Big Al on Millsap

[One Brow]

I just don't think Millsap will be fast enough to start at SF. Off the bench, maybe.

 

[Jazz Spazz]

I'm not a hundred percent sure Ty asked him to do anything. The article is written by a bleacher report guy who is speculating. And Millsap should be trying to develop a 3 point shot, anyway. It's not like we don't have a history of bigs who step out to the arc. If he can hit that shot, he could start playing an Okur styled role pulling up on 3's on the break and dragging his man out of the paint to let Al go to work.

Okur is our history of bigs stepping out to the 3 pt line.
Am I missing any others? Did Foster?

 

[billyshelby]

No, Okur's it. Didn't mean to imply KOC is always beating the bushes for big men with 3 point range. Just that we used that model for 6 years.

 

[green]

I don't see Millsap being able to hang with Magette, let alone LeBron or Durant.

Yeah, because those guys are shut down routinely by solid SF defenders...

 

[enchilada_style]

Bench or trade.

 

[Revolution 9]

What can Paul Pierce do defensively that Millsap won't be able to?

When the Celts were really good they had that great interior defense. Anyone that got by Paul would have to contend with Garnett or Perkins.
Hopefully,Favors can be the defensive stopper we need him to be then Sap could get away with more. If Favors and Big Al can defend the interior better than Boozer, and Memo I think it could work. A line up of Harris, Hayward, Sap, Big Al, and Favors sounds delicious in theory.

 

[InGameStrategy]

No, Okur's it. Didn't mean to imply KOC is always beating the bushes for big men with 3 point range. Just that we used that model for 6 years.

SFs aren't necessarily supposed to be big, but it's sure helpful for them to have 3-point range.

Thus, if Millsap plays the 3, it's not necessarily a bonus that he can shoot the 3; it's almost expected, as shown by CJ and Korver also playing that spot at times (and AK being woefully inconsistent in that aspect although he might be strong in 5x5 others).

And if Favors and Jefferson are playing a lot alongside each other, then it'll probably be crowded inside the 10-foot range for Millsap to go there much offensively--except maybe Brewer-style. So the Paperboy had better be able to put the paper in the hoop from the curb.

Yeah, because those guys are shut down routinely by solid SF defenders...

I could see Millsap getting to the point where he can sometimes annoy LeBron. PM has a bigger build than most SFs and wouldn't be intimidated by LBJ's strength. I don't consider LeBrawn particularly fast, either.

I like the strategic analysis going on here of actually trying to compete against matchups individually and globally.

 

[royzzz]

No, Okur's it. Didn't mean to imply KOC is always beating the bushes for big men with 3 point range. Just that we used that model for 6 years.

Okur is the only successful one. But the Jazz have been looking for bigs who can open the inside with outside shooting .. a three bomb is a bonus.
> Donyell Marshall
> Pete Chilcutt
> they went after Brad Miller
> who else?

 

[Twin Towers]

Going off of possible playoff teams in the west........ Because that is all that matters

SF's
Mavericks: Caron Butler (Coming off injury)
Spurs: Gallinari or Chandler
Warriors: Dorrell Wright
Rockets: Budinger
Clippers: Al-Farouq Aminu
Lakers: Metta World Peace
Grizzlies: Gay
Wolves: Beasley & Derick Williams
Hornets: Ariza
Thunder: Durant
Suns: Childress & Grant Hill
Blazers: Wallace & Batum
Kings: Salmons

 

[NotDeadYet]

There are superstars in the NBA at EVERY position who give most any defender fits. The Jazz need to assemble the best team they can, and versatility is a huge weapon. The more positions a player can man, the more valuable he becomes in a team concept. I don't expect Millsap to become a lockdown defender or an offensive go-to guy, but he is already a good rebounder, and by adding a reliable outside shot to his resume, could become an even bigger thorn in the side of any opponent.

 

[Stifle Tower]

There are superstars in the NBA at EVERY position who give most any defender fits. The Jazz need to assemble the best team they can, and versatility is a huge weapon. The more positions a player can man, the more valuable he becomes in a team concept. I don't expect Millsap to become a lockdown defender or an offensive go-to guy, but he is already a good rebounder, and by adding a reliable outside shot to his resume, could become an even bigger thorn in the side of any opponent.

Excellent post. I like the versaitility the Jazz will have at C/PF with Favors, Kanter, Jefferson, Memo and Millsap. I've been thinking Utah needs more of a true SF, but Hayward could very well be growing into that position. If Millsap can slide over and match up against the bigger. more physical SF's, that may be exactly what the Jazz need. And if Utah has to go small, Corbin can send out some combination of Alec, Gordon and CJ. I hope Watson comes back for one more year. Jazz need to find a long-term solution at PG and then it will be fun to watch this team develop.

 

[Stifle Tower]

Exactly. Im just thinking how this is gonna work three-five years from now. Will Sap still be on this team? where does that leave Burks and Hayward? I guess it all depends on how successful of a SF he becomes. His work ethic is utterly admirable though. Most players would much rather request a trade and keep their strengths intact than trying to switch a position several years into the NBA. I still think his optimal position in the future is a sixth man, with Harris/whoever we draft, Burks, Haywad, Favors, then either Jefferson or Kanter depending on who pans out better. I really think he could deliver Bill Walton type effectiveness. But who knows what will happen

With 96 mins at the big positions and at the wings, Jazz could have a perfect rotation with the players they have. I'm looking towards next year and assuming neither Memo nor CJ are still on the Jazz.

C/PF: Jefferson 35, Favors 35, Kanter 26. Up or down for each depending on foul trouble, matchups and how quickly Kanter develops. Possibly re-sign Memo if Enes doesn't look ready to play significant minuites by the end of this season, or for injury insurance since few players play all 82 games.

SF: Millsap 30, Hayward 18.
SG: Hayward 15, Burks 33.
That's long-term. This season, Corbin can limit Hayward's minutes a bit (25/per?), give 20-25 to CJ and start Burks off at 15 mins/per. Let's see how Alec plays NBA defense before we anoint him the next great SG. Remember, even Gordon The Great struggled until mid-season with his shooting and knowledge of the playbook.

What I like, and what NotDeadYet pointed out is that the Jazz have some versatility right now. If Millsap DOESN'T work out at SF, then CJ becomes more important to Utah. Hayward gets all his minutes at SF, CJ splits time between the 2 and 3 and Burks gets more PT (or Bell gets minutes). And Enes can be a total project at this point. If he takes some time to develop (which I think he will), then Millsap and Memo can pick up the minutes at the 4/5. With everyone healthy, NO, there aren't enough minutes to go around. But that's never the case. Players are always banged up, and sometimes the injuries are significant. Won't it be nice to just up the minutes of a Kanter, Memo or Burks if that happens instead of inserting a Jeffers or Elson into the lineup? The Jazz are young, but deep. There won't be much of a drop off from the starters to the subs. I really believe this team could surprise a lot of people - and sooner than most expect.