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How can the Jazz neutralize Lauri?

J

jazznik

Well-Known Member
The Jazz want to draft a future star this summer. Lauri started the season struggling and the Jazz happily raked up the blowout losses. In his last three games (all against good teams) Markkanen averaged 28 points and the Jazz ended up with one win and two close losses. If Lauri keeps playing this way the Jazz will finish well outside of the bottom-3: they are 4-6 in their last 10 games already.

So, what should the Jazz do? Patiently wait until the trade deadline to trade away some vets? Sit down Lauri with some invented injuries (he almost certainly will not take it lightly)? Replace Keyonte and Sexton in the starting lineup with Cody and Brice to reduce the amount of passes to Markkanen? Or simply be content with the 7th pick in 2025 as it is most likely a deep draft?
 
Meanwhile the Wizards lost their 11th game in a row. They started 2 rookies and 1 second-year player and another rookie played major minutes off the bench. The game was competitive and Sarr, Keyshawn George and Couilibaly all had good games. And everybody is certain that the Wizards will be drafting a star prospect in the upcoming draft with one of the top picks.
 
jazznik said:
Meanwhile the Wizards lost their 11th game in a row. They started 2 rookies and 1 second-year player and another rookie played major minutes off the bench. The game was competitive and Sarr, Keyshawn George and Couilibaly all had good games. And everybody is certain that the Wizards will be drafting a star prospect in the upcoming draft with one of the top picks.
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Don't worry, we draft our rookies to sit on the bench! .... and then we wonder why we can't make the playoffs OR get a good pick
 
I think where it all went wrong for Ainge is that he was wildly and unexpectedly successful in his very first year. A typical rebuild is trading your best players for the draft picks while making sure that your team struggles: that way you ensure at least 3 years of being bad and consistently draft top prospects - because even the best rookies need a couple of years of experience before they start producing wins. Instead, the Jazz ended up with an All Star in their very first year (Lauri) and a very productive defensive foundation (Kessler). Lauri and Kessler are not enough to be competitive but just enough to prevent the team from earning top-5 picks.

Every year Ainge is facing the same problem of preventing the team from being too good and every year he addresses it by trading some vets. But he is avoiding the hard truth: it's not Olynyk, Conley or Fontecchio who form the high floor of this team - it is Lauri and Kessler.
 
Few options :

- Any strip club in SLC?. But he seems a serious guy, so it's unlikely :).
- Ask JC to shoot 30 per game...
- Put Cody 35 min.....
 
Clarkson was pathetic against the Knicks and we still won big. But playing Clarkson big minutes is part of the solution.

Collier, Keyonte, and Cody are key as well.
 
David Hume said:
Provide Sir Lauri with vast quantities of consumable ale and churros, and he shall gain the girth of Zion Lateef Williamson and suffer analogous physical ailments, including lumbago and the vapors.
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He likes a churro just like anybody else, although just once or twice a season. He doesn't drink ale though, nor anything else with alcohol.
 
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