing about that is having Sap as the the 6th man he could still stunt Favors growth. Sap will be getting close to his minutes now coming off the bench.
If Hayward can bring what he did last night every night, having Favors as your 4th option offensively in the starting unit would be great. They wouldnt have to rely on him on that end of the floor. Defensively he can matchup with any big in this league.
EcERyda69 - February 13, 2012
I am also terrified of Favors' growth being stunted
He just isn’t getting consistent enough minutes. I look at the output of Greg Monroe and Demarcus Cousins and then at Favors, and it concerns me. Different situations, of course, but there is no question Favors needs more minutes.
My fear is that he’ll just be the next Anthony Randolph instead of realizing his high ceiling. I won’t take anything away from Sap or Al- they are playing great- but Favors’ future (and by extension, the Jazz’s future) is being mortgaged away from them. Take 6 minutes away from both of them and give them to Favors.
Stockton2Malone - February 13, 2012
Alternative: Sit Bell, swing Hayward out to SG and start Favors.
Defense down low takes a hit maybe, but totally worth it I think.
BJInIndiana - February 13, 2012
Not all the time tho.
I think that would work with a team like LAL with WorldPeace but a team like Miami, or even Memphis the Liability at SF would be too great. But what do I know!??!!
kgpogi - February 13, 2012
The Favors situation seems kind of like Hayward's
Lots of good things, but the shot is not falling as it ought. I think Favors’ moves in the post are actually quite good … it’s just the shot itself that often doesn’t go.
Kind of like how Hayward’s overall play was good, but his shots weren’t falling.
Now Hayward, with his consistent 28-32 minutes, has worked through it and is playing really well. Favors, on the other hand, is getting his minutes cut.
Yucca Man - February 13, 2012
Favors
Favors seems like he is rushing things too. I think when he is in the post he needs to asses the defense and make the right decision. Also when he backs people down he uses his shoulders and that will instigate a flop from the defender. Favors needs to take a play from Barkley and back his guy down with his butt, especially when a smaller guys is on him. I think simple things like that would help his confidence.
kgpogi - February 13, 2012
i do believe in the titans movie petey replaced a cornerback
who was out matched against a receiver
gubihero - February 13, 2012
Yea I think they were cornerbacks.
Regardless. Same idea.
ForTheLove - February 13, 2012
true enough
gubihero - February 13, 2012
Most know that I've backed the idea that the young guys should be getting plenty of
playing time and burn.
That being said. I think it’s important to point out something.
A few of the Vets have improved and are improving more than I ever thought they could. I have to acknowledge that. I didn’t really believe they could but they have. Al’s game is slowly evolving/progressing. I didn’t think he could make the extra pass. Sure he takes a few shots he shouldn’t still but when most games I look at the stat line and see him having 2 or 3 assists. I have to acknowledge he’s growing as a player.
Bell has also gotten closer to his career averages. He’s played some really good D in a few games and he’s started hitting his shots. He probably shouldn’t be starting still but I have to give credit where credit is due.
ForTheLove - February 13, 2012
Al has surprised me so much
And Bell is playing well. Howard and Devin are the two vets that are really contributing nothing. Every time Gordon charges down in transition, every time he does a backdoor cut to the hoop I wonder what it would be like to have a guy who could pass to him.
Yucca Man - February 13, 2012
Yea
those really are the two that are killing me and one of them is the starting PG and the other the 6th man. >.<. Miles should totally be the 6th man right now. I don’t even know what to do with Harris. I’d like to trade him but i honestly can’t see who would take him and be able to give us a PG in return.
ForTheLove - February 13, 2012
I had the same exact thought as you. I love it when he back cuts when Millsap or Earl
has the ball they seem to be able to hit him. I still just love how Hayward continues to put pressure on the D with his constant movement.
BobbyD31 - February 13, 2012
Me too
I also love how he’s always running down the court as fast as possible—every time. That’s one of the things Wesley Matthews did that made him so successful.
Yucca Man - February 13, 2012
also why he has so few rebounds..
but I’ll take the hustle and energy those breaks produce for the team. If we didn’t have Hayward and Miles running ahead we would probably be dead last in the league in fast break points.
JazzMT - February 13, 2012
I would be fine with them being the late 70s/early 80s Raiders
Minus the moving to Los Angeles part, of course.
flibbidy - February 13, 2012
Technique for getting offensive rebounds.
9 times out of 10 the defensive rebounder has position to get the rebound. One way I was taught growing up to get OFFENSIVE rebounds is when a shot goes up don’t hope the ball flies over the defender to you cuz it usually wont. Instead of stand there helplessly when your guys has position on you, you can go over and sandwich the other big’s defender making it virtually impossible for him to get the rebound. (if it bounces that way). this way you will get more offensive rebounds. I rarely see that happen in the pro. There might be reason why they dont do that.
kgpogi - February 13, 2012
Favors VS Kanter
In a one-on-one game (right now) who wins DFav or Enes? I would put money on Kanter! everyone thinks Favors is this Golden Child that when it happens he will be the next Dwight Howard. Kanter is already a better player (less of an athlete) but a better basketball player. (No Hate-mail for theis post please)
kgpogi - February 13, 2012
I love the Burks idea!!!!
I love the Burks idea!!! until he is ready to take shots in the offense you can use him as a specialty defender. he is very athletic and rangy, that is something we lack and both starting guard spot. If a PG or SG is kicking our can then put Burks in there and say “Shut Him Down!!!”
kgpogi - February 13, 2012
I've thought this as well while watching games
Always figured it didn’t happen because the coaches understood the more complex happenings of the game than me from the coach.
Then again, for awhile I’ve been saying,..why doesn’t coach mix up the young bigs with the vets?, and then against Memphis it happened, so who knows.
JazzMT - February 13, 2012
When is the trade deadline?
I’ll be more concerned about minute distribution once we’re into the last 1/3 of the season. For now I would like to see Favors and Kanter a little more by giving them a few more minutes outside of their normal rotation when they’re really producing well. I’m glad to see that Corbin may be starting to switch up on court big combo’s…this seems like a step in a good direction.
Hopefully KOC is biding his time for the right deal to come around. I’m not a Harris hater, I think he actually could be a good player again, but the Jazz do not seem to be the right fit. We’ll have to throw some meat on the bone when he goes so that means Sap or Jefferson…is it possible that Jefferson has increased his trade value to a contender by being in better shape this year and showing signs of knowing how to pass?
As for the lottery vs playoff scenerio, I would personally like to see us in the playoffs to let the youngsters get a taste of where they need to go. Besides OKC I think we could put up a good battle against most other teams in the first round. (Disclaimer: make playoffs + get Golden State pick this year)
JazzMT - February 13, 2012
March 15th is the deadline.
ForTheLove - February 13, 2012
I maintain that the difference between a consistent player and an inconsistent one
is predicated on their minutes when they are struggling. Think about how many point somebody like Kobe would have if he ot pulled when he was struggling. you have to let the best players play through their bad stretches. If not then they will never be consistent performers.
Of course this doesn’t guarantee that they will be consistent, but without this they will NEVER be consistent.
davidthecomposer - February 13, 2012
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