10/9 Practice Notes

[BabyPeterzz]

https://1320kfan.com/index.php/story/read/10_09_utah_jazz_practice_notes

* Jerry Sloan said today that he will be altering his line-ups for the next two games. He seems more interested in who he has to come off the bench than he does to who is starting. If you look through his history he started Blue Edwards while brining a 31 year old Darrell Griffith off the bench. He started David Benoit while brining a 32 year old Tom Chambers off the bench and started a younger Bryon Russell while brining Chris Morris off the bench.

* Information Quote of the day from Sloan “Most generally speaking if we have someone who can stop people they are going get a chance first, guys that give us an ability to defend . That is not in cut in stone either, a lot of it has to do with what your team is.

* Jerry also talked about how as the pre-season goes on that the new players become more comfortable and then we can really see how they play. I would share as someone who went through a rookie year of some sorts last year that I never felt comfortable about how we did things, etc and I am sure those guys feel that way all season with more intensity.

* “Guys are trying to figure out where the building is, I have always felt is important for guys make them comfortable so they know where the training room is, as corny as that sounds, you go into a building and don’t where the bathroom is it is kind of frightening, moreso when you get older.”

* Al Jefferson and Francisco Elson didn’t practice today. Jefferson had stomach issues and will be travelling with the team. Elson’s hamstring is still an issue, he will travel with the team.

* Talked with Gordon and Jeremy about how they felt after the pre-season game. Both shared they were as sore if not more sore than a college game even though it was just pre-season. Evans pointed out he is battling bigger guys and Hayward pointed out he is getting run off picks all game.

* Hayward said he really had never had to follow a guy the way he did with Fernandez. Butler played a lot of zone and Hayward was on the bottom of the 2-3 and usually ended up sliding over guarding centers and physically battling centers. Now in the NBA he is running baseline to baseline trying to trail the shooter. Raja Bell was giving him tips during the exhibition games.

* Interesting comment from Jerry today, “People talk about playing in this league their whole life and then they get here and realize it is hard work. Then you find out who withstand the work that is involved to make yourself better everyday. Not a lot of people can. We have had very few guys who worked their cans off and couldn’t get figured out, maybe 1 or 2.”

* Think about that for a moment – in 20 plus years of guys that have run through the Jazz organization and he only can think of 1 or 2 guys who worked hard who didn’t figure it out. Might be why all he wants is effort.

* Sloan complemented the guys that were here this summer, Hayward, Evans and Nichols. Worth noting that Ryan Thompson was not here this summer and that is making camp much difficult for him

* From around the league, Al Harrington has an MRI today on plantar and only played 1:18 last night. The Nuggets already are without Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen for the beginning of the season. But as one Jazz coach said to me today, “They still have 15”

* Congrats to George Karl who coached last night for the Nuggets. Opening night is going to be very emotional in Denver. Karl did bring two right shoes to the game last night and have to wear someone elses shoes. He also joked he only has 1 suit that fits right now and is not sure he can muster wearing it every night.

 

[Gameface]

"...you go into a building and don’t where the bathroom is it is kind of frightening, moreso when you get older.”

Thanks Sloan

 

[Stifle Tower]

Well, with the number of players who have missed practice with "gastric distress," I imagine not knowing where the bathroom is would be a problem.

 

[chemdude1232]

That first bullet point is interesting. I wonder if that will equate to Sloan bringing Raja off the bench and having one of the young(er) guns start.

 

[Stifle Tower]

That first bullet point is interesting. I wonder if that will equate to Sloan bringing Raja off the bench and having one of the young(er) guns start.

Nope. I think Jerry really wants to establish a defensive tone. Sloan will want Raja to match up against the Roys and Kobes of the WC, try to slow them down a bit so they don't get in a rhythm right away. I think he MIGHT consider starting Hayward and then bringing AK and CJ off the bench. Highly unlikely, but he could also ask Millsap to come off the bench and start AK at PF. One advantage to starting a young guy is he won't demand touches. AK and CJ could then anchor the second unit and be the main scorers.

Also, I think the starters vs. 2nd unit problem is overstated. Once the starters are playing 30-35 mins, there won't be a time you bench all 5 and bring in 5 subs. The subs played about 130 mins against Portland vs. 110 mins for the starters. In a regular season game, the back ups will play around 70-80 mins.

IMO, why mess with success? Start Deron, Raja, AK, Millsap and Jefferson.
At SF, I'd play AK 6-8 mins and then sub in Hayward. That way Gordon is playing primarily with the starters. AK then comes back in the 2nd/4th to replace Millsap at PF and slides back over to finish up at SF.

Until Big Al gets in shape, he should probably play no more than 8 mins in a stretch. I'd probably do the same with Raja. Let him go 8 mins and then bring in CJ off the bench.

Deron and Millsap each play the entire 1st/3rd, then sit during the quarter break and for about half the 2nd/4th quarters, depending on how the game is going.