Why did the Kelly Tripucka experiment fail in Utah?

The Fresh Prince · Jul 20, 2022

It's a slow week, so this must be asked.

How the hell does a 20+ ppg scorer from a team that was a top contender in the East come to the Jazz to flop as hard as Kelly Tripucka did? Sloan didn't know how to use him?

Guy goes to put up 7 ppg for us, then goes to Charlotte dropping 22 ppg the year after.

Looks like Kelly could've been the piece that got us a ring if he was used better.

What a boss.

PresidioTrojan · Jul 20, 2022

Gonna be honest, literally never heard of this guy.

The Fresh Prince · Jul 20, 2022

PresidioTrojan said:
Gonna be honest, literally never heard of this guy.

He looked like a mix of Prince, young Ron Jeremy and Napoleon Dynamite. He could light up the scoreboard in Detroit. Came to Utah in the late 80's and didn't mesh well in Sloan's system at all.

David Hume · Jul 20, 2022

He wasn’t a very good defender if I remember correctly. Came in after the Dantley/Frank Layden clashes. Jazz were interested in developing Malone.

NUMBERICA · Jul 20, 2022

Layden. They didn’t get along.

My2Cents · Jul 20, 2022

As I recall he was miserable in Utah. Didn't want to play there and was angry about the trade.

infection · Jul 20, 2022

Someone posted here about him a couple years ago. I think @JimLes if you run a search. Said he was an empty calories guy.

Bodhi · Jul 20, 2022

Begs the question, why didn’t Sloan get more out or Pete Maravich?

(Jesus Christ, wtf are we doing here….?)

Jazz Spazz · Jul 20, 2022

Frank Layden was actually the HC, Sloan and Scott Layden were assistants. Layden only played 2 players over 30 minutes the first year and the second year 4 players. It was Malone and Eaton, but the 2nd year it was Malone, Eaton, Stockton, and Bailey. Tripucka got around 24 minutes the first year and under 20 the 2nd year. His number of shots dropped by half even though he was still quite efficient.

It does look like he wasn't good enough to pull more time away from Dr Dunkenstein and Bobby Hansen. They ended up being the 3 to split the extra time while Stock, Malone, Eaton, and Bailey got all the time and shots they wanted.

It looks like it was just timing and not being good enough to take time away from others on the roster.

Release the Kraken · Jul 20, 2022

Sorry FP but Tripucka never improved any team he was on. He was merely a pick and pop guy. I think he tried to play D but he was the stereotypical white men can’t jump kinda player. He did have a sweet J to go with that mullet.

Didn’t he end up in somebody’s front office?

Hearsky · Jul 20, 2022

We traded one Notre Dame curmudgeon for another. Tripucka was limited athletically. Kent Benson was a decent role player for an overall #1 pick.

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Hearsky · Jul 20, 2022

Dude had some seriously “heavy” thighs. AD did, as well. But not Billy Ray Bates heavy.

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BENTLEY · Jul 20, 2022

I remember him. He was a punchline in our household growing up, second only to dinner-bell Mel.

Hearsky · Jul 20, 2022

BENTLEY said:
I remember him. He was a punchline in our household growing up, second only to dinner-bell Mel.

Bobby Hansen was a punchline in the Kofoed family. And Mary Hansen wrecked the Jazz. Good times.

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infection · Jul 20, 2022

Hearsky said:
Bobby Hansen was a punchline in the Kofoed family. And Mary Hansen wrecked the Jazz. Good times.

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You from Sandy?

Hearsky · Jul 20, 2022

infection said:
You from Sandy?

I went to Skyline. Went to school with the Layden kids. Anybody know where Mike ended up? I know Katie is still around.

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Hearsky · Jul 20, 2022

Bodhi said:
Begs the question, why didn’t Sloan get more out or Pete Maravich?

(Jesus Christ, wtf are we doing here….?)

Tom Nissalke was the coach for Maravich. Nissalke was salty as hell, but Pete was a pretty burnt human by that point. His dad did the whole Todd Marinovich thing with him. Peter was a pretty messed by adult.

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Bodhi · Jul 20, 2022

Hearsky said:
Tom Nissalke was the coach for Maravich. Nissalke was salty as hell, but Pete was a pretty burnt human by that point. His dad did the whole Todd Marinovich thing with him. Peter was a pretty messed by adult.

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Ah so Sloan wasn’t the coach for every Jazz player ever?

Thejazzkickazz · Jul 20, 2022

Bodhi said:
Ah so Sloan wasn’t the coach for every Jazz player ever?

Can you imagine Sloan as coach of the no-defense Jazz of the last couple of years? He'd be like Norman Dale, except only play Gobert, 1 on 5 against the opponent. Ref would come over and say, "Coach, you need four more." Sloan would respond, "My team is on the floor!"

Hearsky · Jul 20, 2022

Bodhi said:
Ah so Sloan wasn’t the coach for every Jazz player ever?

Ha. It only feels that way.

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Why did the Kelly Tripucka experiment fail in Utah?

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