Big Al on Millsap

[sepanol]

What can Paul Pierce do defensively that Millsap won't be able to?

Pierce is much more fluid with the ball on his hands than millsap, i am a great fan of sap but he just sucks in SF. We will probably see it this year, because last year, the games that had no competency in the late season fooled us and made us think he can, but indeed he can't play SF at all. I would understand he get benched and Favors starts, but not that he is the starting SF in this team.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Pierce is much more fluid with the ball on his hands than millsap, i am a great fan of sap but he just sucks in SF. We will probably see it this year, because last year, the games that had no competency in the late season fooled us and made us think he can, but indeed he can't play SF at all. I would understand he get benched and Favors starts, but not that he is the starting SF in this team.

What part of "defensively" did you not understand?

And who gave you the crystal ball? If players can't grow, then Kanter isn't going to do a thing in the NBA.

 

[sepanol]

What part of "defensively" did you not understand?

And who gave you the crystal ball? If players can't grow, then Kanter isn't going to do a thing in the NBA.

They can grow in their position, not every player has the ability to grow in other positions, millsap is barely a starter at PF and definitely not a starter at SF

 

[InGameStrategy]

Pierce is much more fluid with the ball on his hands than millsap, i am a great fan of sap but he just sucks in SF. We will probably see it this year, because last year, the games that had no competency in the late season fooled us and made us think he can, but indeed he can't play SF at all.

Yours is the same errant thinking that permeated the Jazz coaching staff under Sloan's out-of-his-azz regime, when many players in crucial positions were not given enough playing time to demonstrate whether they could play a position or not.

In this case, you are writing off the potential of a veteran player (as opposed to usually a youngin' that Sloan underdeveloped) with historically huge self motivation and a history of already improving substantially in keys areas such as shooting. And although I wasn't able to easily sample how much time the Paperboy actually played SF (given that the NBA game logs appear to be disabled), 82 games pegs his PT at SF at a mere 2%.
https://www.82games.com/1011/10UTA11.HTM#bypos

Which would put his SF slate last year at--wait for it--around (2% * 82 games * 48 minutes =) 78 minutes.

He wasn't doing great (82games puts his per-48 +/- at about -5, which was six points below his PF performance), but in Millsap's case, the huge upside in the versatility of playing PM at the 3 is worth the investment if he doesn't cause the Jazz to lose a lot of games in the meantime.

Because a frontcourt with a Jefferson who actually defends, a Favors who can actually post (which also will likely improve with more on-court time), and a Millsap (or Hayward or CJ) who can hold his own at the 3 is quite formidable.

As has mentioned before, using Millsap at SF in special situations (e.g., wearing down World Metta Peace) is worth investigating anyway.

 

[Deleted member 848]

They can grow in their position, not every player has the ability to grow in other positions, millsap is barely a starter at PF and definitely not a starter at SF

Barely a starter?? lol.

and PS I thought Kanter's "position" was PF going into the draft, yet the Jazz are planning on playing him as a center. Weird, huh? I goes he's gonna have to have the ability to grow into another position.

And if there is anything that all of us Jazz fans should have learned over the last 5 years, its to never doubt Millsap's motivation to improve his shape into what is most suitable for its team. I myself see him as a 6th man down the road, but there is no reason why he can't hold his own at SF over the next few years, if he puts in the work.

 

[sepanol]

Yours is the same errant thinking that permeated the Jazz coaching staff under Sloan's out-of-his-azz regime, when many players in crucial positions were not given enough playing time to demonstrate whether they could play a position or not.

In this case, you are writing off the potential of a veteran player (as opposed to usually a youngin' that Sloan underdeveloped) with historically huge self motivation and a history of already improving substantially in keys areas such as shooting. And although I wasn't able to easily sample how much time the Paperboy actually played SF (given that the NBA game logs appear to be disabled), 82 games pegs his PT at SF at a mere 2%.
https://www.82games.com/1011/10UTA11.HTM#bypos

Which would put his SF slate last year at--wait for it--around (2% * 82 games * 48 minutes =) 78 minutes.

He wasn't doing great (82games puts his per-48 +/- at about -5, which was six points below his PF performance), but in Millsap's case, the huge upside in the versatility of playing PM at the 3 is worth the investment if he doesn't cause the Jazz to lose a lot of games in the meantime.

Because a frontcourt with a Jefferson who actually defends, a Favors who can actually post (which also will likely improve with more on-court time), and a Millsap (or Hayward or CJ) who can hold his own at the 3 is quite formidable.

As has mentioned before, using Millsap at SF in special situations (e.g., wearing down World Metta Peace) is worth investigating anyway.

I didn't claim every player should stuck to their position and guard the players in their position, like Korver did Kobe, i said not everyone can grow in different positions, so it is not same thinking at all.

I have seen Millsap play in that position, i don't need to be a magician to see that he can't play there. No need for investigation, what makes Millsap so good is his plays close to the rim, his finishes, his offensive rebounding and else, his plays far from rim is just the side part of his game, not the main part. In SF he will be forced to play things he doesn't mainly do well but he does ok time to time. Like launching some 3 when he is empty, but he can't do this consistently.

Btw, a front court with Jefferson who actually defends part doesn't seem realistic to me. If Favors will start, Millsap can come off the bench and take some mins from them. But its nonsense to start him at SF because we are overloaded in big men rotation. Then lets play Memo at 2, since he won't find playing time behind them.

If Kirilenko returns, we won't find time for him neither so lets play him 1. He did like for 5-6 mins in some game, i remember.
A line up with AK-Memo-Millsap-Favors-Jefferson would be sooo good, no one can beat us, no one can grab rebounds.

 

[sepanol]

Barely a starter?? lol.

and PS I thought Kanter's "position" was PF going into the draft, yet the Jazz are planning on playing him as a center. Weird, huh? I goes he's gonna have to have the ability to grow into another position.

And if there is anything that all of us Jazz fans should have learned over the last 5 years, its to never doubt Millsap's motivation to improve his shape into what is most suitable for its team. I myself see him as a 6th man down the road, but there is no reason why he can't hold his own at SF over the next few years, if he puts in the work.

I see him as a 6th man too thats why i told he is a barely starter in PF. Maybe i use the wrong wording there. It is different to hold his own and be actually effective. If we are gonna play sap as 3, lets better trade him, that doesn't make sense. Because he is not gonna be able to use any of his skills in that position at all.

Everyone called me Big Al hater and Kanter homer when i was talking about trading him, but apparently it will make everyones duties much more clear.

 

[NotDeadYet]

According to the OP link, Millsap is already working on his 3-point shot this off-season. I'm sure "can't" is Millsap's favorite word; wouldn't bet against him...

 

[NotDeadYet]

I expect Millsap to log significant minutes at both SF and PF. If Favors can handle a starting role, Millsap would likely be his primary b/u. Whether Millsap or CJ start at SF doesn't matter to me. Evans and Hayward will likely play some SF too. Now if AK returns, it'll get interesting...

 

[billyshelby]

I don't think Sap's role is going to change until external forces change it -- Favors needing minutes, wing suckitude. But I'm all in favor of Sap's conversion if he can do it. My concerns:

Offense -- I have a hard time believing Sap is going to be an effective shooter off running screens. He also can't drive and thus the P&R is a dead issue with him. The plusses are his ability to post. But we've never posted a 3. If Sap is going to play the 3, Ty has to find a way to use his physicality. The one Pierce comparison that is totally genuine is Sap has a very underrated step back jumper. Pierce kills with this. Sap could, too.

Defense -- It's all about defending drivers. If I'm the opposing coach, I'm driving on Sap relentlessly. As another problem, Sap's not quick. So his rotations out to the perimeter could be ugly. The plusses are I like Sap crashing the boards at the position. But he's going to lose a lot of rebounding opportunities.

 

[sepanol]

I don't think Sap's role is going to change until external forces change it -- Favors needing minutes, wing suckitude. But I'm all in favor of Sap's conversion if he can do it. My concerns:

Offense -- I have a hard time believing Sap is going to be an effective shooter off running screens. He also can't drive and thus the P&R is a dead issue with him. The plusses are his ability to post. But we've never posted a 3. If Sap is going to play the 3, Ty has to find a way to use his physicality. The one Pierce comparison that is totally genuine is Sap has a very underrated step back jumper. Pierce kills with this. Sap could, too.

Defense -- It's all about defending drivers. If I'm the opposing coach, I'm driving on Sap relentlessly. As another problem, Sap's not quick. So his rotations out to the perimeter could be ugly. The plusses are I like Sap crashing the boards at the position. But he's going to lose a lot of rebounding opportunities.

The thing is, at that position, millsap won't be able to do half of the things he do very well in 4. And Pierce comparison doesn't make sense, Pierce is a very fluid player, he has very good dribbling ball handling skills, millsap doesn't at all. Just because their bodies are alike doesn't make their game similar.

I believe, in current situation he will get some mins at 3, he may even start at 3 time to time, but i think it will be a failing experiment.

 

[billyshelby]

The thing is, at that position, millsap won't be able to do half of the things he do very well in 4. And Pierce comparison doesn't make sense, Pierce is a very fluid player, he has very good dribbling ball handling skills, millsap doesn't at all. Just because their bodies are alike doesn't make their game similar.

I believe, in current situation he will get some mins at 3, he may even start at 3 time to time, but i think it will be a failing experiment.

I said "the one" Pierce comparison. They both have excellent step backs. There's no question Pierce is better at everything else.