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Good article on the Jazz

Beantown

Beantown

Well-Known Member
Never was a huge Graham fan but thought it was a good article.

SALT LAKE CITY — Just over three weeks ago the Utah Jazz posted an impressive 115-101 home win over Golden State. The victory put the Jazz just percentage points behind the Warriors for sixth place in the Western Conference playoffs race. Spirits around the organization and fan base were high. Some even thought this Jazz team could eventually move up into the fifth spot, giving the franchise an even better shot to possibly win at least one playoff series.

Two days later, management decided to keep the team together by not sending away either Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap at the trade deadline. As Jazz General Manager Dennis Lindsey justified, “I’ve inherited a really good group of players and coaches — players that have been unselfish, that have come together, that deserve, at some level, the ability to compete for the rest of the year.”

Now fast forward to Wednesday night in Oklahoma City. Against the third-best team in the league, the Jazz looked scared — a team lacking in confidence and motivation. The Jazz played selfish basketball, and honestly, they looked done. Not for just that night, but the rest of the season.


Now the Jazz find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture looking in, a half-game behind the hated Los Angeles Lakers. Funny thing is, the Jazz actually won the season series against the Lakers for the first time in eight years. So since that big Golden State victory, the Jazz have lost eight of 10 games.

Clearly the pressure is now mounting, particularly on coach Ty Corbin, who lashed out Monday at those criticizing his team.

“I tell the guys, 'You can listen to criticism, but most of the people that's criticizing don't have an idea of what you're going through. They probably haven't ever (done) anything at this level in their life. They can talk. Talk is cheap. We've got to go out and do what we've got to do.' "

So exactly what is it the Jazz are trying to do? Play awful defense? Not share the basketball? Not play the best players? Hold back the youth movement?

I know I haven’t played in the NBA — unfortunately, my 5-foot-9 frame held me back from that dream — but I think I’ve watched enough basketball to know when a team is in a downward spiral.


So what has happened? In my humble “non-NBA” playing opinion, the Jazz overestimated how good they truly were. They made their move up the standings during the soft part of their schedule. That changed recently when the team toughened up after more games on the road, particularly against winning teams. After the OKC loss, the Jazz are now just 2-17 against teams with winning records on the road.

In addition, you almost sense there was a letdown from Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap when they weren’t traded at the deadline. They both recently sat from injuries, which is a rare occurrence, at least from Millsap. Think about it: What incentive do they truly have to play nicked up? For those two, along with the other six unrestricted free agents after this season, it doesn’t make sense to go in and possibly struggle. That only hurts the stat line that they need to assist in their next deal.

However, the injuries did force Corbin to finally play his younger players — something that many “non-NBA” people, including myself, have called for all season long. And what happened? They all showed, particularly Enes Kanter, that they are NBA ready and deserve further playing time. But then the veterans return and the younger players go back to playing fewer minutes.

It’s easy to put all the blame on the coach. And yes, he deserves the criticism, whether he likes it or not — particularly when things go south. But he was also put in position by management to basically accomplish the impossible: win, make the playoffs and develop the younger players. Yes, the Jazz wanted it all.

Now it’s possible the Jazz will accomplish nothing — no winning season, no playoffs and not fully taking advantage of developing the youth. In other words, a complete waste of a season.

“I tell our guys, 'A lot of people, they're going to pile on,' ” said Corbin. That's what they do. That's what sells. We have to make sure (we remember) who we are, what's at hand and play our game."

Not piling on, coach. Just telling it the way it is
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I'll take Corbin's disrespectful and whiny "you don't know how hard it is to be me" attitude over his typical apathetic interactions with the media. At least the drama directs people's attention to just how bad he is as a coach.

Good luck in your HS coaching career Mr. Corbin. You gave the NBA your best shot, and you simply don't have what it takes to succeed at this level. It is time to move on.
 
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SiroMar said:
I'll take Corbin's disrespectful and whiny "you don't know how hard it is to be me" attitude over his typical apathetic interactions with the media. At least the drama directs people's attention to just how bad he is as a coach.

Good luck in your HS coaching career Mr. Corbin. You gave the NBA your best shot, and you simply don't have what it takes to succeed at this level. It is time to move on.
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Can he take Big Al with him back to the HS level? I think that Al might succeed at that level, at least I would hope so.
 
It would have been a good article had the author noticed the youth movement started the game after the trade deadline.
 
what is it going to take to get ty gone? i am sorry but those comments irritate me. i am the fan i pay his salary
 
So.. it seems to be the case that Jefferson & Millsap are sulking after the trade deadline for not being traded.

Wow.. can't believe FO can get this so wrong. Shouldn't they have a pulse on whether or not these 2 guys would want to be traded? I guess they don't..

Now we're stuck with an un-motivated Jefferson. Now, that's bad.
 
I can't comprehend why would either Millsap or Jefferson wanted out. They get minutes anyway and team was a solid playoff candidate where they can showcase themselves and up or maintain their value. They are at the end of the contract. Only because of Bird rights and extra year? We still can S&T them. I don't get it.
 
zbone said:
I can't comprehend why would either Millsap or Jefferson wanted out. They get minutes anyway and team was a solid playoff candidate where they can showcase themselves and up or maintain their value. They are at the end of the contract. Only because of Bird rights and extra year? We still can S&T them. I don't get it.
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Yeah but a trade GUARANTEES that the team who traded for them would extend them to a max. contract.

Now they have to go into free agency & wait it out.

Like if I give you $100 now, would you take it? Or wait 6 months for it?
 
Hotttnickkk said:
Yeah but a trade GUARANTEES that the team who traded for them would extend them to a max. contract.

Now they have to go into free agency & wait it out.

Like if I give you $100 now, would you take it? Or wait 6 months for it?
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Note necessarily. The trading team could dump a bad contract with an asset for a relief and let them go in 6 months and bench/make them suck the rest of the season.
 
zbone said:
Note necessarily. The trading team could dump a bad contract with an asset for a relief and let them go in 6 months and bench/make them suck the rest of the season.
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Well if a trade does go down, i.e., the Bledsoe for Millsap trade, then it will be because the Jazz is getting something back for Millsap without taking back a bad contract. Meaning the team trading FOR Millsap would want him long term.

Otherwise there'll be no trade, and we're back to square 1.

My point being, he's not happy right now that no team is willing to trade an asset to get him.
 
Getting a pulse on how the vets felt about being traded or a trade in general was two questions away. Failure.
 
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