If the Jazz are better than expected it's because...

[Handlogten's Heros]

I'm trying to come up with a creative name for the Ainge pivot. The Ainge pivot is when one of Ryan Smith's dear friends swallows their pride, stops f'ing around and does what he should have done yesterday. I don't know when the Ainge pivot will happen this year. It's already too late, but I do have faith it will happen at some point.

I don't even think its too later per se. I just think it has to happen now to get to an ideal range. I don't have a name for it but I am finalizing an analogy that will likely be dropped on a pod... a lot of the stuff fits.

 

[KqWIN]

Do we really think Lauri has been playing at his best, or is he just playing more minutes? I actually think that his heavier minutes load has dropped his performance on a per/poss basis. He's still playing great, but there's also been moments where he looks a little run down. Numbers certainly back this up.

With that said, by playing 23 of 24 games he's on pace to provide more winning value than he has over the course of the season.

 

[jom2003]

Because other teams became worse and/or are actively trying to tank this year.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Do we really think Lauri has been playing at his best, or is he just playing more minutes? I actually think that his heavier minutes load has dropped his performance on a per/poss basis. He's still playing great, but there's also been moments where he looks a little run down. Numbers certainly back this up.

With that said, by playing 23 of 24 games he's on pace to provide more winning value than he has over the course of the season.

I think so. If you discard the defense. His first year here he was a better two way player but I think this is the best he's been offensively.

There is however like one forced shot per game that I would love for him to eliminate at some point. Its usually a rushed three off a screen that hits with a thud... you can see it as soon as it happens though.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

It feels like every year there are at least 2 teams that join the tank race through injury or just slow start. It was what gave me pause when some were like "we won17 games last year... we will be awful... who is worse than us?" All the teams we thought would suck do suck. And the a few teams joined them.

 

[KqWIN]

I think so. If you discard the defense. His first year here he was a better two way player but I think this is the best he's been offensively.

There is however like one forced shot per game that I would love for him to eliminate at some point. Its usually a rushed three off a screen that hits with a thud... you can see it as soon as it happens though.

I think his defense is definitely worse. Maybe he's had some higher highs on offense this season, but overall he's significantly less efficient than he was his first season here. He did have more talent around him back then though.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I think his defense is definitely worse. Maybe he's had some higher highs on offense this season, but overall he's significantly less efficient than he was his first season here. He did have more talent around him back then though.

Yeah I kinda factor that in. He has to do more on his own than he did that season. I think he's got more stuff in the bag now. I know he doesn't have a bag per se but I think you know what I mean. He was a legit positive on defense in his first season imo. Now I think he's bad most nights. I think its in there maybe still.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

It feels like every year there are at least 2 teams that join the tank race through injury or just slow start. It was what gave me pause when some were like "we won17 games last year... we will be awful... who is worse than us?" All the teams we thought would suck do suck. And the a few teams joined them.

At least Phoenix is better than expected.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

Now I think he's bad most nights.

He's mostly mid.

For a guy his size, Markkanen does a ridiculous amount of defensive work around the perimeter, which obviously takes its toll.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

At least Phoenix is better than expected.

Yes but they were one I wasn't super worried about since their pick goes elsewhere. Clips should pass us. NOP may depend on if we lose all 3 of our back half of the season matchups with them. They may make a late surge.

I think Wash, Bkn, NOP, Charlotte may be tough to beat out. Indiana, Sacramento could really commit to the tank. Clips may just suck... and I'm watching out for Dallas/Chicago/Milwaukee.

If we take a hard tank approach starting right now... I think we have a shot at getting to 4 on the high end outcome. I think we are most likely to land 6th-ish. Still worried about Nepo Ainge and his pride though.

 

[underdog]

I’d say our internal growth and some teams being worse than expected are the most obvious reasons. Then there’s Ryan. Last season, our FO asked Hardy to coach for the tank, which is what shrewd teams have always done when tanking is the goal. But this season, Ryan decided not to allow it because he didn’t want to do “manipulation”. So we’ve won a few games that we would’ve lost otherwise.

 

[underdog]

Yes but they were one I wasn't super worried about since their pick goes elsewhere. Clips should pass us. NOP may depend on if we lose all 3 of our back half of the season matchups with them. They may make a late surge.

I think Wash, Bkn, NOP, Charlotte may be tough to beat out. Indiana, Sacramento could really commit to the tank. Clips may just suck... and I'm watching out for Dallas/Chicago/Milwaukee.

If we take a hard tank approach starting right now... I think we have a shot at getting to 4 on the high end outcome. I think we are most likely to land 6th-ish. Still worried about Nepo Ainge and his pride though.

I’m pretty sure Austin Ainge's main goal this season is to get one of the top prospects from next year’s draft, but Ryan has somewhat tied his hands. Austin knows that this draft is special. With four (possibly more) #1 prospects in it, the opportunity for a tanking team to land a future star has never been better. But he’s in a tough spot now. He may have to trade Lauri. Or maybe I’m wrong about him. Maybe he says screw the draft and the odds, borrows his dad's hunting gear, and goes big-game hunting.