Game Thread August 30, 2020: Nuggets at Jazz - Game 6

[Game6Conley]

And Jokic, Porter, and Grant are tall, so even if we get a player rotating to them in time they shoot over them with confidence of never getting blocked. The collective height of this team is too short.

I've been arguing the Jazz should be playing bigger lineups around Rudy my entire time on this forum. They can fix it in any given offseason but choose to address other things.

 

[LoPo]

And who's to say him and Spyda really care for each other? I get the feeling there's still something there.

Like many budding superstars, they know they are great. Don is no different. However, the entire team concept is built around a guy who can't take over a game. Yes, Rudy can shut down the paint or his guy for stretches, but playoff series aren't won by guys who can't score outside of 3 feet anymore.

Don knows this. He probably knows he can score even easier if he didnt have to force feed Gobert so much or attack a lane Rudy isn't stretching.

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[Hekate]

Well you can drop and top lock but you have to ask one more guy to rotate... we want Rudy to drop and then get all the way back to Jokic... like he has a ****ing teleporter or something.

Making Jokic a passer or giving him a smaller defender with clock is suicide. Making Murray a passer is our best chance, Rudy may be able to help on rim if it's not Murray attacking the rim on 2 Man plays.

But our rotations are ***. This team can't handle any complex defensive scheme because not one of our guards have any defensive awareness.

 

[Goodluckchuck]

I say double Murray and make Jokic beat you. I’d rather him taking 20 shots over a hot Murray.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I'm no basketball coach, but Murray is getting wide open 3's, not too tough step back 3's or Jokoc is getting a wide open 3 every single possession.

That cannot continue.

Can we play two athletic guys on Jokic and Murray and let Rudy hang out just outside the paint? They might counter with Craig for 3, but isn't that better?

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There is a guy that can rotate or even pre rotate to Jokic at the top every time... so Murray can basically probe the defense... if it ain’t there it’s a fairly easy pass up top for an open three from Jokic who is absolutely stroking it.

If Craig or Grant goes 7/10 from three then fine but you will get a couple turnover in there too making it much better.

They basically trapped DM all night... same with Conley... forced some passes to guys that missed and caused some turnovers.

We aren’t taking anything away from them on defense... nothing. Flip Rudy onto Grant or millsap... keep him near the basket so he’s in a position to help.

 

[LoPo]

Like I said earlier- we need Murray to have a John Starks Game 7 type performance.

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[fishonjazz]

Murray has been playing great the last 3 games, but he hasnt had a better series than Mitchell. But maybe if he wins in game 7 and out duels Mitchell I could change that. You are forgetting he had a 12 point and 14 point games in game 2 and 3.

That's a good point. Maybe he didn't get enough shots those games? Was he coming back from injury?

Murray is shooting better from the field, better from 3, better from the line, better efg (though Donovan's numbers are amazing in all those categories as well) had a lot more assists per game and has a lot less turnovers per game and averages more rebounds per game. (Minutes are almost identical)

Donovan is averaging more points though.

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[fishonjazz]

Creating their own shot and making the shot are two totally different things.

Look up their shooting percentages in the playoffs this year and get back to me

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[Handlogten's Heros]

Making Jokic a passer or giving him a smaller defender with clock is suicide. Making Murray a passer is our best chance, Rudy may be able to help on rim if it's not Murray attacking the rim on 2 Man plays.

But our rotations are ***. This team can't handle any complex defensive scheme because not one of our guards have any defensive awareness.

He’s tough but passes can turn into turnovers... making them at least think a little more will help. We are giving them everything they want. Murray jumpers, no turnovers, Jokic jumpers, offensive rebounds...

 

[latin jazz]

Can't play lockdown defense anymore. We just don't have the players

We’ve packed it in, guys. Where are all those Conley Bros who were taking victory laps? .

Our defense is ****ing feckless.

Conley wasn't the main problem. tonight, at least the contributed on offense (although he had two terrible TOs). This team is flawed. The main problem is defense: we don't have multiple guys who can defend the perimeter. If not Murray (who has been incredible, it will be someone else). Ingles has lost a step. Royce is a good defender but lacks the length to stop bigger guys. JC tries hard but he has never be known as a good defender (he gets lost on D too). Conley plays decent D against small PGs, but can't guard bigger ones (or swicth). Bojan tries but lacks lateral quickness. Niang is too slow and doesn't bother any shot. Bradley, slow too.

Even if we win in game 7, this needs to be addressed during the offseason. We have lost our defensive identity. At least last year we could throw Rubio and Crowder in the mix (although Ricky used to get blown by on D, at least he gave you deflections, effort and positional versatility). Favors was mobile and could even switch to small guards. Now we only have Royce (if he is having a good day).

 

[fishonjazz]

Major LOL at anyone who thinks Murray has had the better series than Mitchell.

Mitchell has brought it every game and is leading the league in PPG in the playoffs. He’s averaging 38.6 PPG.

Murray scored 12 and 14 points in games 2 and 3.

How many shots did Murray get in those two games? Was he coming back from an injury? (I honestly don't know)

What I do know is that Murray is averaging more assists and rebounds and less turnovers (by a pretty decent amount on all three things) and is shooting better percentages from the field, the line, and from three (though these are much closer).
Mitchell is scoring more per game though due to those first 2 games you mentioned.

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[cowhide]

I'll be the first to eat crow about this, but trading for Conley was the worst decision the Jazz have made since Maxing AK-47.

had a chance but the FO blew their load on a 31 unathletic wing in Bogey. I love Bogey, but the jazz needed true athletic stoppers on D to go alongside MItchell

Signing Bogey was a good move and if he were playing this series it would be over. Bogey can get his shot and is ok athletically. The problem is all the other unathletic players who play. Jingles is an average athlete, Royce can dunk but he isn't really a shot creator, Tony Bradley has improved but he is not athletic, NIang is slow footed and cannot jump. JIngles and Royce are not starter material. They should come off the bench. TB is a boarder line NBA player. He is one of those guys who can be a backup in the regular season but come playoff he is exposed as unathletic center.