Could you win with Lauri and Key being your closers?

[HermanG]

Get AJ. That way, if they somehow force the ball out of Key's hands, some action runs through AJ with ~8 seconds remaining on the shot clock.

Only problem is that "get AJ" is not a strategy any more than "keep the game close and throw a hail mary at the end" is.

He goes top 2 so even with the best lottery odds its like 70% sure we wont get him or DP. Besides we are not going to have the best odds.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

Regarding the OP, the answer is maybe. It depends on whether the other team has the personnel to trap and stifle Keyonte and Lauri. I think the Jazz would need a 3rd guy with some size who has a real physical presence in the paint, so when Keyonte and Lauri get trapped there's another competent guy who can get his own off the dribble.

That's what was so great about those Warriors teams. When defenses keyed in on Steph and Klay, the Warriors could dump the ball off to Draymond or Iguodala, and they could attack and make a play off the dribble. Maybe Ace becomes that guy, but it wouldn't hurt to bring in someone whom you know can take advantage of the space Key and Lauri create.

This is why adding more on-ball creation should be a priority to complete what the Jazz currently have.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

I think the thing that makes Utah dangerous in the clutch is that we have two guys on this list. I think it's much easier for a defense to stop your clutch offense when there is one guy to key in on vs two.

 

[NUMBERICA]

I should be happy about this development but I am the opposite of that, mostly because neither of these guys can stop a nosebleed.

 

[framer]

And if that were true, you still couldn't prove it based on the SSS. What I'm really saying is the clutch stats are unreliable and wouldn't build my franchise around it.

Literally the reason teams tank is to get that guy who can consistently take over in the 4th quarter of playoff games. These are the players you should reserve Max contracts for. You build your franchise around those players.

 

[KqWIN]

Literally the reason teams tank is to get that guy who can consistently take over in the 4th quarter of playoff games. These are the players you should reserve Max contracts for. You build your franchise around those players.

I think they tank for the guy that can carry them to wins in the other moments of game as well.

 

[NAOS_pt2]

Only problem is that "get AJ" is not a strategy any more than "keep the game close and throw a hail mary at the end" is.

He goes top 2 so even with the best lottery odds its like 70% sure we wont get him or DP. Besides we are not going to have the best odds.

I don't like your attitude, sir!

 

[KqWIN]

I appreciate the take.

The way I do my threads is I usually end them with a question which is also consistent with the actual heading. Its not mandatory to answer it, but clutch stats were just the build up, not the beef. I use stats quite often just like you do.. so its rather surprising you didnt see the actual context and question they were presented in... despite it being in the title and in the OP.

Yeah I'm truly surprised is mistook this thread for being about clutch play and the ability to close games when the entirety of the thread and discussion is about clutch stats and performance.

My thoughts on clutch stats are that they don't have much predictive power in terms of winning playoff games or even winning future clutch games, but I'll save those thoughts for an actual thread about clutch play I guess.

 

[Jingled]

Based on what we’ve seen this season, the answer is yes. So glad we didn’t trade Lauri. With Key’s leap this Year, they have become one of the better duos in the league. Can’t wait to watch them in the playoffs in the near future.

 

[NAOS_pt2]

Only problem is that "get AJ" is not a strategy any more than "keep the game close and throw a hail mary at the end" is.

He goes top 2 so even with the best lottery odds its like 70% sure we wont get him or DP. Besides we are not going to have the best odds.

tanking is a strategy, btw. That's why this board has been captured by the idea.

 

[Tanktastic]

All clutch stats (however you define clutch) are pretty much variance and noise. One year's clutch leaders has almost no correlation to the next.

"Clutch" does exist. One team is trying to slow it down, the other to speed it up. Lots of fouling, both teams possibly in the penalty etc.

Evaluating those moments by points scored or percentages just tells you 1) which team has been in most game situations defined as clutch 2) whose usage rates are the highest.

Trying to give Lauri the ball in static situations is a bad play, pretty much always. He's not that type of "clutch", at all. Giving him the ball on the move or catch & shoots when down or tied is a wonderful play and he's extremely "clutch" then. The team just need to recognize those situations better - and possibly get some plays that work for Lauri even when Keyonte has just dribbled the shot clock down to <10 sec. And if Hardy solves that, then Keyonte will be clutch as well, because he can drive and c&s pretty clutch also.

And then we just need some much more reliable corner 3 shooters.

 

[HermanG]

tanking is a strategy, btw. That's why this board has been captured by the idea.

Sure, but not predicated on getting a specific guy. Its about adding talent one way, but how much talent you get to add is in the hands of lord almighty (who may also be known as Adam Silver if you prefer to buy the conspiracies).