Good News -- Another Year of AK47!
- Thread starter write4u
- Start date
Twin Towers
Well-Known Member
If we stay healthy I think we can be the 2nd best team in the west.
But that is just my opinion. It comes down to how we utilize Jefferson more than anything. Can he fit into the offense. I think worse case scenario is we struggle getting him into the flow the first month but I think he has a good attitude and I think Deron and him will eventually click. Even during that first month Millsap can pick up some of the scoring slack. I see us being more consistent on the road. On the road usually we relied on Boozer too much on offense. Having Millsap and Jefferson will help us if one of them isn't playing well on offense.
Bell will fit in perfectly. No transition.
Hayward: Won't play enough to make or break us. But he is a smart player and I think he is more versatile than Korver. He will get more open shots and shoot a good 3 point percentage.
Evans: He won't even play. More of a prospect.
Earl Watson: Huge upgrade in my opinion. He won't do anything amazing but he will be solid.
Elson: I don't know enough about him but with his length and athleticism I think he will help against the bigger teams. I like Elson playing back up PF with the bigger PF's and AK against the smaller.
Fesenko: Hopefully the weight loss will help him a lot. I think it will.
For Hayward a personal goal should be having a season which is ATLEAST as good as what Wes had last year. Not quite impossible. He is a lotto pick after all, not an undrafted rookie. If AK is required to handle some mins at PF as Sloan indicated, then there is plenty of mins available at the wings. I don't expect a 33-yr old Bell to hog all the playing time.
How far Miles and Hayward grow would be a big X-factor for the Jazz this season.
Stifle Tower
Punch Bowl Re-Filler
Agree. Don't forget, though, Wesley was a 4-yr player for Marquette. Hayward is only 20 yrs. old. So Matthews was a lot more mature as a player and person than Gordon. However, there's a reason Flash was picked #9; he's got a ton of potential (and he's 6'9"). Gordon will be able to contribute right away offensively, but he's going to get abused at times on the other end. I hope Sloan can give him 10-15 mins early on, especially while AK is getting some of his minutes at PF.
I think the other rookies, Evans and Thompson, may also develop into nice role players for the Jazz.
And I agree re: Miles. We know Jefferson is going to have a great year. He can put up 20/10 with scrub PG's. Millsap will get at least 15/10 just on the basis of playing 30+ mins. CJ - he is our new "X" factor. If he's improved his mid-range game, if he can learn some "D" from Raja - that will be huge.
When has KOC ever said he "guaranteed" AK would be with the team?
GVC
Well-Known Member
Boy has he grown a lot since the draft.
GVC
Well-Known Member
You're just an immature hater. I'm telling on you. Homophobe.
Knock it off. I'm stepping up my maturity level so I don't lose my moderator gig.
Stifle Tower
Punch Bowl Re-Filler
Typo. 6'8" with shoes. What I was trying to point out is that Gordon was drafted #9 because he's a tall wing who many feel may be able to play SG and had only 2 years at college. After 4 years, you figure a guy like Wesley would be pretty much at his peak (or so everyone thought). Hayward still has a lot of potential and needs to grow into his body, just like CJ has done.
In fact, I think Hayward and CJ have similar potentials. Gordon has better ball-handling skills and is a better rebounder; CJ is more athletic. But it may be a tos-up in terms of shooting ability. CJ has been a fantastic practice player for the last several years. IF he can translate that into actual games - and he started to do it the last couple of years before having the injury and setback last season - he can be deadly.