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How come AK isn't given any slack?

O

oldtimer

Well-Known Member
AK has played great this year. Great, and yet he has two "bad games" and I have to read new threads about trading AK for trash, and how its time to go, or he should re-sign next year for 3 to 4 million. Good grief. In the game he shot 1-10 he still played terrific defense. Next game Lebron goes off and people go crazy saying James was sagging off AK and daring him to shot. James is one of the best players to ever play the game and I've seen him go off many many times.

The truth is AK is overpaid. So what, there is nothing that can be done about that, but why all the hate. If you ignore what he makes and judge him solely by how he has played this year you have to conclude he has been fantastic. Yes he's had a couple of bad games, so has Deron. Give the guy a break.
 
oldtimer said:
AK has played great this year. Great, and yet he has two "bad games" and I have to read new threads about trading AK for trash, and how its time to go, or he should re-sign next year for 3 to 4 million. Good grief. In the game he shot 1-10 he still played terrific defense. Next game Lebron goes off and people go crazy saying James was sagging off AK and daring him to shot. James is one of the best players to ever play the game and I've seen him go off many many times.

The truth is AK is overpaid. So what, there is nothing that can be done about that, but why all the hate. If you ignore what he makes and judge him solely by how he has played this year you have to conclude he has been fantastic. Yes he's had a couple of bad games, so has Deron. Give the guy a break.
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What in the hell are you talking about? He's overpaid, horribly inconsistent, and has absolutely no heart. For all the bull that Boozer got/gets around here, AK should be getting twice as much. At least Boozer produced.
 
oldtimer said:
AK has played great this year. Great, and yet he has two "bad games" and I have to read new threads about trading AK for trash, and how its time to go, or he should re-sign next year for 3 to 4 million. Good grief. In the game he shot 1-10 he still played terrific defense. Next game Lebron goes off and people go crazy saying James was sagging off AK and daring him to shot. James is one of the best players to ever play the game and I've seen him go off many many times.

The truth is AK is overpaid. So what, there is nothing that can be done about that, but why all the hate. If you ignore what he makes and judge him solely by how he has played this year you have to conclude he has been fantastic. Yes he's had a couple of bad games, so has Deron. Give the guy a break.
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That's why nobody makes these threads the people that complain will just come in and muck up the thread making it a pointless to have a logical discussion.... irregardless.

But I agree with you, he has played well this season a bit inconsistent offensively (but the whole team has for the most part) but other then the Cavs game I have thought his season is going well.
 
He cried in public. That's makes him less of a man, and a fair target, to many posters, from what I can tell.
 
oldtimer said:
AK has played great this year. Great, and yet he has two "bad games"
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You and I must have different definitions of "great." To me, Deron Williams is the only Jazz player to have "played great" on a consistent basis this year.

It's not that I'm expecting him to play like a $17 million dollar player. I'm expecting him to play like a 10-year vet and quite often he plays too soft, too erratic, and too inconsistent. I expect him to go strong to the hoop - not flail away for over-the-head shots or attempt crazy passes at the rim. I expect him to execute our offense - which was the real problem with his play during the Miami game. And I expect him to play some semblance of fundlemental defense. Trying to steal the ball from LeBron isn't fundlemental defense. CJ played LeBron so much better than AK because CJ went under screens and forced LeBron to be a jump-shooter. AK sees a high-screen coming and runs right into it - giving LeBron a layup or Big Z a wide-open jumper off help. AK has all the tools to be the great role player we need - but his mental mistakes and inconsistency are often momentum killers.

Also, he's shooting 42% on 3's - which will likely drop but I'm fine with him shooting open 3's, or even 16-footers like he did in the 2nd-half against Orlando, but when he takes 20-22-footers (long 2's are the worst percentage shot in the NBA) is when he really drives you crazy.
 
vslice02 said:
You and I must have different definitions of "great." To me, Deron Williams is the only Jazz player to have "played great" on a consistent basis this year.

It's not that I'm expecting him to play like a $17 million dollar player. I'm expecting him to play like a 10-year vet and quite often he plays too soft, too erratic, and too inconsistent. I expect him to go strong to the hoop - not flail away for over-the-head shots or attempt crazy passes at the rim. I expect him to execute our offense - which was the real problem with his play during the Miami game. And I expect him to play some semblance of fundlemental defense. Trying to steal the ball from LeBron isn't fundlemental defense. CJ played LeBron so much better than AK because CJ went under screens and forced LeBron to be a jump-shooter. AK sees a high-screen coming and runs right into it - giving LeBron a layup or Big Z a wide-open jumper off help. AK has all the tools to be the great role player we need - but his mental mistakes and inconsistency are often momentum killers.

Also, he's shooting 42% on 3's - which will likely drop but I'm fine with him shooting open 3's, or even 16-footers like he did in the 2nd-half against Orlando, but when he takes 20-22-footers (long 2's are the worst percentage shot in the NBA) is when he really drives you crazy.
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I don't disagree with you that he played like crap all around on the Cavs game but just wanted to point out Lebron first 2 shots where contested jumpers and Harp even commented that and said great offense sometimes beats good defense. Again after that however AK was pretty horrible for the game.
 
One Brow said:
He cried in public. That's makes him less of a man, and a fair target, to many posters, from what I can tell.
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You're an idiot. You should probably stick to the General Forum. You and Hopper were made for each other.
 
TICC said:
You're an idiot. You should probably stick to the General Forum. You and Hopper were made for each other.
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Did I hurt you, pwecious?

Seriously, it's true that Kirilenko's overpaid, and his shot is inconsistent. He's also the most (fairly even wil Millsap and Bell) consistent defender we have: he goes over screens as he is supposed to (vslice2 wants to give James open jumpers, and you're calling me the idiot?), helps regularly and still gets back to his man, and is a threat as a weak-side blocker. He runs the offense whether his shot is falling or not, set solid screens, and has great passing. The past three years, at least, he has been showing improvement in his game every year.

I'm not the most knowledgeable basketball person, but I can see all that happening. I have no explanation for why someone else can't, expet for reasons that have nothing to do with basketball (such as i mentioned above).
 
Oh also to note (all though this will probably be perceived more of a negative) during the Heat game and currently he is playing with a slightly strained quad, trying to find a link but it was mentioned in the pregame last night.
 
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One Brow said:
he goes over screens as he is supposed to (vslice2 wants to give James open jumpers, and you're calling me the idiot?),
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When you get screened, you have to guard against the bigger threat. You think the bigger threat is Lebron James' formidable long-2, not his Malone-power and Stockton speed in the lane?

Yeah, he's calling you the idiot.
 
I think there's no doubt that AK has lost some of his quickness and lift, but one thing about him that has changed is that when his offense is off, he's still in the game doing other things to help the team. In the past if he wasn't scoring his whole game fell apart. Sometimes, I do think though he gives up on plays still, which he never did early in his career.
 
I think AK has been given plenty of slack... Millions of slack if you know what I mean...

I wish I could have been a pro basketball player.
 
//r00t 4 Jazz said:
That's why nobody makes these threads the people that complain will just come in and muck up the thread making it a pointless to have a logical discussion.... irregardless.

But I agree with you, he has played well this season a bit inconsistent offensively (but the whole team has for the most part) but other then the Cavs game I have thought his season is going well.
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*regardless
 
AK's play has not been great this year. He is losing his athleticism and is no longer the defender he once was. His three point shot is falling, so far, but his inside scoring has fallen off a cliff. He no longer gets any alley oops or tip-ins like he use to. He has stayed healthy, that might be the best thing you can say for him this year.

I hate to see people discredit themselves by saying he played good D on Lebron. Lebron embarrassed him, elbowing him and pushing him around like he was a wet noodle. AK did not even foul him...he was scared or just gave up. Not sure which one.
 
I guess I just flat out disagree with everyone. I've watched every game and I think he has been terrific. Not just his three point shooting. His defense is awesome (and I think he is trying to stay in front of his man more and not go for every block), his hustle has been awesome. His assists are still high. What can I say I just like the way the guy plays.

Some people may think he is a bust because he is not scoring 20 or more a game, but that is not his role. Understand that AK could score more and leave his man and get more blocks and steals, like he used to do when he was young, but he has matured. AK plays his role and is GREAT at it.
 
r_u_s_t_b_u_c_k_e_t said:
if he keeps up this "great" play all year, he'll finish just ahead of his worst-ever season PER.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kirilan01.html
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Um, even Hollinger admits that PER is not a particularly effective measure of defense, which makes PER an especially suboptimal measure for Kirilenko.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Player_Efficiency_Rating#Problems_With_PER

Turnover percentage (TOs/100 plays) are up a bit, but still below (better than) his average.

Win shares per 48 minutes (% of wins attributable to AK) is down notably, but that may have to do in part to there being a better frontcourt overall.

Summary: As has been stated, there's no way that AK can play up to his salary, but he has been among the least of the Jazz's worries.

His own-vs.-opponent's production +/- is second only to D-Will's, and he leads the team by far in (lowest) opponent's production.
https://www.82games.com/1011/1011UTA.HTM
Sounds about right.
 
Jazz4ever said:
AK's play has not been great this year. He is losing his athleticism and is no longer the defender he once was. His three point shot is falling, so far, but his inside scoring has fallen off a cliff. He no longer gets any alley oops or tip-ins like he use to. He has stayed healthy, that might be the best thing you can say for him this year.

I hate to see people discredit themselves by saying he played good D on Lebron. Lebron embarrassed him, elbowing him and pushing him around like he was a wet noodle. AK did not even foul him...he was scared or just gave up. Not sure which one.
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this.
 
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