The Jazz Are Boxing

[Handlogten's Heros]

I think you have to adjust how you watch this team play a little. We aren't playing basketball... we are boxing.

Looking at our first quarter offense and we are last in the league... second quarter we jump up a little... 3rd and 4th we are middle of the pack.

This is small sample size here, but what we are doing is using our stifling defense and motion offense as constant body blows... teams can take them for a quarter or two but then they start to crack and there is a point where the legs are wobbly and we hit them with a run. It likely doesn't come as an offensive explosion, but a scoring drought for the other team.

I'm now watching first quarters and not caring as much about the score... I know our guys play hard all game and that we are setting teams up for the rope a dope.

 

[Gameface]

Interseting take

 

[Jazzta]

I like it, the George Foreman of the NBA.

 

[Deleted member 5000]

I agree, we are setup to excel in the 4 QTR.

That's the effect of our strategy using the shot clock all the way, the opposing team is wore out playing all that defense they crumble at the end.

 

[framer]

I just think our bench is really, really good. Keep in mind that we have played 3 excellent teams, with very good starters, Just being able to slog with those guys and keeping it even with our developing offense has been remarkable. Now add onto that the ability of Snyder to make adjustments and the talent of the team to enforce those adjustments (something we have lacked in the past) we are going to do well late in games, especially as other teams get frustrated with being defended hard every play.

Where I want to see a huge difference is in just slamming the door on inferior teams, something the Jazz have struggled with in the past. We don't need to be struggling with and losing to the Miami, Dallas, and Orlandos of the world.

 

[checkbookdoc]

The initial push of Rubio contributes to this wear'em down approach. The fact that Rubio pushes the pace makes the other team have to run to get back on defense. This is exhausting. It means that even before you have to fight through screens and make all the rotations, you have basically had to sprint back.

 

[colton]

I agree, we are setup to excel in the 4 QTR.

That's the effect of our strategy using the shot clock all the way, the opposing team is wore out playing all that defense they crumble at the end.

The new timeout rules likely help with this as well.

 

[colton]

Where I want to see a huge difference is in just slamming the door on inferior teams, something the Jazz have struggled with in the past. We don't need to be struggling with and losing to the Miami, Dallas, and Orlandos of the world.

Agreed. This upcoming stretch of mediocre teams is going to be really interesting.

 

[sahlensguy]

I like it but in our two wins, we have only lost 2 quarters. Quarter 1 against Denver, and quarter 4 against the Thunder.

 

[NUMBERICA]

I think you have to adjust how you watch this team play a little. We aren't playing basketball... we are boxing.

Looking at our first quarter offense and we are last in the league... second quarter we jump up a little... 3rd and 4th we are middle of the pack.

This is small sample size here, but what we are doing is using our stifling defense and motion offense as constant body blows... teams can take them for a quarter or two but then they start to crack and there is a point where the legs are wobbly and we hit them with a run. It likely doesn't come as an offensive explosion, but a scoring drought for the other team.

I'm now watching first quarters and not caring as much about the score... I know our guys play hard all game and that we are setting teams up for the rope a dope.

Adding to that, Quin is building a strategy on-the-fly based on in-game information. Since there aren't any legitimate offensive hubs and Quin's been open about how the offense needs to be approached as opportunistic as possible, some players are going to be hot one night, and others on other nights. So the Jazz are figuring out what's working and what's not, and who's playing well and who's not within the game, so as the game progresses, the Jazz dial in and perform better.

Additionally, it seems like he's spreading the minutes pretty evenly which allows everyone to hustle harder for the time that they are in.

I think that you're onto something with the general premise. I love this team, I love the approach, I'm loving the results, and I think they'll get even better. They maximize every single aspect of the game and the roster. And as much as it would be great to have Hayward, the style of play wouldn't be the same. What we can take from his departure is that this team and its style of play is mutually exclusive to what Hayward brings to the table. Playing with such pace and in such a way is necessary specifically because of a lack of legitimate offensive hubs and we know Hayward loves playing slow (as per a quote from him in Boston).

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I just think if we are up in the first quarter it is now a bonus and likely means a win. When you repeatedly get hit with body blows it just gets hard and the opponent's resolve is tested.

It seems like we've started slow offensively a few times and I am no longer going to worry too much about the first quarter results.

I think if Hood doesn't get hurt or if Minny didn't get in the penalty early in the third they were close to being put in a submission hold. If we can manage a lead of 10 points or so in the middle part of the game it gets hard for teams to fight uphill against the relentless defense.

We likely catch some teams that get hot and blow us out, but i think many more will throw the damn towel and move on to the next one.

 

[NUMBERICA]

I just think if we are up in the first quarter it is now a bonus and likely means a win. When you repeatedly get hit with body blows it just gets hard and the opponent's resolve is tested.

It seems like we've started slow offensively a few times and I am no longer going to worry too much about the first quarter results.

I think if Hood doesn't get hurt or if Minny didn't get in the penalty early in the third they were close to being put in a submission hold. If we can manage a lead of 10 points or so in the middle part of the game it gets hard for teams to fight uphill against the relentless defense.

We likely catch some teams that get hot and blow us out, but i think many more will throw the damn towel and move on to the next one.

This is of course all contingent on the Jazz having the relentless resolve to always D up, even when in the lead. Most teams don't do that, so let's hope the Jazz are special in this regard as well.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Adding to that, Quin is building a strategy on-the-fly based on in-game information. Since there aren't any legitimate offensive hubs and Quin's been open about how the offense needs to be approached as opportunistic as possible, some players are going to be hot one night, and others on other nights. So the Jazz are figuring out what's working and what's not, and who's playing well and who's not within the game, so as the game progresses, the Jazz dial in and perform better.

Additionally, it seems like he's spreading the minutes pretty evenly which allows everyone to hustle harder for the time that they are in.

I think that you're onto something with the general premise. I love this team, I love the approach, I'm loving the results, and I think they'll get even better. They maximize every single aspect of the game and the roster. And as much as it would be great to have Hayward, the style of play wouldn't be the same. What we can take from his departure is that this team and its style of play is mutually exclusive to what Hayward brings to the table. Playing with such pace and in such a way is necessary specifically because of a lack of legitimate offensive hubs and we know Hayward loves playing slow (as per a quote from him in Boston).

The only disagreement I have is I think we'd absolutely be better with hayward. Ricky's freedom would be neutered a bit, but overall our offense would be much better and he was no slouch on defense. I think if you sub Hayward for Hood we are much better... maybe we would not have added Udoh though and he has become extremely important. Never thought I'd love his game as much as I do.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

This is of course all contingent on the Jazz having the relentless resolve to always D up, even when in the lead. Most teams don't do that, so let's hope the Jazz are special in this regard as well.

Oh of course, but our guys haven't quit under Quin... one of the best qualities of this team the last couple years is I know they won't quit when they are down they still fight.

 

[NUMBERICA]

The only disagreement I have is I think we'd absolutely be better with hayward. Ricky's freedom would be neutered a bit, but overall our offense would be much better and he was no slouch on defense. I think if you sub Hayward for Hood we are much better... maybe we would not have added Udoh though and he has become extremely important. Never thought I'd love his game as much as I do.

I'm not saying the Jazz are necessarily better without Hayward, but the current style of play wouldn't be happening both with pace and the urgency of D-ing up so hard for every single possession.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Oh of course, but our guys haven't quit under Quin... one of the best qualities of this team the last couple years is I know they won't quit when they are down they still fight.

Sure. But coming from behind isn't the same thing as maintaining or growing a lead (especially with defense and grit).

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I'm not saying the Jazz are necessarily better without Hayward, but the current style of play wouldn't be happening both with pace and the urgency of D-ing up so hard for every single possession.

I think the Jazz would be playing at a similar pace if Hayward had stayed. I think a primary reason they played so slow w/ Hayward was because of the burden he had on himself in creating half-court offense, especially when Hill went out. With Rubio he would be set-up more in the half-court and have the ball less.

 

[fishonjazz]

Hard to not get beat up by a team who has the aussie mongrel

 

[NAOS]

I think you have to adjust how you watch this team play a little. We aren't playing basketball... we are boxing.

Looking at our first quarter offense and we are last in the league... second quarter we jump up a little... 3rd and 4th we are middle of the pack.

This is small sample size here, but what we are doing is using our stifling defense and motion offense as constant body blows... teams can take them for a quarter or two but then they start to crack and there is a point where the legs are wobbly and we hit them with a run. It likely doesn't come as an offensive explosion, but a scoring drought for the other team.

I'm now watching first quarters and not caring as much about the score... I know our guys play hard all game and that we are setting teams up for the rope a dope.

I ****ing love boxing metaphors for every sport. And I think you're totally right, btw.

Soccer fans know how to get excited about a fast break down the sideline that DOESN'T produce a goal. They know that such a thing tires the other team out, and might be a sign of good things to come later in the game. Americans don't think in those sporting terms nearly enough.

This is an excellent lens for analyzing the Jazz.

 

[NAOS]

HH bringing it, per usual.