enchilada_style
Well-Known Member
I like thatNah just dudes.
I like thatNah just dudes.
There was a stretch last year, I think maybe around 60-ish% of the way through, where we had these historic numbers. Can't remember what it was. Perhaps it was differential. Those ended up tanking. Perhaps not tanking, but they weren't relevant by season end. Part of that was Donovan and Conley missing a lot of the end of the season, but does anyone remember which numbers it were that were hyped?
The Suns are the most deadly team in the league at the shots we conceded. Ayton allows Gobert to stay in the paint, but he also occupies Gobert super well. I actually think it’s harder for him to guard a good rolling big man than it is to guard a stretch 5.
The Clippers didn’t start beating us until they stopped running PnR at Rudy. Even with a spaced plot Rudy could keep it contained by switching or keeping everything in front. It was more difficult for him to defend when Zubac was in the game because the space between the two players was greater. A deadly mid range shooter combined with a good rim running big is tough to stop. CP3 is one of the best all time in that situation and Booker is great as well.
It doesn’t make PHX impossible to beat, but that’s a tough matchup because their offense is designed to score against our type of defense.
In general, however, I think PHX’s greatest strength is just how damn good they are in the clutch. I think GSW, UTA, MIL, and maybe BKN are better teams than PHX. But if PHX can keep it close they are the best on the league in the clutch.
It seems as though the Jazz could trap CP the way they do Doncic and disrupt their pick-and-roll before they get set. Make some of their other offensive players create for themselves. Mostly, they're spot-up shooters. CP is really the head of the snake for them.
Also, I have a hard time buying into the Suns' bench. Cam Payne, Cam Johnson, Elfrid Payton, Landry Shamet, Javale McGee--it just doesn't seem that credible to me.
I think PHX is a tougher challenge than DAL because almost everything DAL does comes from Doncic. PHX is more well balanced, has two primary playmakers, and is probably only second to the Jazz at "blender" type ball movement. Their offense isn't as explosive as ours, but it stands up perfectly against tougher defenses and clutch moments. I also think Monty Williams is a great coach who does creative things on offense. I'm sure he'll find a way to expose in small/small actions like Spoelstra and MIA has.
But I understand what you're saying. I think we beat PHX in a series and I'd be fairly confident in it....why? I think we're just a much higher level than them. We have so much more talent them that it "should" overcome a tough opponent. Having said that, we "should" have beaten LAC last year and DEN the year before, but we all know what happened. We're going to need better health, better coaching, and better luck than previous wins to take the title but I think we go into a series with PHX as decent favorites.
Another difference-maker in a series with PHX could be Trent Forrest's defense. Play Trent at the 3, put Conley on Bridges and Mitchell on Booker.
Trent Forrest is not playing in the playoffs because we can't play 4v5 on offense.
Against a switching defense, Royce gets just as stifled, or worse. Forrest can at least put the ball down and create.
And 9 of the top 20 are jazz players. That's crazy. 9 players in the top 20 in offensive rating? When most teams are truly 6 to 7 players deep, that's just incredible.The top offensive rating for players is dominated by the Jazz, 7 of the top 9 are Utah Jazz players. This is for players getting over 15 minutes a game.
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