GT: Jazz @ Super Sonics | 12/13/15 | 5pm MT

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Also, if you look at most stats of players who have the best % in the final minute and final possessions of games, it's usually role players who are setup by others for easy shots (like Hayward poorly attempted to do). So the idea from Hayward was good but very poor execution.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

NBA season is long my friend. I'm just looking at these losses we've had, and
what seperates us from other teams. Seems like we are close, but missing something. I think its a consistent closer, a star,
a leader. I dont see that on our team. YES favors and hayward have looked AMAZING some nights. Do they bring it enough?
Are they good leaders? I dont think so.

Nah, it's really just having a healthy team and hitting FT's.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Another thing that bothered me about last night was some of our defensive possessions that we played perfectly, but ruined by jumping out at OKC's bad shooters. A couple of times we got the ball swung to Roberson for a 3 only to have someone jump at their pump fake (it seemed to lead to points each time too). We should do soft-closeouts on anyone who isn't KD/Morrow/Augustin to dare them to shoot 3's on OKC.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Yeah remember that game last year Hayward came through?

You see that's the problem right there. Real stars come through all the time, and hit game winners a lot. Not just a few a season.

Do we all conveniently forget Hayward had the previous bucket that put us up? He hit that shot on Durant with :45 seconds left. That is the definition of a big time clutch shot.

It's also hilarious how many people are bitching about Hayward having the ball. So far Hood, Burks, and Hayward have all had the ball with a chance to win on a buzzer-beater and have either missed or TO and so far all 3 have failed. And without fail, everyone has bitched that the other player should have had the ball.

What about the fail of putting Favors on Durant on the perimeter. It wasn't even a switch (IIRC) it was plan by Snyder. That tells me Snyder was scared of Durant pulling up for 3. That was a dumb move. I could understand it if we had Gobert in the game, but there is no rim protector behind Favors and Favors can't stay in front of Durant if he drives. Just put Hayward on Durant and take the chance of him pulling it from deep. That is still a lower percentage shot than dunking.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Also, without the rim protection of Gobert, it would be great if someone on our team could learn how to take a charge to at least put some doubt into the relentless driving that the Thunder where doing in the 3rd quarter.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I'll say this...

Trey was hot tonight. Trey has big game attitude and the chance to be a closer. Trey should be in the game for offensive possessions to close out some of these games.

Burks with the ball in his hands has been clutch all season. Alec dribbled the ball up the floor and Hayward demanded it. Hayward has to close better if he is going to demand the ball.

We gave up some dumb plays in the last 3 minutes. We could have easily finished this off with a rebound again. We looked exhausted. That translated to overtime when Quin continued with the same crew who were exhausted and that has a lot to do with getting 2 points in OT. Subbing patterns at the end could have relieved the boys and played to our strengths more. Plus going with a hot hand. Trey has been great and should be rewarded with those minutes.

Finally... no lucky girl = loss. The trend continues.

So you are going to ignore that Hayward had just hit a jumper with :45 seconds left on the clock to give Utah the lead?

https://stats.nba.com/league/player...=1610612762&Period=4&ClutchTime=Last 1 Minute

Burks is 4/7, Favor is 4/7, and Hayward is 3/6 in the final minute of games when their is a 5 point or less score differential (Hayward actually looks better when you make the differential smaller, but I wanted the sample to be bigger). So it seems like they are all equally succesful in the situation that presented itself last night in terms of shooting. Hayward does have a TO, but he also has gotten to the line 4 times over Alec's two, and has hit all his FT's in the situation compared to Favors only hitting 3 of his 6. Burks also has 2 assist in these situations.

I probably would have given it to Burks just because shooting over Durant is tough, but Hayward tried to make the play to a wide open Burks but just failed because of the pressure the Thunder put on the pass that forced him to throw it inaccurately.

 

[Diamond77]

The free throws killed us

And the passivity in defensive rebounds too.

 

[Diamond77]

I think Snyder has to call more timeouts down the stretch and reassure the team.

The Jazz have to play team basketball down stretch too, moving the ball and searching easy buckets and not only relying on individual plays.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

And the passivity in defensive rebounds too.

True, we talk about the Hayward turnover, but we don't talk about letting Westbrook get two straight offensive rebounds that let the Thunder tie the game instead of us getting the ball to close the game at the FT line.

The same **** happened in the Utah game too. We got stops in the late 4th quarter, but let the get offensive rebounds that led to scores.

 

[Diamond77]

True, we talk about the Hayward turnover, but we don't talk about letting Westbrook get two straight offensive rebounds that let the Thunder tie the game instead of us getting the ball to close the game at the FT line.

The same **** happened in the Utah game too. We got stops in the late 4th quarter, but let the get offensive rebounds that led to scores.

You are right, I blame Quin that didn't dare to play Withey or Lyles instead of Booker down the stretch. Withey would have been more effective on defense against tall players like Adams and Ibaka.

I don't understand why Quin continue to insist with Booker to close the games, he does not jump for defensive rebounds and he is a bad free-throws a shooter.

 

[akirac73]

It's also hilarious how many people are bitching about Hayward having the ball. So far Hood, Burks, and Hayward have all had the ball with a chance to win on a buzzer-beater and have either missed or TO and so far all 3 have failed. And without fail, everyone has bitched that the other player should have had the ball.

I totally respect your position as a die hard Hayward fanboy, but c'mon, let's get real here...Nobody is touting Hood or Burks as All-Stars or face of the franchise type players. Your constant attempts to blame "role players" to hide/rationalize Hayward's failures is comical. Stars get the overwhelming credit and glory when they make good things happen but they also take the brunt of the blame when they fail, that's how it works in sports. You can't take one without the other, go ask Lebron James if you don't believe me...

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I totally respect your position as a die hard Hayward fanboy, but c'mon, let's get real here...Nobody is touting Hood or Burks as All-Stars or face of the franchise type players. Your constant attempts to blame "role players" to hide/rationalize Hayward's failures is comical. Stars get the overwhelming credit and glory when they make good things happen but they also take the brunt of the blame when they fail, that's how it works in sports. You can't take one without the other, go ask Lebron James if you don't believe me...

Have you read my post? I said what Hayward did was bad and would have preferred Burks because of matchup. I just hate the idea that "stars" always make the right choice or hit the shot in these situations and that's why we lost the game because we didnt have that guy. The game was lost other places.