Insights and what we can take away from the preseason ..
- Thread starter Douchebag K
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fishonjazz
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I think Royce is elite defensively.
Royce started in the pre season.
So I think we have one Chris Paul (cp3 was an excellent defender btw), Donovan Mitchell, 2 elite defenders (Royce and Rudy) and bogdonivich.
Chris Paul was all NBA defensive team 9 times. 7 times first team and 2 times second team.
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Handlogten's Heros
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He has worked hard on his body, but I’m not sure how teachable he is... the quotes from local guys like Larsen seem to indicate he’s somewhat clueless. There was a thing on media day where DL said ask him about pick and roll defense... they did and he had no idea what/why they were asking. Larsen has said other things that just led me to believe he is a little lacking in self awareness.
while he is young he doesn’t project as a good athlete so there is some limited upside... he also projects as a complete non-shooter... so he’s just a low upside project. Always has been in my opinion. I’m glad he may realize his potential... I just don’t see that as being super valuable. His upper limit to me is like a Cody Zeller type... just really meh and I’m not sure he gets there. If you invest a pick and 3-4 years in development time you want a bigger payoff.
I will say this... he had looked much better. He’s done some good things and his body improvements should be commended. I’m going to try and not crap on the guy because of where the front office took him.
LOL, Chris Paul is excellent defender, but size is important. That is my point. You can't have 5 players undersized to have a great defensive team. You just can't. So my though experiment is how far can you push a team with great defenders that are undersized. My answer is 3 players can be undersized if you have two elite defenders at the other positions. But most likely you would need one elite defender, one great defender, and one average defender who has no size issues or athleticism or other weaknesses.
fishonjazz
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Well on the jazz starting lineup with Royce you would have 3 undersized players (which is ok in your range of acceptability) with Rudy being an elite defender, Royce also elite or great, Donovan being better than average and bogdonivich would actually be bigger than most small forwards and has good athleticism.
The starting lineup with green only has 2 undersized players.
I think even by your criteria we should be fine defensively.
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carolinajazz
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Well, I expect the Jazz to be competitive from the get-go this year! With the additions we made, we should be in EVERY game!
fishonjazz
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I agree.
We get okc at home for the opener and that's a win.
Then the Lakers in LA which will be tough but I heard AD is hurt and they will be integrating new guys. I say that's a win.
Then we got the Kings at home and I think they are very good but I still think that's a win.
Then the suns on the road who will be improved but I still think that's a win
Then the clippers at home without PG13 and I think that's a win
Then the clippers and Kings both on the road. I figure we lose one or both of them.
Then 76ers and bucks both at home. I figure we split those 2.
Then the warriors in GS. I think we lose that.
Very challenging opening 10 games. I have us 7-3 or 6-4 after 10 very tough games.
It doesn't get much easier for a while after that but eventually we get some games against the Hawks, hornets, magic, heat, pistons (damn it would be nice to be in the East). And we should beat the grizzlies, and pelicans too.
I think the jazz end up with a top 3 seed in the West.
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Kyoto
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Lol, most people on this board wrote him off after summer league last year. Now, if you read the "pre-season reviews" people have, people now can see him as being a player.
I'm just saying, this isnt the first time I was right when the board was wrong, just the most recent example.
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Dali
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We also have another elite defensive perimeter guy to throw in the mix, who is tall. I just wish he would bloody stay healthy.
Royce's and Dante's defensive ratings numbers over their careers is like reading a good short story book
Bawse Dawg
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Can someone tell me the personnel change that took us from a consistent top 5 defense, to the bottom half of the league, as this board (and Locke) seem to think?
-Favors, Ricky, Crowder, Korver, Sefolosha, Udoh, Allen
+Conley, Bojan, Green, Davis, Mudiay, Bradley
You change that many people and it takes time to learn the system and work together and be on the same page defensively.
Have you been off the grid or something? Welcome back.
Bawse Dawg
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The net difference here is minimal. Unless Gobert takes a big step back, or it was really Favors who should’ve been winning all those DPOY awards. I think we’ll be more or less the same. Maybe just playing with less urgency on that end. Since our offense will be putting up points more easily.
We should be close to the same, but it will take time to get there with all these changes, so over the course of the season the numbers will probably look worse. Don’t panic.
Definitely not an elite defender. He's not in the Roberson/Kawhi/Covington tier.
Top 15 wing defender?