Desnews is singing Raja's praises

[craig2112]

Utah Jazz: Raja not scoring, but helping in other areas

Published: Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012 10:28 p.m. MST


By Jody Genessy, Deseret News


SALT LAKE CITY — Raja Bell is a smart NBA player.

He can do math, too.

So, yes, he's aware that hitting 5 of 17 field goals through four games falls into the rough start category.

"I would like to be a shooting a higher field-goal percentage," said the 12-year veteran, who's shooting 29.4 percent. "But, ultimately, I don't think it really matters if I make or miss my three shots in a game."



Obviously, Bell wants to make those precious few shots (4.25 per game, to be precise) — if not get more looks.

But the veteran isn't the only offensive goat on a struggling 1-3 team that's averaging just 90.5 points on 40 percent shooting.

Scoring is just one part of his job. Considering his gritty defensive style and other Jazz weapons, oodles of offense isn't necessarily what the team needs from him.

As the starter, Bell gets the first crack at Kobe Bryant, Manu Ginobili and other top-notch scoring threats.

"He knows how to play different guys," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said.

Asked for an assessment of his 2011-12 start, the 35-year-old said he's making an extra effort on defense because his offensive game hasn't arrived yet.

"If something's not working, you've got to try to make a difference somewhere else," Bell said. "I think I'm doing a good job defensively."

So does Corbin, who defends Bell's defense.

That's why the second-year coach has kept him in the starting lineup even while some fans plead for rookie shooting guard Alec Burks — a more explosive scorer — to get more playing time and/or to start.

"I feel comfortable with what he's doing. He's playing his defense," Corbin said. "I thought he did a good job on Ginobili in the first quarter (Saturday), and then he had that run in the second quarter."

When Bell was on the bench, mind you.

But the guard's effort isn't predicated on his shots falling or not.

"All I can do is go out there and play hard," Bell said. "If Ty and (coaches) think that I'm a good fit, then I'll go out there and try to do my best."

Offensively, Bell knows he has nowhere to go but up.

"Unfortunately, I didn't feel like it necessarily clicked for me last year on offense and I'm struggling again," he said. "But I'll keep plugging away at it. The one thing I know I can control is busting my (behind) defensively, so that's what I'm doing."

This makes me sick. Fans all know that Raja sucks big time, so the Desnews writes an article like this, as if all the dumb fans will say "Oh, ok. So Raja doesn't care if he misses shots, and we are all supposed to think he is playing good defense, even though 2 guards are torching us"

 

[Deleted member 848]

This article has been mentioned several times in multiple threads.


Regardless, its easily one of the worst articles I've read from DesNews in recent memory

 

[NUMBERICA]

Someone has to, I guess.

I don't know why Burks can't even have an opportunity to start. I don't know (or think) that he's ready, but given the woeful options otherwise on a team that has been mostly terrible, I don't know how it can hurt.

 

[craig2112]

obviously, I didn't see it posted anywhere

 

[Gameface]

I would like to be a shooting a higher field-goal percentage," said the 12-year veteran, who's shooting 29.4 percent. "But, ultimately, I don't think it really matters if I make or miss my three shots in a game."

If that's really how he feels he has no business being a starter. Not that he had any business being a starter before, but this should seal the deal imho.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Someone has to, I guess.

I don't know why Burks can't even have an opportunity to start. I don't know (or think) that he's ready, but given the woeful options otherwise on a team that has been mostly terrible, I don't know how it can hurt.

I think giving him time is a good idea. Throwing him in the fire and him getting burnt may ruin his confidence.

Bell does suck, but I don't think he is as bad as most here make him out to be. His is far from the sole reason we suck and putting Alec out there isn't going to make us good. I think it's a good idea to have a veteran starting who isn't going to take shots from anyone else (he only shoots the ball when is wide open, it's not like he is taking dumb shots outside of the offense).

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

If that's really how he feels he has no business being a starter. Not that he had any business being a starter before, but this should seal the deal imho.

It's true though. His 3-4 shots per game don't really have that huge of an affect on the game. It's not like if Raja goes 0-3 we are going to lose the game, and it's not like if Raja goes 3 for 3 we are a lock to win. Raja knows he isn't out there to score or play amazing, he is a placeholder for now and he has to play hard, which I think he does.

 

[GVC]

It's true though. His 3-4 shots per game don't really have that huge of an affect on the game. It's not like if Raja goes 0-3 we are going to lose the game, and it's not like if Raja goes 3 for 3 we are a lock to win. Raja knows he isn't out there to score or play amazing, he is a placeholder for now and he has to play hard, which I think he does.

Going 0-3, while your opposite number goes 4-4 in 17 minutes of play, makes a HUGE difference. The Jazz can't afford to be fleeced that badly at any position. There are plenty of scrubs who can "play hard". Raja is done. Let Burks play.

 

[MVP]

It's true though. His 3-4 shots per game don't really have that huge of an affect on the game..

well, but that shows the huge flaw in Jazz offensive philosophy. Starting shooting guards in todays NBA should attempt 10-12 FG at least IMHO. Not 3-4. To use shooting guard for 3-4 FG a game makes our offense stagnant and easy to defend as opposing teams know that Jazz are not running any plays for shooting guard thus making it easier to defend the reast of starting five.
All this crap brings as back to major O'Connor's mistake. Wesley Matthews.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

well, but that shows the huge flaw in Jazz offensive philosophy. Starting shooting guards in todays NBA should attempt 10-12 FG at least IMHO. Not 3-4. To use shooting guard for 3-4 FG a game makes our offense stagnant and easy to defend as opposing teams know that Jazz are not running any plays for shooting guard thus making it easier to defend the reast of starting five.
All this crap brings as back to major O'Connor's mistake. Wesley Matthews.

That makes no sense.

Starting SG for Thunder doesn't take that many shots.

 

[gomretat]

1) Raja is not the problem
2) Article makes some valid points, in spite of it being popular to trash him on this board
3) We don't need more young players

 

[fallenchicken]

Puff Puff Pass Piece.

 

[MVP]

That makes no sense.

Starting SG for Thunder doesn't take that many shots.

Check SG's for Lakers, Atlanta, Celtics, Miami, Spurs and some other teams.. seriously, SG/SF who cares, just in general running plays for perimeter players was never in Jazz playbook under Sloan, I hoped Corbin will change it a bit to look more current.

 

[candrew]

That makes no sense.

Starting SG for Thunder doesn't take that many shots.

Well yeah; but it kinda helps when you have the most prolific scorer in the NBA on your team

Jazz don't have the type of scoring talent where they can afford to go 5 on 4 every trip down the floor on offense. They don't need a SG to score 20ppg; but they need a guy who can spread the floor and a guy the defense has to think about.

Bell horrid FG% only tells have the story. Virtually, every shot he's taken this year was either coming off curls or uncontested. To only shoot when you're wide open and to shoot this poorly tells me your time has come and gone in the league. The faster the The Jazz come to realize this the better.

 

[Jerry Lundegaard]

Is Jody a man or a woman? Let me know as my hate mail will be dictated by that info.

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

Well yeah; but it kinda helps when you have the most prolific scorer in the NBA on your team

Jazz don't have the type of scoring talent where they can afford to go 5 on 4 every trip down the floor on offense. They don't need a SG to score 20ppg; but they need a guy who can spread the floor and a guy the defense has to think about.

Bell horrid FG% only tells have the story. Virtually, every shot he's taken this year was either coming off curls or uncontested. To only shoot when you're wide open and to shoot this poorly tells me your time has come and gone in the league. The faster the The Jazz come to realize this the better.

It also helps when the Thunder choose to let their second leading scorer, a shooting guard, come off the bench, though he too is probably only averaging around nine shots a game.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Well yeah; but it kinda helps when you have the most prolific scorer in the NBA on your team

Jazz don't have the type of scoring talent where they can afford to go 5 on 4 every trip down the floor on offense. They don't need a SG to score 20ppg; but they need a guy who can spread the floor and a guy the defense has to think about.

Bell horrid FG% only tells have the story. Virtually, every shot he's taken this year was either coming off curls or uncontested. To only shoot when you're wide open and to shoot this poorly tells me your time has come and gone in the league. The faster the The Jazz come to realize this the better.

The point I was trying to make is that your team can have a leading scorer anywhere, doesn't really matter what position they are as long as they get the job done. There isn't a rule that says you must have a starting SG who has to shoot 12 times per game to win.

 

[GVC]

Jazz don't have the type of scoring talent where they can afford to go 5 on 4 every trip down the floor on offense.

And they certainly don't have the type of talent where they can afford to go 5 on 4 on both ends.

 

[Qman]

The point I was trying to make is that your team can have a leading scorer anywhere, doesn't really matter what position they are as long as they get the job done. There isn't a rule that says you must have a starting SG who has to shoot 12 times per game to win.

It works better if your 1 and 3 are huge scoring threats. But Gordon and Harris aren't those kind of players so we need more a scoring threat from our 2.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

It works better if your 1 and 3 are huge scoring threats. But Gordon and Harris aren't those kind of players so we need more a scoring threat from our 2.

I think it is, or at least use to be, a general rule of thumb that you want your bigs to be your primary scoring threats. Big men are more efficient and can dominate more than a wing player.