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Jazz practice notes-Sloan said Gaines had possibly his best practice ever Monday night

Purch

Purch

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Notes compiled during a media session prior to the Utah Jazz's Wednesday morning workout at the team's practice facility.

Earl Watson is very confident. Ronnie Price paid Watson respect, and said he is looking forward to soaking up the veteran's knowledge.

Watson and Deron Williams have already started talking about wins, an ideal record and the upcoming season. Setting goals and building a foundation.

Jerry Sloan casually tossed out several zingers. Sloan on Gordon Hayward's high basketball intelligence: "Always scares me when I read that; afraid they'll know more than I do."

Sloan said he will not make cuts until he has to. Kevin O'Connor normally dictates when that happens; Sloan prefers to wait.

Kyrylo Fesenko said being in shape and weighing in at a fit 285 pounds has already made a huge difference. He's also enjoying the camp's discipline.

Sloan said again that Jazz coaches have more teaching to do this year than during previous camps. The coaches have thrown a lot at new players during first two practices, but everything has been basic and fundamental.

Williams said he is in excellent physical and mental shape. Very focused and grounded.

Williams said nothing is close to being decided between Watson and Price for the backup point guard position. Sloan said the same. Williams added that Price is an excellent defender at the 2 if Watson wins the backup 1.

Sundiata Gaines, Jeremy Evans, Ryan Thompson and Demetris Nichols have made the best first impressions for Sloan. Worth noting they're all on the bubble, with Thompson likely in the lead.

Sloan said Gaines had possibly his best practice ever Monday night. Gaines was aggressive and intense, something Sloan has long requested.
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https://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogs/jazznotes/50379315-62/sloan-watson-williams-gaines.html.csp
 
Yeah, that was my feeling too. Make Yata feel good about getting cut. "You had some great workouts; your best. Another team will want you."
 
Sundiata Gaines, Jeremy Evans, Ryan Thompson and Demetris Nichols have made the best first impressions for Sloan. Worth noting they're all on the bubble, with Thompson likely in the lead.
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What the hell does that mean? Thompson is in the lead on the bubble? I assume it means Thompson is the favorite to make the team, just sounds weird.

Has it already been determined that only one of those guys is going to make it? Of course Jeffers would have to be included in that group too.
 
Duck Rodgers said:
What the hell does that mean? Thompson is in the lead on the bubble? I assume it means Thompson is the favorite to make the team, just sounds weird.

Has it already been determined that only one of those guys is going to make it? Of course Jeffers would have to be included in that group too.
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Not at all. Contracts aren't guaranteed until January, so the Jazz could very well keep 14 or 15 until then. As mentioned in another thread, the D-League works a bit differently this season as well. Up to 3 players can be CUT and then assigned to a team's D-League franchise (provided they are cut before the D-League draft). In other words, if Gaines, for example, gets cut and wants to sign a D-League contract, Utah could tell him he has to play for the Flash, regardless of whether he's on the 15-man roster or not.

As high as the Jazz are on Evans, he'll make the roster. I don't see the Jazz keeping 4 PG's, unless Gaines is VERY, VERY impressive. Then I guess they could say Ronnie is really a SG. If they keep 14, I think it comes down to Thompson or Jeffers. If the others decide to play in the D-League, then they could be assigned by the Jazz to the Flash.
 
Gaines is gone. He probably signs down in Orem since the Jazz would call on him first in the event of injury, but this camp is just so he can solidify his spot as the bullpen pickup. And if you add Evans to the roster, everybody else on the bubble is gone, too, including Jeffers. Evans makes 13. The one silver lining is I don't think contracts have to be guaranteed until like December. The Jazz could pay the pro-rated of Jeffers/Thompson/Nichols/whoever until that point and cut them. They wouldn't have to pay the LT on those guys if they do that so it's a possibility.
 
Thompson and Evans seem to have some nice upside. Whereas the other guys don't get me quite as geeked.

yeah - let's hope they impressive enough.
 
billyshelby said:
Gaines is gone. He probably signs down in Orem since the Jazz would call on him first in the event of injury, but this camp is just so he can solidify his spot as the bullpen pickup. And if you add Evans to the roster, everybody else on the bubble is gone, too, including Jeffers. Evans makes 13. The one silver lining is I don't think contracts have to be guaranteed until like December. The Jazz could pay the pro-rated of Jeffers/Thompson/Nichols/whoever until that point and cut them. They wouldn't have to pay the LT on those guys if they do that so it's a possibility.
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It's usually around the first week of January, I believe. Gotta think with the new rules that the Jazz cut Jeffers, Gaines and Nichols, but assign them to the Flash if they sign D-League contracts. With AK having to play some PF, I think the Jazz will keep an extra wing. IMO, Thompson has enough potential that he'd be picked up if waived. Jazz will make him their 14th player and then make a decision right before the deadline whether or not to guarantee his contract for the remainder of the season.
 
Non-guaranteed contracts become guaranteed for the rest of the season on January 10. Players have to be cut a couple of days before that so they clear waivers, though.
 
moevillini said:
a backhanded compliment if ever there was one
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Normally I'd agree. But Sloan has gone out of his way to compliment all the young guys thus far. Who knew Sloan had a soft side. Perhaps Jerry realizes the time is growing short and he needs to enjoy the ride. Or maybe with Deron and Raja taking charge, he just doesn't need to be quite as forceful. He has real team leaders in place.

I've been impressed by the way Deron has really stepped forward. I think there was always a reluctance with Boozer around. Carlos was always spouting off about "his guys" like he was the real leader. And I think Deron just humored him and tried not to rock the boat.
 
GlassEater said:
Normally I'd agree. But Sloan has gone out of his way to compliment all the young guys thus far. Who knew Sloan had a soft side. Perhaps Jerry realizes the time is growing short and he needs to enjoy the ride. Or maybe with Deron and Raja taking charge, he just doesn't need to be quite as forceful. He has real team leaders in place.

I've been impressed by the way Deron has really stepped forward. I think there was always a reluctance with Boozer around. Carlos was always spouting off about "his guys" like he was the real leader. And I think Deron just humored him and tried not to rock the boat.
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Note who he praised: the undrafted or the second rounders = the underdogs. Ole Jer has always like the underdogs. On the other hand, he has always felt he had to slap around the spoiled rotten first rounders like DWill. Notice he had no praise for Haywood?
 
According to KFan, Flash has been running in the starting lineup which means he could be a starter right out the gate (it actually makes some sense). If this is true, I think Jerry might be keeping praise for Flash on the low-down for a reason.
 
It adds up - the facebook Hayward said he was maybe starting at the 3 over AK. This damning circumstantial evidence finally proves that Elder Hayward has a potty mouth.
 
zman1527 said:
Note who he praised: the undrafted or the second rounders = the underdogs. Ole Jer has always like the underdogs. On the other hand, he has always felt he had to slap around the spoiled rotten first rounders like DWill. Notice he had no praise for Haywood?
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Have you officially flagged off the Sloan bitching campaign for this season? Is this it?
 
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