DL certainly has dodged some bullets recently

[Coach Ellis]

Jazz would have probably (happily) put half their cap into Hayward, Hill and Hood. Ouch.

Definitely dodged some bullets there.

I’m happy that it didn’t work out and the team can afford to pivot to building around Gobert/Mitchell. Amazing how much can happen in a single year. What a ride!

 

[Watcher]

Quin's systems have ways of covering up weaknesses. Mostly, it requires a good BBall IQ and doing the right things off of screens.

And don't forget 3 hour practices.

 

[infection]

Agreed. My comment is more about managing expectations and less about usage rates.

Didn’t he manage those expectations pretty good though by taking him out of the starting lineup back in december or whenever to take the pressure off?

 

[Gobzilla]

Yep, asking him to step up his game was a good thing, as was the outcome for the Jazz.

Now you're just contradicting yourself!

 

[Jack Strop]

Didnt Rodney and his agent create those expectations? Rodney wanted to be paid like a 1st option. All Lindsey did was tell them Hood needed to prove it before he'd shell out the big money. This was kind of like the Favors and Hayward situations. Favs took the guaranteed money. Hayward opted not to sign an extension and got a better offer as a RFA.

Jazz chose wisely. Hood wasn't a primary option in college or the NBA and showed hes not capable of being one.

 

[silesian]

Now you're just contradicting yourself!

Reading comprehension. It's a thing.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

DL drafted Donovan Mitchell. The Utah state legislators should literally introduce a bill that makes any negative comments about DL illegal, with an immediate 25 year minimum sentence.

Were there mistakes and near misses in DL’s career before Donovan? Absolutely, but none of that matters now. DL has drafted our Moses. The chosen one who will lead his people out of the desert that they have wandered hopelessly for the last 40+ years. Since Donovan has arrived in SLC, my average sleep per night has increased by 1.5 hours! I no longer piss my pants when a team goes on an 8-0 scoring run vs the Jazz in the 4th qtr. My cursing is down 63%. I no longer have to take viagra in order to make love to my wife (or my side piece). I have also gained the ability to smell color and move forks with my mind.

All of these breakthroughs are thanks to DL bringing Donovan home. Talk not about the George Hill or Rodney Hood “what if’s”. Free yourself from the burden of the Trey Burke draft pick. Take solace in knowing that we’re in the care of Gobert and Mitchell now. Things are going to be different now.

 

[Bawse Dawg]

Jae Crowder is a magician.


Shoots worse percentages in every category with Utah than he did with Cleveland, and all similar stats elsewhere. And he has everyone convinced that he’s awesome and the Jazz revitalized him.

 

[silesian]

Didn’t he manage those expectations pretty good though by taking him out of the starting lineup back in december or whenever to take the pressure off?

yes, but the die had been cast at that point. The early season messaging had Rodney's head dancing with delusions of grandeur. So after envisioning himself to be a 25 point scorer (or whatev), he is now psychologically dealing with being a mediocre bench player. And I think we all have the sense that Hood lacks the mental toughness to fight through this adversity.

 

[oneye]

All GMs have hits and misses. Donovan Mitchell is the biggest hit we’ve had here in a very very long time, thank you DL. Thank you Quin and the organization for giving Donovan the opportunity to be the superstar he is. Hits and misses, Donovan Mitchell is a big enough of a hit, which cares about the lucky mistakes that didn’t end up happening?

My biggest question mark at this point is Dane Exum. The dude doesn’t even look remotely comfortable shooting the ball from any distance. Fast as hell, finishes at the rim, but between the injuries and lack of shooting this is a big decision for DL especially depending on what he he’s offered this offseason. Donovan needs someone who can shoot at his side, both to take pressure off him offensively and open up the lane so he can drive. Dante isn’t that guy. I think if his price goes over a certain point you let him go. I actually think Royce in those last few playoff games started feeling more comfortable shooting and driving and looking better offensively. Royce is more comfortable shooting 3’s and making them than Dante right now for sure. Dante is going to be a big hit/miss moment this offseason and I wouldn’t want to be in DL shows making that decision to match or let him go. I think around $10-12 million a year is as much as I would go, but then you’re locking yourself up for that much for 4 years on a guy that is such a question mark on health and game. You’re literally paying him for his potential skills not what he’s proven. That’s a scary moment IMO.

The offense needs to be built around whatever Donovan needs at this point, and I’m not sure Ex is who Donovan needs at his side and certainly not if he can’t begin shooting the 3. I hope we don’t get trapped in an Exum contract we will regret this summer.

 

[gregbroncs]

Just because Hood is responsible for the failure does not mean that he was coached perfectly. I'm a huge QS fan but I don't fall into the "he's great therefore he is perfect" minion category.

In fact, I'd be willing to wager that Quin realizes that he asked Hood to do things that were beyond his reach. The dude does not have the skills or the mentality to be a team's go-to scorer. If you still believe he does, then god bless you. And that is what he was being asked to do, which was a mistake.

I'm not saying he should not be pushed and asked to do more, as you incorrectly imply. I'm saying that the expectations and goals need to be achievable and carefully managed. It's called leadership.

When did I say Quin is perfect? I think he handled Hood just fine. He put him into position to assume the role vacated by Hayward, Hood did not succeed in that role and in fact failed miserably at it. Then when asked to go back to the role he played last year he failed at that as well, and it seems he failed because of his own ego. If Quin had never asked that of him then we'd still have no idea if he could handle it or not. I think it was proven that Hood was in fact not a go to scorer, but if you don't ask him to try and be that how will you ever know if he can. He showed signs that maybe he could.

Your talking yourself in circles, he should pushed but he was pushed too much? Those goals were achievable, he just showed that they were not achievable by him. Fine then go back to the role you filled pretty well last year? Well apparently that was asking too much because he wasn't happy with that role anymore either.

Quin did realize he was asking too much, but when he tried to correct that Hood did not accept it. That is why he is gone.

 

[gregbroncs]

yes, but the die had been cast at that point. The early season messaging had Rodney's head dancing with delusions of grandeur. So after envisioning himself to be a 25 point scorer (or whatev), he is now psychologically dealing with being a mediocre bench player. And I think we all have the sense that Hood lacks the mental toughness to fight through this adversity.

Then he's extremely mentally weak and good riddance. That is also something they needed to know before they signed him to an extension.

 

[Rubashov]

DL drafted Donovan Mitchell. The Utah state legislators should literally introduce a bill that makes any negative comments about DL illegal, with an immediate 25 year minimum sentence.

What no electric chair?

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

What no electric chair?

Why waste time rehabbing a clearly lost cause... just take care of it on the spot.

 

[Getting Traded]

Maybe it’s just me but I take another two things away from all of this.

1. There is something wrong with the Cavs organization. In addition to Hill and Hood I’d also hold up Crowder as a further example.

2. This is to make Utah look good. Utah Crowder, Hill and Hood were mountains better than Cavs/Kong’s Hill, Hood and Crowder. We have a way of getting the most out of our guys.

You have to totally subjugate yourself to doing whatever the "King" wants when you play on his team, and few good NBA players are that submissive. It's understandable why Kyrie left the Cavs and / or people didn't want to play with Kobe. That's why Tristan Thompson who is little better than an average player has done well with the Cavs because he has totally submitted to his role.

 

[Jazzta]

At the beginning of the season the Jazz were a team with a gaping void at the number one option. By the end of the season the Jazz were a team that had completely solved that particular problem. I'm very impressed with QS and his staff for accomplishing that. I think what they did was the opposite of screwing the pooch.

"To screw the pooch", I learn new expressions every day here..

 

[Stoked]

You have to totally subjugate yourself to doing whatever the "King" wants when you play on his team, and few good NBA players are that submissive. It's understandable why Kyrie left the Cavs and / or people didn't want to play with Kobe. That's why Tristan Thompson who is little better than an average player has done well with the Cavs because he has totally submitted to his role.

I’d agree for a weak franchise with weak players, weak coaches and a weak culture.

I don’t see that flying in places like Utah, San Antonio or Boston for example.

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

You may be taking a narrow observation and overgeneralizing it to an entire season.

They could have accomplished all the things you mention while managing Hood's expectations more effectively.

Just to make the point with an extreme example, you wouldn't say to Neto "we need you to be a lockdown wing defender" Or go to Favors and ask him to be a vocal team leader. It is outside their range.

I'm pretty sure you and I aren't going to come to an agreement on this one. I believe the Jazz were right to give Hood the opportunity they did. Unfortunately, it didn't work out. Fortunately Plan B did. And even more fortunately, they found a way to flip Hood for a better fit. Masterful work by the Jazz coaching staff and FO.

 

[Getting Traded]

Just because Hood is responsible for the failure does not mean that he was coached perfectly. I'm a huge QS fan but I don't fall into the "he's great therefore he is perfect" minion category.

In fact, I'd be willing to wager that Quin realizes that he asked Hood to do things that were beyond his reach. The dude does not have the skills or the mentality to be a team's go-to scorer. If you still believe he does, then god bless you. And that is what he was being asked to do, which was a mistake.

I'm not saying he should not be pushed and asked to do more, as you incorrectly imply. I'm saying that the expectations and goals need to be achievable and carefully managed. It's called leadership.

I agree, but you have to admit there were times that it looked like Hood had that potential. I think he had the ability but not the mental make-up which was why he has been so inconsistent during his career. With Donovan, he has it all between the ears; he doesn't let anything interrupt his focus. If you listened to the entire Stockton interview posted recently, you might've noticed and this really struck me as interesting, that Stockton said when people trash talked to him he didn't notice it because he was so focused on what he needed to do.

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

Yep, asking him to step up his game was a good thing, as was the outcome for the Jazz.

So everybody, including you, disagrees with your earlier post?